Overview
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Because of the depth of understanding, flexibility, and cost, using qualitative research as a method of study comes with its strengths. According to Rubin and Babbie (2017), “Qualitative research is especially effective for studying subtle nuances in attitudes and behaviors and for examining social processes over time” (p. 446). Qualitative research allows you to provide more details. It will enable you to understand why something is happening and how it affects the population it focuses on. Modifying research at any time throughout the research process is an advantage of qualitative research (Rubin & Babbie, 2017). As research is being conducted, you can expand your methods, such as the population you are surveying, as you start to receive results. For example, I conducted my research paper on the Maternal Mortality Rate of Black Women. I could have expanded to do it on the Maternal Mortality Rate of Women of Color to expand the population I was researching due to my findings expanding beyond just Black Women. The cost of qualitative research is on the affordable side. In most instances, you need a researcher and a few pieces of equipment to conduct your research (Rubin & Babbie, 2017). However, if the amount of time you take to conduct your research is prolonged, the cost becomes pricey. While there are many strengths, there are some weaknesses to qualitative research. Being subjective in qualitative research can become a problem at times. According to Rubin and Babbie (2017), “Qualitative research measurements—although in depth—are also often very personal” (p. 448). It is important to remember if you are conducting qualitative research not to include your own personal biases. Generalization in qualitative research is inevitable. For instance, when surveying a particular population, it is highly likely that you will be interviewing biased samples. While it may not be intentional, it does happen. Qualitative research is also more dependable and valued as insight than proof of truth (Rubin & Babbie, 2017).
Focus groups are usually done through qualitative research. According to Rubin and Babbie (2017), “The main idea is that the participants in a focus group will be stimulated by each other’s comments to think of things that might not have occurred to them in an individual interview” (p. 468). While focus groups can be a big sample, most researchers prefer for the sample to be smaller. The samples are picked using purposive sampling because the researcher wants a sample with good knowledge of the topic (Rubin & Babbie, 2017). Focus groups usually start off by being asked open-ended questions. Open-ended questions tend to help everyone in the focus group feel comfortable and contribute to the conversation. Everyone takes turns responding to the questions. It starts with an introductory question, then a transition question, and then leads into the key questions of the research. After a series of questions have been asked, the questions end with ending questions.
Reference:
Rubin, A., & Babbie, E.R. (2017). Research methods for social work (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning
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