Examples of qualitative research

One example of grounded theory with which many of us are familiar is theory about the grief process.
Research revealed that people who were bereaved typically progressed through a series of stages and
that each stage was characterised by certain responses: denial, anger, acceptance and resolution. This is
not a new phenomenon, people have been going through these stages for as long as society has existed,
but the research formally acknowledged and described the experience. Now we use our knowledge of
the grief process, new knowledge derived from grounded theory, to understand the experience of
bereavement and to help the bereaved to come to terms with their loss. We recognise when a person is
having difficulty coming to terms with loss because we use the knowledge to recognise signs of
“abnormal” grief and can offer help.

Discourse analysts might for example study the different ways that people view eating chocolate6 – do
we adopt a discourse which encourages us to see ourselves as helpless chocoholics who are victims of
our cravings, or one which emphasises our ability to control the amount of chocolate we eat?

Phenomenological Method
The following are the essential aspects of this research method.

Phenomenological Method

Describe the experiences, events, or situations

Purpose
from different angles

 Sampling and data collection by conducting

interviews, observation, surveys, and reading
Method documents

 Describe and write the experience of the

phenomena

Classify the data and examine the experiences

Data Analysis
beyond human awareness

A database is formed to describe the findings

Outcomes
from a subject’s viewpoint
The word phenomenological means the study of a phenomenon such as events, situations, or experiences. It is
the best approach to describe something from different angles and add to the existing knowledge. Similarly, it
focuses on subjective experiences.

Here, a researcher uses different methods to gather data and understand the phenomenon. These methods
include interviews, visiting places, observation, surveys, and reading documents.

Lastly, this technique takes into account how participants feel about things during an event or activity. Thus, a
database with themes is formed to validate the findings.

For Example:

You can use this method to understand why students prefer to take online courses. Moreover, it will also
identify the reason behind the rise in the number of students from the last few years.

1. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the small and medium business in the

hospitality industry.
2. Coping mechanism took up by individuals with mental health issues
during the lockdown and its effects.
3. Analyze the causes behind the rise in domestic violence cases during the
first quarter of 2020.
4. State the effects of social isolation on recovering patients with a history of
substance abuse.
5. Qualitative analysis of the impact of lifestyle habits on patients suffering
from COVID-19.