Qualitative research---is a broad term covering different research traditions that study the human experience
-it is subjective
-observations cannot be described meaningfully numerically
-typically samples are smaller and less scientifically representative
-the research attempts to answer the question of how people negotiate the complexities of everyday life or gain insight
-entails interviews or observations
-qualitative methods are emphasized in ethnomethodology and ethnography
-used in attempting to understand peoples' responses and meanings that they bring to experiences
-observations, surveys, case studies, biographies, interviews, questionnaires are used to gather data
Types of qualitative research include--
ethnographical, grounded theory, phenomenological and historical (Burns & Grove, 2003 p.19)
Examples of qualitative research-- PEHL 557 Class Notes
For comparative information on qualitative v.s. quantitative see: The University of Arkansas University Library LibGuides
