"Qualitative research is a type of research that aims to gather and analyse non-numerical (descriptive) data in order to gain an understanding of individuals' social reality."
Uses a range of techniques to collect and analyze non-numeric data, such as interviews, observations, and focus groups.
Epistemology: The study of knowledge and how it is acquired, which underpins the philosophical assumptions and theoretical perspectives of qualitative research.
Research design: The plan of action that describes how the research question will be answered, and the methods and data collection strategies that will be used.
Data collection methods: The varied approaches and techniques used to gather data through observation, interviews, focus groups, case studies, ethnography, and other qualitative methods.
Sampling methods: The ways in which participants for a study are selected or recruited, including purposive, convenience, snowballing, and theoretical sampling.
Data analysis techniques: The methods used to organize and make sense of the data gathered, including thematic analysis, grounded theory, and discourse analysis.
Validity and reliability: The concepts that refer to the accuracy and consistency of the data collected and the interpretations made from it.
Ethics: The principles and guidelines that regulate the conduct of research involving human participants, including informed consent, confidentiality, and minimizing harm.
Reflexivity: The researcher's self-awareness and critical reflection on their own biases, values, and assumptions that may influence the data collection and analysis.
Representation: The ways in which the findings of the research are presented and communicated, including writing up the results, using visual aids, and disseminating findings to relevant audiences.
The role of the researcher: An acknowledgment of the researcher's subjective positionality, and how their own identity, experiences, and interests may influence what they choose to study, how they conduct the research, and the interpretations they make.
Ethnography: This type of qualitative research involves observing and documenting behavioral patterns, beliefs, and practices within a particular cultural group or community. Researchers strive to immerse themselves in this culture to gain a deeper understanding of the people and their way of life.
Grounded theory: This type of qualitative research aims to develop a theoretical framework based on the data collected from the study. Researchers gather data through interviews, observation, and focus groups, and then use these data to develop a new theory to explain the phenomena.
Phenomenology: This type of qualitative research is concerned with exploring the way people experience or perceive a particular phenomenon. Researchers gather data through interviews, observation, and focus groups, and then analyze these data to identify the themes and meanings that underlie these experiences.
Case Study: This type of qualitative research focuses on the particular case study often using one participant or group to identify and study the particular phenomenon in the field of medicine.
Narrative research: This type of qualitative research focuses on the personal stories or narratives of individuals in a particular situation. Researchers gather data through interviews, observation, and focus groups, and then analyze these data to understand the individual's experience and place within the larger cultural context.
Content Analysis: This type of qualitative research analyzes the content or language of documents, such as medical records or patient files, to identify themes, patterns or specific aspects of the data.
Action Research: Action research is a type of qualitative research that aims to solve problems in real-life settings by adapting research methodologies to the practical issues of management and organization.
Participatory Action Research: Participatory Action Research is a type of qualitative research in which researchers work with communities and organizations to identify and address real-world problems. The research is conducted in collaboration with the people affected by the study to encourage an active role by the participants in the process of research.
Feminist Research: Feminist research is a type of qualitative research that aims to understand the gendered experiences of women, their social and cultural contexts, and how social and cultural institutions support or impede gender equality in medical sciences.
"...non-numerical (descriptive) data..."
"...attitudes, beliefs, and motivation."
"This type of research typically involves in-depth interviews, focus groups, or observations..."
"...data that is rich in detail and context."
"Qualitative research is often used to explore complex phenomena or to gain insight into people's experiences and perspectives on a particular topic."
"It is particularly useful when researchers want to understand the meaning that people attach to their experiences or when they want to uncover the underlying reasons for people's behavior."
"Qualitative methods include ethnography, grounded theory, discourse analysis, and interpretative phenomenological analysis."
"Qualitative research methods have been used in sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, communication studies, social work, folklore, educational research, information science, and software engineering research."