A qualitative researcher uses detailed data to understand human behavior in social science fields. They collect information through observation, surveys, interviews, or case studies, and rely on key informants for insider knowledge. They keep extensive notes and use triangulation methods for accuracy. Qualitative research aims to provide insight into a small sample of study subjects.
A qualitative researcher is a person who employs qualitative research methods to complete research studies, usually in social science fields such as psychology, education, anthropology or sociology. The highly trained academic professional known as a qualitative researcher focuses on research methodologies to try to understand the intricacies of human behavior, both as individuals and as members of a group or institution. While a quantitative researcher uses large samples of individuals to extrapolate results that are put in the form of numbers and statistics, a qualitative researcher uses smaller sample sizes to provide a comprehensive picture through detailed and rich data.
In the field of education, a qualitative researcher might try to see how well students and teachers get along and how the learning environment in a school has been affected by the implementation of a particular behavior modification program. To collect information, the researcher would need what is known as a gatekeeper, such as the principal, to obtain permission to conduct the study and gain access to people in the school. The researcher may spend several weeks over two or three school years collecting information. He or she may interview students and teachers, have them complete surveys, and observe to collect data related to the behavior modification program. Particularly credible study subjects, known as key informants, as people who may have insider knowledge of how the new plan is affecting teacher-student relationships, are people the researcher will want to talk to extensively.
Before starting a study, a qualitative researcher will decide on the objectives of the study and the data collection methodologies – such as observation, surveys, interviews or case studies – to be used. During and after the study, the qualitative researcher will keep extensive notes and documentation so that rich data thickness is available for analysis. Encoding the data is important for analysis as it can reduce some of the large amounts of information that will surely be recorded. In qualitative research, the researcher is concerned with the reliability of the data and may rely on triangulation methods, such as peer interrogation and interviewer corroboration, to ensure they are accurate. Unlike quantitative research, which can be generalized to situations or groups larger than the study sample, qualitative research only aims to give people an insight into what happened to the small sample of study subjects so that they can study the study’s findings. . researcher, draw your own conclusions and see how relevant the research is to them.
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