Kinds of

Qualitative Research
1.Phenomenological
This kind of qualitative
research focuses on subjective lived
experiences of the participants in
order to understand phenomenon.
 Here, the researcher is concerned with
the feelings of the participants regarding a
particular event or activity, hence, the
uniqueness of their lived situations can be
described. Interview is the common instrument
used for its data collection with the suggested
sample size ranging from 5 to 25.
Examples:
o A researcher aims to determine the
challenges and coping mechanisms of senior high
school working students in the second district of
Bataan.

o A researcher aims to explain the lived

experiences of the COVID-19 survivors in
the province of Bataan
2. Ethnographic
It is a kind of qualitative
research which concentrates on the
study of a group of people in a
particular environment.
 To characterize behaviors, cultures,
challenges, and possible occurring themes, the
researcher is required to engage himself/herself
with the participants through immersion in an
extended period of time. Observation, along
with the use of interview and survey, is an
essential instrument for this type of study.
Examples:
o A researcher seeks to determine the
cultural practices and healthcare beliefs of the
ethnic group living in Bataan province.

o A researcher seeks to characterize the

survival strategies of families in an urban poor
community.
3. Grounded Theory
This kind of qualitative
research intends to explain a
phenomenon through developing a
theory.
 In comparison with phenomenological
study that primarily describes lived experiences,
grounded theory aims to provide explanation and
theory behind those lived experiences. Interview and
supporting documents are the commonly used data
collection instrument for its participants
approximately ranging from 20 to 30 or until data
achieve saturation.
Examples:
o A researcher attempts to conceptualize
the breast cancer survivorship process among
Bataeños.

o A researcher attempts to generate a

theory of defense mechanisms of students who
experience school bullying.
4. Case Study
It is a qualitative
research kind which allows the
researcher to have
an intensive analysis of the
phenomenon.
 The aim of this study is to
accurately describe the case through an in-
depth examination of a single person or
single institution. With this, thorough
interview, observation, and documentation
are all utilized as multiple data collection
instruments.
Examples:
o A researcher aims to explain the
causes of the reading difficulty of a grade 5
struggling reader.

o A researcher aims to describe the

language challenges of hearing-impaired
students in a SPED class.
5. Historical
This qualitative
research kind is concerned with
the identification, evaluation,
and synthesis of past event data.
 Further, it aims to understand
present patterns and to anticipate future
choices through clearly relating the past
event data which are obtained from
sources such as documents, relics and
artifacts, and oral reports.
Examples:
o A researcher attempts to explore the
nature and context of the political
leadership of Bataan governors.

o A researcher seeks to explore the

development in the courtship letter writing
style among Bataeños.
6. Narrative
Life accounts of
individuals based on their personal
experiences are typically obtained and
analyzed in the conduct of this kind of
qualitative research.
 The primary objective of
the study is to extract meaningful
context based on the documented
experiences.
 Unlike phenomenological research which focuses on
describing and explaining a phenomenon through the lived
experiences of the participants, narrative research focuses
merely on the nature of the story told by the participants.
Hence, phenomenological research may use narrative, but
narrative research does not necessarily need
phenomenological. Discourse analysis is one of the commonly
and widely employed approaches of narrative research.
Examples:
o A researcher seeks to characterize the
struggles faced by student-athletes.

o A researcher seeks to describe the

daily teaching experiences of millennial
teachers in the Schools Division of Bataan.