An introduction to qualitative methods

Introductory

In this lession you will learn:

  • Understand what qualitative research is and why it is used
  • Be able to recognise qualitative research
  • Understand the main strengths and limitations of qualitative research
Qualitative methods are a set of research techniques and approaches used to gather and analyze non-numerical data to gain insights into human behavior, social phenomena, and the subjective experiences of individuals or groups. Qualitative research is particularly useful when you want to explore complex, nuanced, and context-dependent aspects of a research question.

Qualitative methods

Qualitative research is commonly used in fields such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, education, and healthcare to explore a wide range of research questions related to human behavior, culture, and social dynamics. It is complementary to quantitative research, which focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis, and both approaches can be used together in mixed-methods research designs to provide a comprehensive understanding of a research problem.

Table of Contents

Qualitative Study Example

Advanced

Research Paper: Understanding the impact of changes to the UK Health and Care Visa System on the adult social care workforce in England,
Understanding the impact of changes to the UK Health and Care Visa System on the adult social care workforce in England, Phase 1: The Visa Study, presents an insight into the experiences behind these figures, focusing on key stakeholder groups: internationally recruited workers, diverse care providers across England, legal/recruitment agencies and sector skills experts. Kharicha, K., Manthorpe, J., Kessler, I., & Moriarty, J. (2023). Understanding the impact of changes to the UK Health and Care Visa System on the adult social care workforce in England, Phase 1: The Visa Study. NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce, The Policy Institute, King’s College London. https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-145