What makes a good qualitative research question?

Qualitative market research questions are most effective for those looking to carry out one-to-one or focus
group-style interviews to understand how your target demographic thinks and feels; and why they make
certain choices. The key qualities of a good qualitative research question are:

1. Being able to discover problems and opportunities from respondents

2. Open-ended in nature
3. Easy to understand and digest with no need for clarification

Poorly constructed qualitative research questions can affect the outcome of a study, with unclear responses
resulting in a considerable waste of resources.

Remember that qualitative data isn’t limited to words or text. Photographs, videos, and even sound
recordings can be considered qualitative data.

Good types of qualitative wording for research questions

Include the following types of qualitative words to engineer the type of responses you’re looking for from
interviewees:

 How
 What
 Generate
 Identify
 Describe
 Meaning
 Outline
 Experience

Words to avoid for qualitative research questions

The following types of words should not be included within a qualitative research question to avoid possible
ambiguity for respondents:

 Relate
 Impact
 Effect
 Cause
 Influence
 Compare
 Contrast

Qualitative research questions differ from quantitative research questions. Because qualitative research
questions seek to explore or describe phenomena, not provide a neat nomothetic explanation, they are
often more general and vaguely worded.
 They may include only one concept, though many include more than one. Instead of asking how one
variable causes changes in another, we are instead trying to understand the experiences, understandings,
and meanings that people have about the concepts in our research question.

Qualitative research questions have one final feature that distinguishes them from quantitative research
questions. They can change over the course of a study. Qualitative research is a reflexive process, one in
which the researcher adapts her approach based on what participants say and do. The researcher must
constantly evaluate whether their question is important and relevant to the participants. As the researcher
gains information from participants, it is normal for the focus of the inquiry to shift.

 
Key Takeaways

 Qualitative research questions often contain words like lived experience, personal experience,
understanding, meaning, and stories.
 Qualitative research questions can change and evolve as the researcher conducts the study.

https://scientificinquiryinsocialwork.pressbooks.com/chapter/8-4-qualitative-research-questions/

https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/articles/what-makes-a-good-qualitative-research-question