Qualitative studies attempt to reveal deep meaning in social phenomena.
They are documentary in nature and marked by a social interaction with the subject.
| Strategies |
Observational Studies Interviews Focus Groups Case Studies (Can be "longitudinal") Phenomenological (observing "lived experiences" and sensations, study of judgment, perception & emotion of a group of people) Ethnography (description of the culture of a group of people) |
| Materials | Field notes, recordings, audio/video |
| Characteristics |
Uses Inductive Reasoning Open-ended; Seeks exploration Sometimes lacks a clear hypothesis Less structured More individualistic Textual/Interpretive Flexible, can change mid-stream depending on findings |
