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Practical Research 1
Quarter 3 – Module 6B:
Strengths and Weaknesses of
Qualitative Research
Practical Research 1 – Grade 11
Quarter 3 – Module 6B: Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Research
First Edition, 2020

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Practical Research 1
Quarter 3 – Module 6B:
Strengths and Weaknesses of
Qualitative Research
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to
use this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress
while allowing them to manage their own learning at home.
Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as
they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

As a learner, you must learn to become responsible of your own
learning. Take time to read, understand, and perform the different
activities in the module.
As you go through the different activities of this module be
reminded of the following:
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on
any part of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in
answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Let’s Try This before moving on to the
other activities.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking
your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are
done.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this
module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always
bear in mind that you are not alone. We hope that through this
material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain deep
understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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Information about this ADM learner’s material
I. Objective: The learner demonstrates
Ia. Content Standard understanding of the value of
qualitative research: its strengths and
weaknesses.

The learner is able to decide the

Ib. Performance Standard suitable qualitative research in
different areas of interest.

Ic. Learning Competency The learner describes strengths and

weaknesses of qualitative research.
(CS_RS11-IIIb-1)

Strengths and Weaknesses of

II. Content / Topic
Qualitative Research

Hello, learner!
Yesterday, we discussed about the
characteristics of a qualitative research. We find it
subjective, contextualized and textual because it
describes human understanding and interpretation of a
reality in his or her own setting. Today, we will
understand qualitative study more by describing its
strengths and weaknesses essential in making your
output this semester.
So, be open-minded in the challenges in
making the qualitative research so that you will be
guided on what to do and not to do in writing it. Again,
please ask your teacher if you have doubts of this
subject matter. Enjoy the tasks!

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 At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. describe strengths of qualitative research;
and
2. describe weaknesses of qualitative research.

Introduction
Societal problems need immediate actions from people involved in it
to solve them. To find solutions of these problems, they need to ask each
other why and how these take place. By sharing their views, feelings, and
norms toward those problems, they can generate relevant and common
understanding of those and come up with better ideas to cope those
individually and as a group. And, this is the essence of qualitative research
according to its purpose.
Similarly, students like you can do qualitative study to solve your
daily problems in school. This can help you find ways to be better in your
studies. Know that your strengths like your intelligence in different aspects,
skills, talents and good attitudes can help you achieve your goals as a
student. You have also your weaknesses. But, you can always change them
into better ones through hard work and strong faith in yourself or by
sticking to things you can do and accept that those that you really cannot
do.

I suppose you are now prepared for today’s lesson.

So, let us start!

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(Activity 1) DESCRIBE YOURSELF!
Instruction: Examine yourself with your characteristics. Then, write those
descriptions about you separating your strengths and
weaknesses in the Venn diagram. Put your name in the center
to emphasize yourself with those characteristics

My Strengths and Weakness

Strength Weakness
Name

How do you find it? Have you really known yourself or

are there things that you just discovered that make
you love more about yourself?

(Activity 2)
Guide Questions:

1. How do your strengths help you to become confident and

productive in everything you do?
______________________________________________________________________

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 2. How do your weaknesses affect in achieving your daily goals?
______________________________________________________________________

Lesson: Strengths and Weaknesses of

Qualitative Research

Generally, Techo (2016), DepEd (2016), Baraceros (2016), and Roller

(2017) describe qualitative research as subjective, contextualized, active,
flexible, personal, narrative, inductive, neutral, holistic, and social
constructivist. They also enumerate the following strengths and weaknesses
to make the researchers aware of its limitations.

Strengths of Qualitative Research

1. Detailed and in-depth. The issues in qualitative are in detail and in-
depth. Qualitative study explores people’s understanding, feelings,
and behavior to a certain phenomenon even their difficulties and
sensitivity based from their experiences in their setting.

2. Multiple methods for data gathering. The researcher can do field

observation, survey, interview, and content analysis to gather the
needed data for the study.

3. Flexible interviews. Interviews are not restricted to specific questions

and can be redirected by the researcher in real time. Variables are not
controllable that makes questions open-ended and less directive.
Researchers may probe so that clearer and accurate answers can be
drawn from the participants.

4. Flexible design. As the researcher begins his or her investigation,

information may come up not suitable to purpose of the study that
makes him or her revise the design of the study most suited to the
purpose.

5. Specific data. Specific details of actions and events of the subject(s)

on the phenomenon can produce more accurate inferences of their
social interactions, relationships and circumstances.

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 6. Self-involving to the researcher. The researcher studies their
experiences, knowledge, norms and attitudes on the topic before and
during the conduct of the study that makes him or her understand
the data as he or she does the data analysis and interpretation.
Weaknesses of Qualitative Research
1. Researcher-skill dependent. Research quality is heavily dependent
on the skill of the researcher. Results depend on the knowledge of the
researcher to the topic and his or her efficiency and effectiveness in
doing the study.

2. Rigorous process. Data are gathered, analyzed, and interpreted in a

long process that needs sustainable energy and concentration of the
researcher.

3. Time consuming. Its open-ended questions yield qualitative data

that need long-time data aggregation and inferences with their verbal
and visual presentations.

4. Non-generalization. Data usually are collected from a few cases or

individuals so findings cannot be generalized to a larger population.
Their validity may be questionable because of the small sample that is
only applicable in their locality.

