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Advantages of qualitative data?

Dear all,
Would like to know if this is correct "A lot of the questions I asked in the interview stemmed from my pre-determined questions, ensuring that there was a loose them running throughout the data. This made the data easier to analyse. However, this could lead to a biased and therefore invalid conclusion because there is a tendency to ignore information that goes against the theme"
Is this a valid argument?
What are the advantages of the fact that qualitative data produces an abundance of information?


Regards,

Alice_G
Reply 1
Avatar for NellaBella
NellaBella
the fact that alot of data is obtained is not really an advantage at all... it is a disadvantge to u, the researcher who now has to process alot of info to determine what was relevant to the research topic and whether the respondent had any biases. the bias of the respondent however does not (or should not) affect your bias.
Reply 2
Avatar for adelante
adelante
2
Alice_G

Qualitative data helps researchers to understand an issue and how an individual or group gives meaning to and express their understanding of themselves. Qualitative research helps to find out why something is happening and explores the complexity of a situation.

The researcher could distort the results of their interviews by imposing their own ideas in the interpretation of the results. In order for the researcher to understand the meanings and complexity of the subject being studied the researcher needs to look beyond the central theme of their questions to get a fuller picture of the subject matter. Their core questions should be used to stimulate or tease out other details of the topic being studied.

The abundance of information produced helps to understand, give meaning, present details, and portray the complexity of the subject being studied. Unlike quantitative surveys where the interviews are producing data from a large amount of people in order to measure a subject, the qualitative researcher has to get a large amount of information from a small group of people in order to understand a subject.

The abundance of information is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The difficulty lies in capturing the essence of meaning and complexity for the individuals and groups being researched without the researcher's own views polluting the results.

HTH

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