Unit 2: Introduction to Qualitative Research

Lesson 1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Contents

Engage 2
Introduction 2
Objectives 3

Explore 3

Explain and Elaborate 5

Characteristics of Qualitative Research 5
Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Research 9

Extend 10
Activity 1 10

Evaluate 11

Wrap Up 13

Bibliography 14

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Engage

Introduction

Fig. 1. Magnified Quality

From a bird's-eye view, you learned that qualitative research is a type of research that
explores and tries to understand the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or
human problem. However, how could we fully utilize the potentials of qualitative research in
our everyday lives? How could we make sure that qualitative research is the best approach
that we could use in exploring a phenomena?

In this lesson, the distinct characteristics of qualitative research as well as its strengths and
weaknesses will be explored in detail.

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Describe the characteristics of qualitative research.
● Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research.

DepEd Competency
Describe the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of qualitative research.
(CS_RS11-IIIb-1)

Explore

15 minutes

This is an initial check-in activity to know what you already understand about qualitative
research. Do this activity with the rest of the class.

1. Prepare sticky notes and pen.

2. Write on the piece of sticky note the word that comes to mind first upon hearing
about “qualitative research”.
3. Post your note on the board.
4. Review the words posted on the board.
5. Group highly similar words together. Then, assign a specific description for each
group of words.

Group Description Words in the Group

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Guide Questions

1. What is the first word that came to your mind about qualitative research?

2. Based on the set of words provided by the class, what do you think are the
characteristics of qualitative research?

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

3. Do you think qualitative research is similar to quantitative research? Explain your

answer.

Explain and Elaborate

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

Qualitative research has some distinct characteristics that set it apart from quantitative
research. It is important for researchers to understand the nature of qualitative research in
considering the research design, data collection, and data analysis. The following are the
characteristics of qualitative research:

Naturalistic
Qualitative research is a form of natural inquiry because it focuses on studying its subject
in a natural setting. This trait sets qualitative research apart from most quantitative
research that tries to control the independent variables and see how it can affect the
dependent variables.

For example, if a researcher wants to determine the behavior of a toddler without adult
supervision, the researcher must focus on observing the toddler in his/her natural setting
without manipulating any part of the toddler’s environment.

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Inductive
Qualitative research utilizes inductive analysis. Inductive analysis is a qualitative approach
that derives primary research findings by looking for patterns or themes from the
collected data. In this approach, researchers usually start their research process with
specific observations, then form questions along the way in order to explore the data to
come up with a generalization or a theory that explains it.

Fig. 2. Comparison of inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning

Hence, this is also called the bottom-up approach. It is important to take note that in this
approach, most hypotheses or generalizations continuously change based on the flow of
observation and objectives of the researcher.

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research
For example, a researcher noticed that toddlers tend to talk more with one another when
there is no adult supervision. Then the researcher starts to form questions in order to
understand why this phenomenon happens.

Holistic
Holistic perspective focuses on the entirety of the phenomenon. With this approach, every
piece of information is treated with care in order to paint the whole picture. Qualitative
research tends to create a narrative regarding the whole system it is focusing on rather than
dissecting each part and knowing its effect on the entire system.

For example, a researcher may gain more understanding of toddler behavior by observing
both male and female groups. The observations on male groups might not be directly
applicable to the female groups and vice versa. With this, the researcher must consider that,
in order to understand the entire phenomenon, each set of data can be both right and
wrong depending on the group being observed in the study.

How different is qualitative research from

quantitative research?

Personal Immersion
Qualitative research mostly requires personal immersion of the researcher in the natural
setting. With this, the researcher is required to become part of the observed group in
order to acquire more in-depth data for the research. However, a common problem with
this trait of qualitative research is the frequent presence of biases. The researcher must
be aware that his/her perception of personal experiences while in immersion must not
affect the actual observation in the field.

For example, a researcher may have experienced difficulty in taking care of a toddler;
however, the results of the research should not be affected by his/her experiences. The

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research
findings must still be based on the subject being observed and not on the personal
experiences of the researcher himself.

