QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
NAME : MOHD AMERUL AKMAL BIN MOHD YUNOS
: SYAHIDANI BINTI MOHAMED
: NABILAH FAIQAH BINTI AZMAN
1.0 Introduction
In the new era of research development, the opportunity in conducting further
research or new research is being analyzed within year by year. Moreover, there are not many
higher learning institutions which emphasize in teaching the right way to conduct the
research. conducting the research methodology, there are many conditions that must be taken
into the consideration in order to complete the research successfully. One of the various
research methodologies which are become more popular is Qualitative Research.
1.1 Definition
Qualitative research is a fieldwork which includes resources gathered, recorded, and
compiled all through the study. Fieldwork requires the researcher to immerse himself in the
setting over date and time In. The researchers have to collect as much information as
unremarkably as possible and analyze it to complete the research process correctly.
According to the research that have been conducted by Gay, Mills, and Airasian
(2009) claim that qualitative research is a sort of systematic research which consists of a
study that seeks answers and data to a various question gather in the research objectives. It is
also use systematic methods to get an answer or respond from the participants. Later, the data
will be analyzed and recorded in the specific system or table to start the next process to
complete the research methodology. Besides, qualitative research also may provide relevant
findings that are beyond the limitation in the research or study.
In addition, the researcher must completely prepare any external and internal
information regarding the research that he or she will conduct. The researcher needs to
understand the research problem and gather with all the information gain from the reading
process since qualitative research cover all information that are concerning the opinions and
behaviours from the public of a particular area or populations.
Moreover, qualitative method is one of the best and efficient procedures or process in
research methodology in obtaining the internal and external insubstantial factors. Some of the
factors that can be found are social economics, gender roles and religions. Furthermore, the
usages of qualitative research along with quantitative methods are capable in helping the
researchers to better aware and interpret the implications of qualitative data as well as the
complex reality of a certain condition.
Types of qualitative research methods with examples
behavior and perception of a target audience with reference to a particular topic. There are
different types of qualitative research methods like an in-depth interview, focus groups,
ethnographic research, content analysis, case study research that are usually used.
The results of qualitative methods are more descriptive and the inferences can be drawn quite
easily from the data that is obtained.
Qualitative research methods originated in the social and behavioral sciences. Today our
world is more complicated and it is difficult to understand what people think and perceive.
Online qualitative research methods make it easier to understand that as it is more
communicative Qualitative research methods are designed in a manner that help reveal the
and descriptive.
The following are the qualitative research methods that are frequently used. Also, read about
qualitative research examples:
1. One-on-one interview:
Conducting in-depth interviews is one of the most common qualitative research methods. It is
a personal interview that is carried out with one respondent at a time. This is purely a
conversational method and invites opportunities to get details in depth from the respondent.
One of the advantages of this method provides a great opportunity to gather precise data
about what people believe and what their motivations are. If the researcher is well
experienced asking the right questions can help him/her collect meaningful data. If they
should need more information the researchers should ask such follow up questions that will
help them collect more information.
These interviews can be performed face-to-face or on phone and usually can last between half
an hour to two hours or even more. When the in-depth interview is conducted face to face it
gives a better opportunity to read the body language of the respondents and match the
responses.
2. Focus groups:
A focus group is also one of the commonly used qualitative research methods, used in data
collection. A focus group usually includes a limited number of respondents (6-10) from
within your target market.
The main aim of the focus group is to find answers to the “why” “what” and “how”
questions. One advantage of focus groups is, you don’t necessarily need to interact with the
group in person. Nowadays focus groups can be sent an online survey on various devices and
responses can be collected at the click of a button.
Focus groups are an expensive method as compared to the other online qualitative research
methods. Typically they are used to explain complex processes. This method is very useful
when it comes to market research on new products and testing new concepts.
3. Ethnographic research:
Ethnographic research is the most in-depth observational method that studies people in their
naturally occurring environment.
This method requires the researchers to adapt to the target audiences’ environments which
could be anywhere from an organization to a city or any remote location. Here geographical
constraints can be an issue while collecting data.
This research design aims to understand the cultures, challenges, motivations, and settings
that occur. Instead of relying on interviews and discussions, you experience the natural
settings first hand.
