Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative methods are used typically in research projects that take a human-focused perspective in the design and implementation of the investigation. Qualitative research, as a paradigm or worldview, is designed to explore the human elements of a topic under investigation; in this context, qualitative methods (such as in-depth interviewing or ethnographic observation) are used to examine how individuals see and experience the world around them. Researchers typically talk to people directly or observe their behaviors in various contexts to understand what those individuals view as important about a particular phenomenon. Although qualitative research is often described in opposition to quantitative research, and although the goals and intentions of these paradigms are quite different, many scholars are now using mixed ...