Empathic Neutrality
While it is impossible to become completely neutral, the researcher must be keen in
observing neutrality while gathering data and writing the findings. A qualitative
research must be neutral and must not manifest the personal judgment and opinion of the
researcher.

For example, it would be extremely difficult for a researcher not to judge a toddler who is
more naughty and aggressive as compared to more behaved toddlers. This scenario
illustrates the difficulties of being completely neutral while collecting and analyzing the data.

Review
Objectivity is about being independent from the subjectivity of personal
perception, emotions, or even imagination. Objectivity helps in
maintaining empathic neutrality.

Flexibility
Because of the holistic nature of qualitative research and the level of immersion of the
researcher, new objectives or questions can emerge as the research progresses.
The initial plan may possibly be modified or abandoned depending on the new data
that comes in. The researcher must be open to change and must avoid rigidity in pursuit
of new knowledge.

For example, a researcher initially plans to know the behavior of toddlers when there is
no adult supervision. While observing the toddlers, the researcher noticed that the
toddlers talk more when they are unsupervised. The researcher may then opt to narrow

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research
down his/her research from just understanding the behavior of toddlers to
understanding why they talk more when there are no adults around.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is usually conducted through interviews, or surveys. Qualitative
research puts less emphasis on the use of quantitative data and relies more on the
explanation of why people think and behave in certain ways. Moreover, qualitative
studies require smaller sample size to focus more on the details of the data to be
collected. Lastly, qualitative research is best used to answer “how” and “why” questions.
With these characteristics, the following are the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative
research.

Table 3. Strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research

Strengths Weaknesses

It utilizes qualitative data that complement It utilizes a small sample size; hence, the
quantitative data. conclusion cannot be generalized for the
entire population.

Data collection is cost-efficient. Data collection is usually time-consuming

and labor-intensive.

Multiple methods for gathering data can be Complete neutrality is difficult to achieve.
used on sensitive subjects. Most of the time, data can be affected by
the researcher’s opinion and personal
judgment.

Collected data provides detailed Qualitative data can be more difficult to

information in explaining complex issues. analyze because of nonuniformity in the
observed data.

Results are based on observations in a Results can be unpredictable since changes

natural setting. in objectives can happen based on the flow
of the research process.

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Extend

Activity 1
Choose one characteristic of qualitative research, then identify all the possible strengths
and weaknesses of that characteristic.

Guide
Each of the characteristics of qualitative research has its own strengths that make us
see the merits of using a qualitative approach in a certain topic.

In determining the weaknesses, try to think of the possible obstacles or problems

that you might encounter when doing your research using a qualitative approach.

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Evaluate

A. Identify the characteristic of qualitative research being

described.

1. Qualitative research focuses on studying its subject in a natural setting.

2. Most hypotheses continuously change based on the availability of information and

progress of research.

3. The overall research shows the entire narrative of the phenomenon rather than
dissecting each part and knowing the effect of each part on the entire system.

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

B. Evaluate each scenario and determine if it is considered as a

strength or a weakness in using a qualitative approach for research.

1. The use of a limited number of sample sizes in order to come up with findings that
can be applied to a bigger population in the society

2. Total immersion of the researcher in the event or phenomenon being observed for a
more detailed data collection procedure

3. The use of qualitative data to observe a large number of samples for a more
comprehensive analysis

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

Wrap Up
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● Qualitative research has some distinct characteristics that set it apart from
quantitative research.
● Characteristics of qualitative research are naturalistic, inductive, holistic,
personal immersion, empathic neutrality, and flexibility.
● Qualitative research has strengths and weaknesses due to its distinct
characteristics.

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Unit 2.1: Overview of Qualitative Research

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Bibliography
Creswell, John W. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches,
3rd edition. California: SAGE Publications Inc., 2009.

Leavy, Patricia. Research Design: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods, Arts-Based, and
Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches. New York: The Guilford Press,
2017.

Neuman, W. Lawrence. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, 7th
ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited., 2014.

O’Leary, Zina. The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2004.

Vanderstoep, Scott W., and Deirdre D. Johnston. Research Methods for Everyday Life: Blending
Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass., 2009.

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