This type of research method can last from a few days to a few years, as it involves in-depth
observation and collecting data on those grounds. It’s a challenging and a time-consuming
method and solely depends on the expertise of the researcher to be able to analyze, observe
and infer the data.
4. Case study research:
The case study method has evolved over the past few years and developed into a valuable
qual research method. As the name suggests it is used for explaining an organization or an
entity.
This type of research method is used within a number of areas like education, social sciences
and similar. This method may look difficult to operate, however, it is one of the simplest
ways of conducting research as it involves a deep dive and thorough understanding of the
data collection methods and inferring the data.
5. Record keeping:
This method makes use of the already existing reliable documents and similar sources of
information as the data source. This data can be used in new research. This is similar to going
to a library. There one can go over books and other reference material to collect relevant data
that can likely be used in the research.
6. Process of observation:
Qualitative research is a process of research that uses subjective methodologies to gather
systematic information or data. Since, the focus on qualitative observation is the research
process of using subjective methodologies to gather information or data. Qualitative
observation is primarily used to equate quality differences.
Qualitative observation deals with the 5 major sensory organs and their functioning – sight,
smell, touch, taste, and hearing. This doesn’t involve measurements or numbers but instead
characteristics.
2.0 Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Research
In the next paragraphs, there will be some comparison and explanations on the qualitative and
quantitative research. There are several explanations that have been determined to be the
differences of quantitative and qualitative research by the previous research but this review
will only focus on the five major factors such as function, framework, types of data collection
instruments, analytical objectives and degree of flexibility.
Firstly, the major difference between these two methods is the function of each method in the
research methodology. According to the Hammer, C.S. (August 2011), claims that qualitative
methods can be used to understand the social actions and experiences are created by seek the
answer to various questions that have been determined during the first process in the research
procedures. He also reported that quantitative research methods are useful to test the
hypothesis, effects, causes and others objectives that have been reviewed and determined
earlier.
Secondly, another major difference between quantitative and qualitative research is
the framework. According to the research that have been conducted by Mack, N., Woodsong,
C., Macqueen, K.M., Guest, G. and Namey, E. (2005), reported that the frameworks for the
qualitative research are commonly search to investigate and discover the phenomena. The
instruments method to respond to the questions is more iterative approach, flexible, and
categorizing. Moreover, it uses focus groups, in-depth interviews, and participant observation
as determined in the semi-structured methods. While the frameworks for the quantitative
researches are basically look for confirmation on hypotheses about phenomena. Compare to
the qualitative research, the instruments use are highly structured methods such as surveys,
questionnaires, and structured observation as well as it more inflexible style of eliciting.
Thirdly, the types of data collection instruments use in qualitative research is in form of
textual which obtained from the interview session by audiotapes, videotapes, and field notes.
While in quantitative research, the types of data collection instruments use in form of
numerical which obtained from the questionnaires distribution by assigning numerical values
to the responses.
Next, according to the research by Mack, N., Woodsong, C., Macqueen, K.M., Guest,
G. and Namey, E. (2005), claim that the analytical objectives in qualitative research are to
describe the variation and explain the relationships of the results, describe the individual
experiences and the group norms as well as the types of questions pose in qualitative research
used are closed-ended. While the analytical objectives in quantitative research are to quantify
some deviation, explain the characteristics of a people and forecast fundamental interaction
as well as the types of questions pose in quantitative research is an open-ended question.
Last but not least, according to the research that have been conducted by Mack, N.,
Woodsong, C., Macqueen, K.M., Guest, G. and Namey, E. (2005), reported that
“The degree of flexibility built into study design for qualitative research is
more flexible in which the participant responses influence how and which
questions researchers will ask next. Moreover, the research questions are
adjusted according to what is learned. While in quantitative research, the
degree of flexibility built into study design are less flexible in which the study
design is more stable from beginning to end. The participant responses do not
influence or determine how and which questions researchers will ask next. In
addition, the study design is subject to statistical assumptions and conditions.”
In conclusion, quantitative and qualitative research is completely differing from some
elements which are function, framework, types of data collection instruments, analytical
objectives and degree of flexibility.
