Week 12: Qualitative data

The defining nature and characteristics of qualitative research are surveyed in this topic, which identifies key distinctions between method and methodology. Qualitative research is primarily concerned with understanding human beings’ experiences in a humanistic, interpretive approach. Issues of research design differences between quantitative and qualitative research are traced with an emphasis on identifying diverse methodologies, including those focusing on the analysis of the text, and diverse forms of data collection along with criteria for evaluating qualitative research.