Qualitative Research: An Introduction to Methods and Designs

Research Methods

Research methods are the tools qualitative researchers use to investigate their research topic and construct their argument and the decisions they make as to how to use those tools and with whom. As noted earlier, qualitative research methods share a common core of characteristics. They are generally used in face-to-face situations in which the researcher is relating to the respondent or the setting or both. The researcher is the primary (though not the only) tool for data collection, meaning that information is always filtered through the exchange between the individual, the research setting, and the respondents. This may introduce biases into the interview process. To try to reduce researcher bias and to enhance the voices ...