3.0 THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
3.1 Advantages
As being focused in the previous paragraph, qualitative research is a scientific
research that enables the researchers to collect evidences that relevant based on their research
questions. In simpler words, qualitative research provides information on specific area of
study and not focusing only for the what, where and when questions but stress on the why and
how questions.
As we all know, as it comes to qualitative method we will be dealing with open-ended
questions and interviews. It is more convenient to choose this research method as it is gives
flexibility for both participant and researcher. As for participants, it will give them wider
space in answering the particular question. This a bit vice verse with quantitative research
method where participants are enclosed with the answer prepared. In fact, researcher can
record the actual situation for the research area based on the participants’ answers. Moreover,
it can actually help researchers recognizing all the possible factors affecting the study area
such as gender roles, social norms, cost of living, believe etc.
Besides that, although qualitative research does give a wider space for participants to
answer but when answering the listing questions, this method actually provide the range of
provided answers and statement that one have to follow. By then, participants can see the
flow of the research and being guided towards answering the objective of the research rather
than in corrected from the questions asked. Furthermore, the desire of having the listing
question in qualitative research is to enhance the skill of making hypothesis for the study
area.
Other than that, it is not easy to transform information into numbers, or in simple
words it is not easy to quantified responds from participants’. It is benefits for qualitative
research, as the area of research are mostly about abstract and complex aspects such as ones
experience, opinions, emotions etc.
3.2 Disadvantages
It is nature that every “thing” has its drawbacks, and it goes the same thing for
qualitative research. When discussing about qualitative it will be referring to subjective
answers based on ones experience. Although it does help participants to view the research at
the bigger picture, but actually it is quite complicated for researchers to verify the reliability
and validity of linguistic data. This happens as there is no specific answer when answering
complex questions. Moreover it sometimes can blur up the points that influence the area of
study.
Upon facing with the result obtained from qualitative research, the data sometimes are
overloaded. Thus, this requires plenty of time to analyse the abound amount of data. In fact,
there is also problems arise as researchers start collecting data. Firstly, when dealing with
participants that act as interviewees in the research. It is hard as the researchers have to pick
suitable time in order to date the interviewees. Besides, time and money consumed when
making the transcription of recorded interviews is plenty.
Although the drawbacks show the weakness of qualitative research, but this actually
does not mean that this method is less reliable for research study. It is highly recommended to
test data validity by using the quantitative method.
4.0 ETHICS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Qualitative research is something more difficult to explain about ethics than research
by qualitative method. The uses of ethics are to protect some self-respect, human right, safety
and well being of any actual potential research participants. There are three main ethical
considerations that require to be addressed for all research connecting to the person research
participants.
According to Duff, A (2007), in any interview which recorded or not, there are
compulsory to have agreement with interview and participant in term of verbal or written
presentation. It is based on mostly well-known ethical procedure.
In addition, parents and also guardians mostly are unwilling to give permission to
their person under their custody to have some research interview to avoid any risk happen to
their child. Refugees or worldwide who are fraught with incomplete L2 proficiency is one of
the example in that case (Duff, 2002a). It is actually more difficult to discuss and get
permission for some institution. This complication are clearly when the explanations though
audio and video recorded are not agree by most parents, teachers and also students
themselves (Duff, 2007).
I term of the process of data compilation, recounting event from the participants’
point of view from side to side interviews and surveillance is one of the points of qualitative
research. Pay attention to the right to be heard of participants or examine them in their
ordinary surroundings are the purpose of the investigator. Usually, by describing an emit
perception is researchers’ explanation of the experiences (Field & Morse, 1992). Examiner
recognizes that participants are independent people who are willingly allocate their input and
this is the receiving of the declaration mentioned previously. Support revelation, faith, and
consciousness of possible moral issues are the affiliation of the study.
Influence by the dialogue, and that the information gained through the conference
affects our accepting of the individual knowledge are think to be ethical Endeavour, claiming
that the participant’s reaction (Kvale, 1996). The significant stuff in collection of the data is
the interface among canvasser and candidates in term of collecting in the focusing
reminiscence and obviously knowing the responsibility of the researchers. Personality and
features of the interaction is the perception situation in specific field of their studies. (Punch,
1994).
