The Principles of Qualitative Methodology. 3.1.1 What is qualitative research? Qualitative research is not easily defined and has been described in many different ways (Xxxx et al. 2000). It has often been defined simply as research which is not quantitative and which does not share its epistemological basis. However this simple definition of distinction from quantitative research is inadequate, not least because the distinction between what is quantitative and qualitative is not always clear-cut (Xxxxxxxxx, 2011a). Sometimes the term qualitative has been used to refer to the data collected whereas other times it has been used more to describe the actual methods used to collect and/or analyse the data. Qualitative research has also been differentiated from quantitative research by the types of research questions it seeks to answer, which are generally the more complex “how?” and why?” type of research questions rather than the more simple ‘how much?’ and ‘how many’ and “who, what and when?’ type of research questions (Bowling, 1997). For detractors of qualitative research, the very fact that it has had so many descriptions has been one major reason for their criticisms. There has often been resistance or even hostility towards qualitative research in health care research (Bowling, 1997). Qualitative research has often been criticized as subjective, non- rigorous and non-generalizable (Xxxxxxxxx, 2011a). These criticisms have often led in return to counter retorts that quantitative research is frequently reductionist and simplistic and lacking in validity and based on an unobtainable myth of pure objectivity for researchers (Xxxxxxxxx, 2011a). Qualitative research explicitly acknowledges the inevitability of subjectivity in research and so in fact often criticizes the notion of pure objectivity and value-free research (Bryman, 2012). It seems though now that fewer researchers maintain such conflicting and confrontational views and qualitative research is now usually considered complementary to quantitative research (Xxxx & Xxxx, 2006). Qualitative research is thought particularly helpful when little is known about a topic, such as in health services research (Xxxxxxx, 1996). Qualitative research is important for providing in- depth understanding of a process or experience such as with the perspectives of participants in health services (Bowling, 1997). In one example of the use of qualitative methods in mental health services, views about Crisis Resolution Teams (CRT) that were held by patients in N...
