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The Advantages of using Qualitative Research Methods

By Carolyn Nicholls BA (Hons) MSTAT, teacher of the Alexander Technique Essay from Masters Study

Introduction

As a species, human beings are very curious. We want to know about the world, how it (and we) evolved and how it works. We strive to understand, to change our world and to predict events and human behavior. This curiosity is mirrored in popular culture as depicted for example in television 'soaps'. Watch any version of Eastenders and the line "What's going on?" will inevitably be spoken by one or other of the characters. Along with this curiosity is a need expressed by many individuals to find frameworks, measurements or maps to help them make sense of the chaos of the world. To this end people, both as individuals and groups create for themselves structures, theories and what might be termed rules. That is; the way things are, or the way things could be if such an action took place or such an event occurred. As an instrument of measurement, research can be a very valuable tool. Research comes in many different formats. The television soap question "What's going on?" perfectly illustrates a common desire for information, clarification. Essentially, it is an excellent research question. Information is usually sought so that the person asking the question can consider a choice of action when they receive the answer. This is an example of a type of informal research. Most story lines however rely on the excitement of the answer being misunderstood, misinterpreted so that the consequent action is chaotic, which makes for good television. A more disciplined approach to research will give a less chaotic and more effective result. The two most familiar modes of research are quantitative and qualitative research methods. Both methods seek to help answer questions, or to confirm knowledge, to address issues and shape thinking for future action or non-action....