Depending on the characteristics of our object of study, sometimes we will carry out qualitative research and other times quantitative.
On this occasion we will focus on the first of the modalities, thus discovering what characterizes and distinguishes it from the other typology, what are its advantages and disadvantages, and of course We will see some examples of qualitative research to easily understand what it is.
Before starting to list the different examples of qualitative research, it is advisable to make a short introduction to help understand what this methodology consists of. Qualitative research is a type of study that, based on the scientific method, is dedicated to recording certain characteristics that cannot be measured by numbers at first
To carry out these records, researchers have a series of techniques such as mere observation, whether a participant or not, surveys and interviews, or discussion groups. What is done using these tools is to obtain complete speeches from the participants and then carefully analyze the content and draw conclusions.
These techniques are appropriate for this type of work, as we will see later in the different examples of qualitative research. On the contrary, quantitative research uses experiments. Qualitative research is highly oriented to disciplines that are generally included in the social sciences, although it may be the case that the field of study is different.
As we will discover when reviewing qualitative research examples, This type of work seeks to study the phenomenon in its natural context Once this has been observed, the researcher’s job is to interpret all the data that he has been able to record in order to provide them with a meaning that explains the specific quality that he has been studying.
What you would be carrying out is an induction process, since you would start from the cases that you have been able to observe during the investigation and from the data studied in them, you would reach conclusions applicable to the generality of all cases. For this reason, in addition, in this type of research it is not usual for the scientist to establish a priori hypotheses.
The studies carried out to give rise to the different examples of qualitative research are with small samples A statistical analysis of the data obtained is not carried out. That is a task that remains for quantitative research cases.
Different examples of qualitative research
Now that we have the necessary theoretical basis to be clear about the characteristics of these studies, we will move on to see a list of examples of qualitative research that will complement the data seen in the introduction and thus have a global vision of this concept.
1. Voting intention survey
One of the first examples of qualitative research that we can easily find is related to voting intention surveys. These studies They are usually done with a random population sample whose subjects are asked questions aimed at knowing what their preferred option for voting will be in the next elections, if there is one.
It is also often asked about the opinion of the different political leaders of the main parties. Likewise, in other surveys questions are asked with the aim of finding out what the main concerns are about the elements that surround the society in which you live, whether they refer to internal issues, such as the unemployment rate or a political scandal, or external, such as a global economic crisis.
These types of studies allow us to know the general thoughts of a specific population about a specific issue. Therefore, although the example is voting intention, as it is one of the most recurrent reasons, we must know that the methodology is applicable to practically any topic that the researcher is interested in knowing to carry out his study.
2. Relationships between colleagues
Continuing with the list of examples of qualitative research, we can also observe numerous studies whose purpose is to find out what social relationships are established between a certain group of people. For example, the observation scenario can be a school, checking what the behavioral patterns of children are at certain ages
Continuing with this example, an observer who is integrated into the daily routines of the class and can appreciate the behavior of the children without interfering in them, will easily be able to find out what social relationships have been built between them, friendship, enmity. , participation in specific activities and sports, etc. He will also see how those bonds evolve over time, strengthening, weakening or disappearing.
The school is only one of the possible scenarios, since in reality we can observe the behavior of human beings in any type of scenario, whether in their workplaces, in shops, in leisure venues or any other that we can imagine. happen. Human behavior is so complex that any new field of observation that occurs to the researcher will provide very rich information to continue unraveling its secrets.
3. Animal behavior
But we can’t only observe human beings. For many purposes, we are also interested in knowing the behavior of different animal species. Observation can be done both in the natural habitat, if possible, and in captivity whether in zoos or other enclosures where the animal is found.
We can observe and learn from any animal species, but depending on the purposes of the research, there will be some more interesting than others. For example, ethology and primatology professionals seeking to conduct a comparative study of animal behavior with human behavior you will surely find the observations of primates more interesting, and the closer genetically to humans, the better.
In that case, a good example could be the observation of chimpanzees in their natural environment, and its greatest representative could be none other than Jane Goodall, who has dedicated no less than 60 years to carrying out this type of studies with chimpanzee populations. wild chimpanzees from Africa. The field of qualitative research in primatology would not be the same without the contributions of this ethologist.
4. Traditions of a given culture
When we talk about human behavior, we must not forget that, Although part of it is innate, another corresponds to the sociocultural construction of the individual we are observing For this reason, another of the most important examples of qualitative research is that of the traditions that a specific culture has.
To focus on the example, we can simply think about the very different rites that take place when a human being is born, when they marry or when they die, depending on the country or culture in which they live. Generally, these types of issues are deeply rooted in religions, as they have marked people’s behavior in many aspects for centuries, and have even left an important mark in those societies that today are called secular.
5. Consumption habits
Of course, in a society based on capitalism, Companies are going to invest large amounts of money to get to know their potential customers in depth Therefore, another example of qualitative research that we should not lose sight of is consumer habits. As many studies can be done as there are products or services on the market.
Each company or sector will be in charge, to a greater or lesser extent, of studying the population in which its potential consumers are located. They will check what attracts their attention to the product, at all levels, from its packaging or its location in the corresponding store to the design, materials or the utilities themselves. Any small detail can make a difference and translate into huge profits or losses.
That’s why, This is probably one of the fields where qualitative research has the most weight since the marketing of any company is based, or should be based, on a high level of knowledge of the public to which its service or product is directed.
6. Study of behaviors associated with psychopathologies
To close the list of examples of qualitative research, We cannot forget a very particular type of human behavior, and it is the one that is associated with different psychopathologies In order to correctly understand the implications of a certain psychological illness, it is essential that we know in detail the behavioral alterations that it entails on a daily basis: hallucinations, delusions, states of agitation, etc.
Therefore, all qualitative research aimed at shedding light in this sense will be relevant, and thanks to which mental health professionals can do their work with increasing efficiency.