Other than that, in term of ethical principles, by using some awareness and use of
well-established ethical principal will reduces the difficulties inherent in qualitative research.
Public, beneficence, and fairness are the code of esteem that be supposed to be guided at any
kinds of study (Capron, 1989).Besides that, equivalents allocate and equality is the rule of
integrity. Avoiding mistreatment and violence participants is one of the vital and
distinguishing features (Dianne, 2000)
Recognizing susceptibility of the participants and their charity to learn is the fairness
in qualitative research study established. For example, if the researcher uses concept or title
contributed by participants, they need to have permission to use any concept or at least
discuss about the issues with participants. With this way, any involvement of the participants
will be identified by read of the declaration of whichever investigation (Dianne, 2000).
5.0 THE APPLICATIONS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
The niche or application of qualitative research is to present complicated contextual
descriptions on how one faced particular issue. In fact, qualitative research is used mostly in
helping researchers to interpret complex aspects on the focused issue. Based on the readings
on article about Qualitative Research focused on application and principles, the writer
explained that one of the applications or niche of qualitative method in a research is to
provide understanding towards the behaviour pattern and elaborate on the relationship
between it.
In fact, there are a few approaches and methods of qualitative research that can be
used in social science. Participant observation is one of the easiest ways for collecting data.
As researcher observe and participate in the culture and adapt with the practices of the
studied group, researcher tend to be one of their members. In order to enhance the
effectiveness in gathering data, focus groups method is highly recommended. This is because
it can help researchers generate wider overviews on the cultural norms and related issues of
the studied group.
Besides that, one of the most frequent methods used is Ethnographic Research. It
functionalizes as to collect and explain about the data of the studied group in order to
develop a theory. This method is also known as “ethno methodology” or "methodology of
the people". Moreover, in a more optimal way of collecting data is an In-depth interview. By
this, a face-to-face conversation between researcher and studied group ease the process of
research as more complex and sensitive issues are discussed and explored.
In conclusion, by knowing and applying qualitative research, these methods actually
help researchers generate a better focus in research study.
6.0 CONCLUSION
As conclusion, it is not effortless to get any qualitative report accepted and to publish
it as well. With this assignment, we are approaching to understand closely about qualitative
research. We are considering that we will handle in other to have important responsibility in
the future. Those who are involve in research of qualitative and quantitative research will
come out with a quality research report and attract to communicate with anyone else.
Qualitative research also is not easy to define any theory without doing an interview
and make some record of sound and also some videos. By keeping detailed of the participants
from publics will maintain the dignity of a particular individual. Thus, all individuals will
help in the future if the next task is given which involves research in the qualitative
researches also have their own advantages and weakness as well as quantitative research. Any
research whether qualitative or quantitative done will base on the type or what we want to
study about.
Overall, we are already study about some features in qualitative research even its application
itself and ready for the next task given for us.
7.0 References
Angelica. O, Laurel. E & etc (2000), Ethics in Qualitative Research, Journal of Nursing
Scholarship, 33:1, 93-96
C. M. Allwood (2011), the Distinction between Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Methods Is Problematic, Springer Science and Business Media,
Draper A. K. (2004). The principles and application of qualitative research, Proceedings of
the Nutrition Society (2004), 63, 641–646
Gay, Mills, & Airasian (2009). Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and
Application, 9th edition. Pearson Education, Inc.
Mack, N., Woodsong, C., Macqueen, K.M., Guest, G. & Namey, E. (2005). Qualitative
Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide. Family Health International
Hammer, C.S. (August 2011). Expanding Our Knowledge Base through Qualitative
Research Methods. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. 20, 161–162.
Patricia A. Duff (2007), Qualitative Approaches to Classroom Research With English
Language Learners, the University of British Columbia, Canada
Patton, M. Q. (2003). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.
http://generallythinking.com/answers/research-methods/what-are-the-advantages-of-
qualitative-research/
http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Qualitative_research
http://generallythinking.com/answers/research-methods/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-
qualitative-research/
http://www.fhi.org/nr/rdonlyres/
etl7vogszehu5s4stpzb3tyqlpp7rojv4waq37elpbyei3tgmc4ty6dunbccfzxtaj2rvbaubzmz4f/
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