Advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research method

Qualitative research acknowledges that there are numerous approaches towards exploring
and comprehending social world. Realizing that nothing is set in stone and that new
discoveries are always possible. It aids in understanding individuals in a certain situation.
The approaches most frequently employed in qualitative research are qualitative case
studies, ethnographic, literature reviews, and active experimentation (Hennink, Hutter and
Bailey, 2020).
When examining contemporary social reality, qualitative approach has both many benefits
and drawbacks. Qualitative research can offer a more complex and accurate account of why
things happen and how they affect the people involved. However, because it interacts with
tiny groups and fewer subjects, qualitative research is indeed not representative of the
society because it cannot be generalised to the whole population or provide statistics.
Further advantage of the qualitative methodology is that it tries to avoid prejudging the
topics and presents them from their points of view so the reader may understand their
viewpoints. Some researchers, nevertheless, dispute with this viewpoint, claiming that
because everyone is, to some extent, judgmental and has preconceived notions, qualitative
research can be overly subjective and rely too heavily on the researcher's chosen field of
study of attention (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2016).

Below are the list of pros and cons of qualitative research.

Pros
1. In the modern age, honesty must come first when forming relationships. It can be
challenging for an outsider to understand the fundamental concepts underlying
how someone identifies themselves. Social scientists are urged to use the
qualitative research method to understand the driving forces underlying people's
daily decisions. (StudyMoose, 2016).
2. Humans are sophisticated beings. They do something in methods that really are
appropriate for ethical or moral positions, but they also make decisions based on
comfortability. Instead of focusing solely on the decisions or behaviours, this seems
 to be an opportunity to comprehend the background of what is occurring. Using this
strategy makes it feasible to uncover information within the data that can assist in
finding solutions to issues affecting everyone.
3. Further advantage of the qualitative methodology is that it tries to avoid prejudging
the topics and presents them from their points of view so the reader may
understand their viewpoints. Some researchers, nevertheless, dispute with this
viewpoint, claiming that because everyone is, to some extent, judgmental and has
preconceived notions, qualitative research can be overly subjective and rely too
heavily on the researcher's chosen field of study of attention.
4. It employs a smaller sample size than other research methods.
Using this method, social scientists can quickly collect data from participants,
producing a generality that can be useful for a specific demographic or the entire
population.
5. Irrational prejudice is one of the fundamental problems social research faces.
Qualitative research examines the decision-making process's actual organisational
structure. There is no longer a possibility of data bias. Producing predictable results
is achievable since the findings received through this procedure is typically more
reliable than that gained through other methods.
6. The absence of closed questioning is one of the key advantages of qualitative
research. Anytime researchers consider it necessary, open-ended inquiries may be
asked. Thanks to this framework, it is possible to understand where emotional
reactions come from. It can also help social scientists identify information that would
otherwise be overlooked.
7. It transforms personal experiences into actionable data.
Recognize the factors that influence people's decisions and look for solutions to
streamline the process. Through quantitative research, it is possible to transform
unique experiences into information that can be applied in several contexts. It's like
using the yin and yang principle on a grand scale.

Cons
 1. The information that researcher gathers have a subjective aspect because of
personal perspective. Some people will always believe that some significant
elements are more relevant than others in reaching their opinions. This option
allows you to obtain information that is incredibly accurate but completely false.
2. One of the main advantages of the qualitative studies approach is that it produces
many potential variables that sociologists can employ. Researchers should also take
this technique's disadvantages into account. With this choice, there will always be
some element of uncertainty.
3. Statistics and percentages are irrelevant to qualitative research. It seeks to identify
patterns in the ultra-local demography. Even though this method is useful for
examining certain problems, it can be challenging to extrapolate the findings to a
wider population. It's not the best decision to make if a process requires a larger
perspective.
4. It necessitates that researchers find unacknowledged data pieces.
5. Repeated research may be necessary.
6. Conducting a subjective analysis of influence

Conclusion

The advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research look at diversity in people to

comprehend what makes them who they are. This approach provides a more thorough
investigation of the selection problem to identify the causes of distinct issues that different
groups may encounter. Researchers can begin to identify strategies that benefit everyone
when they can recognise reoccurring trends. As a result, everyone will benefit from better
procedures, goods, and opportunities going forward.

References
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M.L. (2016). Introduction to qualitative research

methods : a guidebook and resource. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

StudyMoose. (2016). Advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research - Research

Paper Example - Free Essay. [online] Available at: https://studymoose.com/advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-qualitative-research-essay [Accessed 28 Nov. 2022].

Hennink, M., Hutter, I. and Bailey, A. (2020). Qualitative Research Methods. SAGE.