49 What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative researchers are like treasure hunters of the human experience, diving deep into the rich stories and perspectives that shape our world. They’re all about understanding how people interpret their lives and surroundings. Imagine them as detectives, but instead of solving crimes, they’re uncovering the intricate layers of human behavior and social phenomena. These researchers thrive in natural settings—think of them as studying people in their everyday habitats, much like a wildlife documentary but for humans!

Armed with tools like case studies, interviews, and observations, qualitative researchers gather data in all sorts of creative ways. While they often work within the interpretive paradigm (which focuses on the subjective nature of reality), they’re not limited to it. You’ll also find them exploring critical or constructivist approaches. So, whether they’re chatting with people, observing interactions, or delving into personal stories, qualitative researchers are your go-to experts for a deep, nuanced understanding of the human experience.

What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative research is a form of social inquiry.  It is important to understand that qualitative research is not a single type of social inquiry.  Qualitative research emerges from a number of different research traditions or disciplines. As a result, there is great variation in approaches for doing qualitative research, and these approaches are often in conflict. While there is great variation in qualitative research approaches, the following two features emerge across approaches:

Remember that the interpretive paradigm and qualitative research are closely related but not exactly the same. Interpretive research is a broader paradigm that focuses on understanding the meanings and interpretations of human experiences within their social contexts. It emphasizes the subjective nature of reality and often uses qualitative methods to gather data.

Qualitative research, on the other hand, refers specifically to the methods used to collect and analyze non-numeric data, such as interviews, observations, and focus groups. Although qualitative research is often used within the interpretive paradigm, it can also be used in other paradigms, such as critical or constructivist approaches.

In summary, interpretive research is a paradigm that often employs qualitative methods, but qualitative research is a set of methods that can be used within various research paradigms.

see also: https://usq.pressbooks.pub/socialscienceresearch/chapter/chapter-12-interpretive-research/