Qualitative Research: An Introduction to Methods and Designs

A Word About Method and Methodology

The goal of most research, especially applied studies, is to find the answer to some question or solution to some problem and translate that answer into findings or reports that may lead to practical decisions of one kind or another. As discussed above, findings from these kinds of studies might be presented in the form of words, numbers, or both. Numbers, often generated as scores on tests or ratings on surveys, are usually presented in tables and charts based on descriptive or inferential statistical procedures. When words are the primary reporting medium, it is ordinarily the result of analyzing what are known as qualitative data (not to be confused with the term qualitative research), obtained from such ...