Common Qualitative Research Designs
Narrative research is a common qualitative research design, while experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research are quantitative methodologies.
Qualitative Research Designs
The evidence clearly distinguishes between qualitative and quantitative research approaches based on how data are measured—qualitative research involves nonnumerical data measured by quality, while quantitative research uses numerical measurements 1.
Primary Qualitative Designs Include:
Narrative research: A qualitative approach that collects and analyzes accounts people tell to describe experiences and offer interpretation 2, 3. Narrative interviews allow participants to control the direction, content, and pace of the interview rather than following a fixed researcher agenda 4.
Focus groups: Group activities involving 6-8 participants (though smaller groups of 3-6 are gaining popularity) with certain similarities who discuss their opinions and beliefs about a familiar topic, led by a trained moderator 1.
Semistructured interviews: A qualitative method where researchers discuss a defined topic individually and informally with participants, allowing for individual reflections without influence from others 1.
In-depth interviews: Individual conversations that explore personal experiences and perspectives in detail 1.
Ethnography: Observational research conducted in participants' natural environments to understand behaviors and cultural contexts 1.
Phenomenological approaches: Methods like hermeneutic phenomenology that explore lived experiences 1.
Experience-based co-design: A technique using narratives (often video recorded) that allows patients and researchers to work in partnership 1.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
Experimental research: This is a quantitative design involving randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where researchers manipulate variables and use randomization to limit threats to internal validity 1.
Quasi-experimental research: This quantitative approach includes designs like interrupted time series and regression discontinuity, used when randomization is not possible but numerical outcomes are still measured 1.
Correlational research: This is a quantitative observational design (including cohort and case-control studies) that examines relationships between variables using numerical data 1.
Key Distinction
Qualitative research is defined by nonnumerical data collection through observed behavior, verbal responses, and recordings, analyzed to understand the reasons behind phenomena such as consumer decisions, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors 1. In contrast, quantitative designs require scales and statistical software to analyze numerical data 1.
The evidence consistently categorizes narrative approaches alongside other qualitative methods like focus groups and interviews 1, while experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational designs are explicitly identified as quantitative methodologies 1.