Qualitative psychological research

Qualitative psychological research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, including in psychology, which involves collecting non-numerical data. This type of research seeks to understand individuals' perceptions, experiences, and behaviors in detailed and in-depth ways.

Overview

Qualitative psychological research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research. Qualitative psychological research is also used to uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the problem.

Methods

Qualitative psychological research methods include ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, discourse analysis, narrative research, and case study methods. These methods are not mutually exclusive and can be used in combination to meet the needs of the research study.

Ethnography

Ethnography is a qualitative research method often used in social sciences, particularly in anthropology and in some branches of sociology. It is often employed for gathering empirical data on human societies and cultures.

Phenomenology

Phenomenology is a research methodology that seeks to understand the subjective, lived experiences and perspectives of participants. This is achieved through a detailed exploration of participants' views and feelings.

Grounded Theory

Grounded theory is a research method that operates almost in a reverse fashion from traditional research and at first may appear to be in opposition to the scientific method. It begins with observations or data, from which it identifies certain concepts, trends, and patterns.

Discourse Analysis

Discourse analysis is a method that has been applied in a wide range of disciplines, including linguistics, education, sociology, anthropology, social work, cognitive psychology, social psychology, area studies, cultural studies, international relations, human geography, communication studies, and translation studies.

Narrative Research

Narrative research is a term that subsumes a group of approaches that in turn rely on the written or spoken words or visual representation of individuals.

Case Study

A case study is a research method involving an up-close, in-depth, and detailed examination of a particular case.

See Also

• Quantitative psychological research
• Mixed methods research
• Psychology
• Research methodology