Discuss the potential strengths and weaknesses commonly associated with qualitative research.

What will be an ideal response?

The main strength of qualitative research is the validity of the data obtained: in-depth interviews are conducted with individuals in enough detail for the results to be considered accurate representations of their perspectives and experiences. The question “why” can usually be answered through qualitative research, although validity largely hinges on the skill, competence, and rigor of the researchers conducting the investigation. Qualitative research is more effective for studying topics that are difficult to analyze quantitatively, and the methods used are better suited for studying attitudes, meanings, perceptions, feelings, behaviors, motivations, interrelations among factors, changes, complexities, idiosyncrasies, and contextual background. Other strengths of qualitative research include its flexibility and cost savings.

The major weakness of qualitative research is its lack of generalizability. Its depth and detail typically derive from a small number of respondents or case studies that cannot be taken as representative, even if great care is taken to choose a cross-section of the type of people or research sites. It rarely yields descriptive statements about the characteristics of a large population, and the conclusions reached are generally regarded as less definitive. Another weakness is that because the measures are subjective and idiosyncratic, another researcher studying the same topic may use entirely different measures or analysis strategy and come to a different conclusion, so reliability is an issue. Other weaknesses include ethical issues that may arise when a case study is carried out by an active participant, practical difficulties in combining the sometimes conflicting roles of group member and researcher, and the demands placed on research skills.