Main Uses of Qualitative Research
1. Understanding User Experience (UX)
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Use: Explore how users interact with a product or service.
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Example: A tech company conducts in-depth interviews to find out why users abandon an app after installation. Insights reveal that the onboarding process feels confusing, leading to redesigns.
2. Developing New Theories or Concepts
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Use: Generate theories based on human behavior or social processes.
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Example: A sociologist observes interactions in a community to develop a theory on how trust is built among neighbors in high-crime areas.
3. Evaluating Programs or Interventions
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Use: Assess the impact and reception of social or educational programs.
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Example: A school uses focus groups with students and teachers to evaluate the success of a new anti-bullying campaign.
4. Exploring Cultural or Social Norms
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Use: Understand cultural practices, values, and traditions.
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Example: An anthropologist uses participant observation in a rural village to study local wedding customs and their social significance.
5. Exploring Mental Health and Emotions
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Use: Understand personal experiences with mental health.
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Example: A psychologist interviews individuals with anxiety to explore how their condition affects daily life and relationships.
Why Is Qualitative Research Important?
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Provides context to numbers from quantitative data.
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Reveals deeper truths that are hard to capture in surveys.
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Inspires empathy and human-centered design.
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Guides decision-making in businesses, policies, and education.
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