There is one good textbook of research methodology that encompasses all aspects of research,including statistical analysis. The author of the textbook is called C.R. Kothari. This book can be downloaded free in this website -www.pdfdrive.net.

I hope this helps.

Thank you for that although I am struggling to find it. What is the book called? Does this also specifically address qualitative questionnaires/surveys as I am currently struggling to find it in the research books I have already read surrounding qualitative research. It mainly explains questionaires for intervies.

What makes a good qualitative research question?

• Theme: Plan to grow your business

Qualitative market research questions are most effective for those looking to carry out one-to-one or focus group-style interviews to understand how your target demographic thinks and feels; and why they make certain choices. The key qualities of a good qualitative research question are:

For many qualitative market researchers, agreeing on a question to ask an individual or focus group marks the beginning point of any piece of research. Poorly constructed qualitative research questions can affect the outcome of a study, with unclear responses resulting in a considerable waste of resources.

So let’s take a look at the components of a well-constructed qualitative research question that you can adopt for your own market research:

Choose an effective purpose statement

It’s important to set out the core objective or intent of your qualitative research from the outset. A single sentence purpose statement should define a roadmap for the overall study. The use of qualitative words such as ‘discover’, ‘understand’ and ‘explore’ help to set the tone of the question and demonstrate your desire to delve deeper.

Good types of qualitative wording for research questions

Include the following types of qualitative words to engineer the type of responses you’re looking for from interviewees:

• How
• What
• Generate
• Identify
• Describe
• Meaning
• Outline

Words to avoid for qualitative research questions

The following types of words should not be included within a qualitative research question to avoid possible ambiguity for respondents:

• Relate
• Impact
• Effect
• Cause
• Influence
• Compare
• Contrast

Qualitative research requires lot of interaction with study subjects through focus group discussions and with well prepared notes of discussion and synthesizing their opinion.Even their own experience can be quoted in discussions. Qualitative research requires very less of statistical applications. Even you can try with mixed research. Some part can be of quantitative research and a part of your study can have a qualitative research.

Thank you. I think I need to change my research question to suit quantitative research

Hi!

Your method will depend on your research question. Are you looking for detailed responses that you will analyse to find themes and emerging concepts? Or are you looking to find differences in responses?

I do a lot of qualitative research so don't hesitate to reach out.

Hello Kirsty,

Kindly ask yourself these following questions, If you answer yes to a majority of the questions, then it suggests that you adopt a qualitative method.

1. Would this study explore a subject not well defined?

2. Would this study describe social complexities?

3. Does the context (research question, population size, availability of respondent, the nature of the study, reliability and validity) of the study suggest a qualitative method?

4. Would this study do explain more than drawing relationship?

Apart from the previous questions, I have concern for your population size. However, you can consider other maternal health facilities to increase your population size.

For ethnics, the standards are adaptable to almost all situation. Your research design should guide you on how to go about anonymity since you are working among your colleagues. I suspect the quality of the qualitative data handles by the gatekeeper. I will suggest you engage trained research assistant who can handle these interview sessions for you.

You cannot use a gatekeeper to get qualitative data.But you can adminster likert type of instrument to get quantitative data and do a focus gp for them.

There is no questinnaire as such for qualitative studies which can be adminstered.there are lead questions which you throw in in the form of semi structured open ended questions.

You can choose 10 midwives for your qualitative data

That’s great. Thank you for that.

Thank you all.

I have decided to change my research question as I would need to be the researcher to complete my masters dissertation so couldn’t use an external interviewer to exclude and validity issues. Additionally the sample size would be too small to do quantitative research on and my original question wouldn’t suit quantitative data.

I am am now going to interview student midwives on their experience of contraceptive counselling and administration bunt midwives in the maternity service.

Please read the article Sandelowski, M. & Barroso, J. "Writing the Proposal for a Qualitative Research Methodology Project" August 2003, Qualitative Health Research 13(6):781-820 DOI: 10.1177/1049732303013006003