BASICS
“IT IS A WAY TO COLLECT QUALITY DATA AND PROOFS TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIMS AND ARGUMENTS”
As a student researcher, the first useful question to ask is: what is the purpose of using qualitative research methods?
Qualitative research aims to make sense of people’s behaviours and relations, in particular their perceptions, beliefs and understanding on a specific topic or issue. It usually studies smaller groups of people. It values the subjective and inter-subjective views of the researcher and the individuals being studied.
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Before choosing a research method, always consider your research topic and research questions. Think about the following questions first:
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What do you want to study? And why?
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Are there any similar research studies done by others? If so, why do it again? How can your research contribute to people’s understanding of the topic?
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What kind of information or data do you need?
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How to collect the data you need?
