Qualitative research is an inductive process that requires an in-depth understanding of social phenomena within their natural setting. Unlike quantitative research, which uses logical and statistical procedures, qualitative researchers use methods such as biography, case study, historical analysis, discourse analysis, ethnography, grounded theory, and phenomenology to investigate human experiences.
The Front-to-Back Guide to Writing a Qualitative Research Article
In a research paper, you should clearly identify the method of inquiry and the results section of your work should present an interpretation of your findings. This type of article can be written in the same style as a journal article, with citations using the same style. It should also be reviewed by other scholars with an interest in the area.
The context of your research is an important element in the writing of a qualitative paper, as readers must be able to make a judgment about whether or not the study’s findings are applicable to their own context. It is therefore important to describe the social and historical context of the study and to make sure that any limitations in the methods are adequately reported.
Questioning the assumptions, prejudices, and presumptions that one makes about a phenomenon is central to understanding it. This iterative process of data collection and analysis leads to understanding as the researcher puts these assumptions in question and re-assesses them.
This is why qualitative research can be more challenging than quantitative research. While the same questions are asked in both types of research, the data collected in a qualitative study may be more difficult to analyze and interpret, as they are often expressed in non-numerical formats such as texts, photos, interviews, or sound recordings.
Reflexivity is the sensitivity of the researcher to the context, including how contact was established and maintained, or the background and experience of the researcher(s) involved in the study. This sensitivity is especially important in qualitative research because the researcher as an individual cannot be separated from the research process.
The purpose of qualitative research is to understand and explain the “why” of social phenomena, rather than just the “what.” This can help in creating awareness and action in the area being studied, but it is not always easy to determine how the results from your study might be applied to a specific situation.
Developing new understanding is an iterative process that can lead to a circular relationship between field and analysis (Schutz 1962:59). It involves oscillation between theory and evidence, between first-order and second-order constructs, and between getting in touch with something, becoming familiar with it, and distilling some of its essential features into theoretical concepts.
The iterative nature of the process in which research is conducted is reflected in the fact that it can be carried out with different types of methodology and with more or less flexibility, depending on the project. This openness and flexibility can be a positive aspect of qualitative research, as it allows for creativity and variety in the way researchers approach a project. However, it can also lead to a lack of consistency and reliability in the conclusions drawn from qualitative research.
