Module 5

Group 5
Characteristics of
qualitative research
1. Engages in naturalistic inquiry.
2. Uses inductive analysis.
3. Takes a holistic perspective.
4. Generates qualitative data.
5. Requires close contact and insight.
6. Uses dynamic systems.
7. Provides a unique case.
8. Context sensitive.
9. Observes impartiality.
10.Reflects design flexibility.
 1. Qualitative research engages in
naturalistic inquiry.
As a qualitative researcher, you examine the participants in the natural

environment. You observe them in their respective contexts or real-world

situations and see things happening naturally in their life (e.g observing how

customers select grocery items in the supermarket or how a student

participates in a group task in class). You do not manipulate or control the

situation rather you are open to what emerges in the course of the study.
2. Qualitative research uses
inductive analysis.
As a qualitative researcher, you are faced with details and specifics of the
data before arriving at a general understanding of a phenomenon.
Formulating hypothesis does not happen at the beginning of the study
rather it is done as the study progresses because you construct the
concepts and meanings based on the interpretation at the end of the
study. In the process, you explore the study by asking open-ended
questions which lead to the discovery of categories, dimensions and
interrelationships of things.
 3. Qualitative research takes
a holistic perspective
As a qualitative researcher, you study the whole
phenomenon and look into the complex
interdependence of things. In qualitative research
the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The
totality of the problem is considered.
 4. Qualitative research
generates qualitative data.
Qualitative data take the form of words, descriptions, pictures or
images and objects. As a qualitative researcher, you produce thick
and detailed description through an in-depth inquiry. You take note
of direct quotations revealing your participant’s personal
perspectives and experiences. You need to capture every detail
including gestures and facial expressions of the participants during
observation or interview.
5. Qualitative research requires
close contact and insight.
As a qualitative researcher, you need to have a direct and personal
contact with the participants, situation and phenomenon under
study. You need to personally witness and experience what your
participants are doing in the actual scenario. Interviewing,
observing and taking down notes in the actual location is
important. Your personal experiences and insights are important
part of the inquiry and critical to understanding the phenomenon.
 6. Qualitative research
uses dynamic systems
Qualitative research is concerned with the process
involved. As a qualitative researcher, you have to
assume that change is constant and ongoing in a
study because you are not concerned with finding
only one answer. As you go through the process,
you may improve interview questions or consider
other ways of getting answers from participants.
 7. Qualitative research
provides a unique case.

Each qualitative research is unique and special. It

deserves an indepth attention specifically when
conducting cultural comparisons. Individual case
studies must be treated distinctively with one
another.
 8. Qualitative research is
context sensitive.

Qualitative research involves variables, factors and conditions

which affect the study. As a qualitative researcher, you must
understand that different variables such as values and beliefs
influence cultural behaviors. The context or situation of a
person’s life- the who, what, why, how and other circumstances
affects his or her way of life.
 9. Qualitative research observes
impartiality.

As a qualitative researcher, you should be nonjudgmental in

formulating the findings. You need to take neutral
nonjudgmental stance toward a content that emerges in the
study. Although complete objectivity is difficult to achieve in
qualitative research, you as the researcher needs to maintain
the credibility of the paper.
 10. Qualitative research reflects
design flexibility.

Qualitative research may allow multiple approaches and

methods. As a qualitative researcher, you should not fix
an eye on a design that eliminates responsiveness. You
may use another design as understanding of the
phenomenon deepens or situations change.
Qualitative research has strengths and
weaknesses. If you conduct the
qualitative study properly, the strengths would
surface. On the other hand,
you need to find ways on how to reduce the
effect of its limitations. The
following are the strengths and weaknesses of
qualitative research
 II. STRENGTHS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

`1. In qualitative research, problems and issues are examined thoroughly,

specifically, and deeply.
2. It provides full and holistic understanding of human experience in specific
contexts.
3. It allows understanding of people’s individuality. Each one has different
experiences, struggles, voices, meanings and events which are studied in a
qualitative research.
4. It adapts a flexible structure as the design can be restructured in the
process of the study. Qualitative research framework and direction may
be revised as new information emerges. Researchers who conduct an
interview are not restricted to specific questions and can guide and
redirect questions in real time.
5. Data in qualitative research is dynamic and powerful. Sometimes, it is
more convincing than quantitative data.
6. In qualitative research, the intricacies of a research subject or topic
are discovered. These are often missed when more positivistic inquiries
are used.
7. Data usually are collected from a few cases or individuals so findings
cannot be generalized to a larger population. Findings can however be
transferable to another setting.
 III. WEAKNESSES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

`1. In qualitative research, problems and issues are examined thoroughly,

specifically, and deeply.
2. It provides full and holistic understanding of human experience in specific
contexts.
3. It allows understanding of people’s individuality. Each one has different
experiences, struggles, voices, meanings and events which are studied in a
qualitative research.
5. The researcher's presence during the data gathering, which is often
unavoidable in qualitative research, can affect the subjects' responses.
6. Issues of anonymity and confidentiality can bring problems when
presenting findings.
7. Formulating the findings can be more challenging and time
consuming to characterize in a visual way.
8. Small sample size raises an issue on generalizability of the research
results.
9. Data interpretation and analysis may be difficult and complex.
10. It is hard to know the validity or reliability of the data in a qualitative
research.