Research methodology is the soul of your researchwork so choosing it is one of the most difficult tasks that you can come across while working on your dissertation or thesis. There are two main types of research methodologies which includes:
- Quantitative Research
- Qualitative Research
Today, this blog will focus on describing what qualitative research is and what are its types.
What is Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing data that is non-nominal in order to gain a thorough understanding of a concept or a problem of research. The method aims to seek to answer a research question with the help of collected evidence. Moreover, this research methodology is extensively used in the field of humanities and social sciences.
Qualitative Research Methods
Before we delve into the types of qualitative research, let’s discuss some of the data collection methods used in qualitative research. Below you will find some of the most common qualitative methods:
- Observation: recording what you have seen, heard, or encountered in detailed field notes.
- Interviews: personally, asking people questions in one-on-one conversations
- Focus Group: gathering people and striking up a conversation among a group of people
- Survey: data collected from questionnaires with open-ended questions
- Secondary Research: collecting existing data in the form of texts, images, audio or video recording.
Types of Qualitative Research Methods
Mainly, there are six types of qualitative research. They are considered the most flexible research techniques that provide learners with appropriate knowledge. They may use similar data collection methods but have different purposes for the study.
If you are new to the concept, we recommend you keep reading to solidify your knowledge of the types of qualitative research so that it can make the process of choosing one for your research question easier.
Ethnography Method
Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures and cultural characteristics. The ethnography method is used to explore cultural phenomena from the perspective of the subject of the study. It is also a type of social research that entails examining the behaviour of the participants in a specific social setting and understanding the group members’ interpretation of such behaviour.
Rather than using surveys and interviews, the researcher acted as an observer. Hence, the primary data collection method used in this type is observation. You can also interview those who have studied the same cultures.
You can face an issue of bias in this type of research so it requires the researcher to validate the data before presenting the findings.
Narrative Analysis
The narrative analysis involves the thorough reading of the text to understand and interpret the stories it tells. The stories can be a gateway to getting insight into the culture, values and beliefs of the people who created them. In this type of qualitative research, researchers conduct in-depth interviews and read various texts. Additionally, it also involves reviewing the events that largely impact the personality of an individual.
Phenomenological Method
Phenomenological is a term that means the study of a phenomenon such as any event, situation or environment. This approach is best to describe something from different angles and add more depth to the existing knowledge. Similarly, it focuses on subjective experiences.
In this approach, researchers use different data-collecting methods to understand the phenomena. The methods include interviews, observation, surveys, etc.
Grounded Theory Method
While a phenomenological study describes an event, whereas, a grounded theory model aims to give an explanation, reasons or theory behind the occurrence of the event. The approach is designed to help researchers arrive at new theories and deductions.
Researchers use different data-collecting tools and then analyse the facts to arrive at concepts. And by comparing these concepts, they plan theories. They continue until they reach sample saturation, in which no new information upsets the theory they formulated. Then they put forth the final theory.
Case Study
A case study entails a detailed analysis of a particular person, event, or community. This approach of qualitative research is used extensively in the field of social science, law, business and health.
In a case study, various data-collecting methods are used including interviews and observations. The method is used when the researcher wants to focus on:
- How and why research questions
- The behaviour of those under observation
- To understand the phenomenon
- The context of the phenomena
Hence, a case study is the most suitable method when the researcher needs to gain total and in-depth knowledge on a particular issue.
Historical Method
This historical approach examines past events to understand the present situation and anticipate possibilities for the future It answers the research questions based on a hypothetical idea. This model’s primary goal is to examine how the past has affected the present in order to find similar present processes and predict how they will affect the future.
The method used is studying relevant literature which is the main source of data, although oral sources may also be used.