5. Less scientific. The views of the participants are only applicable in

their locality and may be influenced by the whole population both
consciously and unconsciously. Moreover, scientific studies test
theories opposite to qualitative researches that they develop theories.

6. Researcher-influenced findings. The researcher’s presence can affect

the participants’ attitude during data collection that may change their
responses to the questions. His or her personal biases on the topic
can possibly influence his or her interpretation of the data.

I am happy that you can now identify the strengths and

weaknesses of qualitative research. Let us measure
your understanding of them through the next test.

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(Activity 3) IDENTIFY THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES!
Instruction: Match the strengths of qualitative research in Table A to the
items 1-4 in Table B, and weaknesses of qualitative research in
Table A to the items 5-10 in Table B. Write the letter of your
answer on the space before the number.

TABLE A.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
A. Detailed and in-depth E. Researcher-skill dependent
B. Flexible design F. Rigorous process
C. Flexible interviews G. Time consuming
D. Multiple methods for data H. Non-generalization
gathering I. Less accepted in scientific
community
J. Researcher-influenced findings

TABLE B

_____1. The researcher interprets the subject(s)’ experiences including the

sensitive issues and challenges they face to understand their
situation.
_____2. The researchers can ask follow-up questions to the participants to
get substantial answers to the questions.
_____3. Case study can have one participant only.
_____4. The researcher does observation, interview and content analysis to
get data.
_____5. Researchers must maintain their health, energy and focus in doing
their qualitative research because data planning, collection,
analysis and interpretation need full concentration to produce
substantial contents and to finish it within the time frame.
_____6. The views of the participants are only applicable in their locality and
not totally for universal use.
_____7. Qualitative study requires the researcher to categorize and code data
collected for analysis and interpretation.
_____8. The researcher excites the participants in the interview.

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_____9. The content of the study reflects the researcher’s skill and own
knowledge and perceptions to the topic.
_____10. The sample of the study is very small that makes its validity
questionable.

Great job! You can now identify the limitations of a

qualitative research with the previous activities.

1. The strengths of qualitative research are:

• detailed and in-depth;

• multiple methods for data gathering;

• flexible interviews;

• flexible design;
• specific data; and
• self-involving to the researcher.
2. The weaknesses of qualitative research are:
• researcher-skill dependent;

• rigorous process;
• analysis and interpretation time consuming;

• non-generalization;

• less accepted in scientific community; and

• researcher-influenced findings.

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(Activity 4) KEYWORDS TO REMEMBER QUALITATIVE RESEARCH!
Instruction: Complete the table by filling in one-word description to each of
the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research in the
second table. Take numbers 1 and 2 for examples.

authentic flexible non-scientific

deep laborious open-minded

detailed limited researcher-dependent

emphatic multi-tasking researcher-influenced

One-Word
Strengths of Qualitative Research
Descriptor
1. Issues can be examined in detail and in depth. deep
2. Interviews are not restricted to specific open-ended
questions and can be redirected by the
researcher during data collection.
3. The research framework and direction can be
quickly revised as new information emerges in
the process.
4. The obtained data based on human experience
are powerful and sometimes more compelling
than quantitative data.
5. It offers multiple approaches and ways of
acquiring and examining knowledge about
phenomena.
6. It increases the researcher’s interest in the
study.

Weaknesses of Qualitative Research One-Word

Descriptor
7. Its quality is heavily dependent on the skill and
time-management of the researcher to
efficiently and effectively finish the study.

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8. Rigor is more difficult to maintain, assess, and
demonstrate to finish data gathering, analysis,
interpretation and evaluation.
9. The volume of data makes analysis and
interpretation time consuming.
10. Data usually are purposely collected from a
small sample that experienced the topic in
their setting.
11. It is sometimes not as well understood and
accepted research within the scientific
community.
12. The researcher's presence can affect the
subjects' feelings and responses during data
gathering.

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Let’s Test Ourselves Let’s Do This
3. Deep 1. A
4. Open-minded 2. D
5. Flexible 3. B
6. Authentic 4. E
7. Multi-tasking 5. F
8. Laborious 6. I
9. Researcher- 7. G
independent 8. J
10. Limited 9. E
11. Non-scientific 10. H
12. Researcher-influenced
Analysis Let Us Try
(Answers vary.) (Answers vary.)
Answer Key
References

Baraceros, E. L. (2016). Practical research 1 (1st ed). Rex Book Store, Inc.

DepEd (2016). Practical Research 1. Teacher’s Guide (1st ed). Department of

Education-Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR).

Bryan, V. S. (2014). A qualitative study exploring influences on the types of

online instructional support provided by high school librarians.

Mohajan, H., & Mohajan, H. K. (2018). Munich personal repec archive

qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related subjects
qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related
subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People,
7(85654), 1.

Roller, M. (2017). Qualitative research : A collection of articles from research

design review published. Research Design Review, 3(2), 1–36.
http://www.rollerresearch.com/MRR WORKING PAPERS/Qualitative
Research - 2016.pdf

Ryan, F., Coughlan, M., & Cronin, P. (2007). Step-by-step guide to critiquing
research. Part 2: Qualitative research. 20(12), 738–745.

Techo, V. P. (2016). Research methods-quantitative , qualitative , and mixed

methods. DOCTORATE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DBA)
Assignment submitted by : TECHO VINCENT POWOH COURSE :
FACILITATOR : July. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1262.4886

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Department of Education – Davao City Division

E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City

Telephone: (082) 227 4762

Email Address: lrms.davaocity@deped.gov.ph

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