10 Problems with Qualitative Date
Book:
• Babbie, E. (2016). The basics of social research (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-1-305-50307-6
• This is only an online book so I apologize for the grainy photos.
Read Chapter 13 in provided link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXPogwrlei1dXHFw4SU5w3dNyQSGpHgo/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106796094328861362768&rtpof=true&sd=true
Watch Video:
10 Problems with Qualitative Date: https://youtu.be/wl5lS3MQbzo
Assignment:
• Please watch the YouTube video which discusses problems associated with qualitative research methods in market research:
• Next, respond to the following questions:
o Have you ever thought about ways that research methods can be used in the private sector?
o Have you considered applying your psychology degree in fields like industrial psychology, marketing, or engineering psychology? **I am not getting a psychology degree, I am getting a human services degree, so not sure how this should be answered…
o Do you agree with the speaker’s comments about the value and limitations of working with a small sample size (e.g., in a focus group setting)?
o How would you seek to generalize results from a small qualitative study?
o The speaker discusses several ways that qualitative research is mishandled by businesses. Do you suppose that behavioral sciences researchers ever fall into these same traps? If so, which ones? (Be specific.)
Sample Solution
Yes, I have considered applying my psychology degree to fields like industrial psychology, marketing, or engineering psychology. Qualitative research methods can be used in the private sector to gain insights into consumer behavior. This type of data collection allows researchers to understand trends and attitudes through interviews and observations rather than relying solely on surveys or other quantitative methods (Babbie, 2016). Qualitative research provides in-depth information on factors such as motivations and values which may otherwise be overlooked when using quantitative approaches alone. For example, a market researcher could conduct focus groups with potential customers to learn more about their preferences for certain products. Additionally, qualitative data can be used to uncover any obstacles that customers may encounter when trying to purchase products or services (Babbie, 2016).
Qualitative data can also be used by organizations looking to make improvements in service delivery or product design. By conducting interviews with key stakeholders such as employees and customers it is possible for them to identify any areas where changes need to be made in order for the organization’s operations run more efficiently (Babbie, 2016). All these examples demonstrate how different types of qualitative research methods can provide valuable insights which could then help businesses make better decisions regarding product development and customer satisfaction initiatives (Kandathil et al., 2019).
