Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that develops understanding on human and social

sciences, to find the way people think and feel. Here are the general steps involved in conducting
qualitative research:

1. Identify Your Research Question: The first step in the process is to identify a key
research question or set of questions. The research question should be open-ended,
non-judgmental, and exploratory in nature.

2. Choose Your Research Method: Depending on the research question, you will choose an
appropriate research method. This could be interviews, focus groups, observations,
content analysis, ethnography, etc.

3. Design Your Study and Choose Your Sample: Design your study and choose a sample
that will help you best answer your research question. This could involve choosing a
specific demographic group, a specific location, or a specific role within an organization.

4. Collect Data: This involves conducting interviews, focus groups, or observations and
recording the data. It’s important to collect data in a way that’s systematic and
organized.

5. Analyze Data: After data collection, the next step is to analyze the data. This could
involve coding responses, identifying themes, and interpreting the data.

6. Interpret Your Findings: The final step is to interpret your findings. This involves making
sense of the data and understanding what the findings mean in the context of the
research question.

7. Report Your Findings: The last step is to report your findings. This could be in the form
of a research paper, a presentation, or a report. This should include a detailed
description of the research method, the research question, the data collection and
analysis, and the findings.

Remember, the steps can be iterative rather than linear, meaning a researcher might go back and
forth between steps as needed until they feel their research questions have been fully answered.
Also, the researcher must ensure ethical considerations are met at all stages of the research
process.