Qualitative Research Methods (sociology).

Qualitative research encompasses a diverse range of theoretical and philosophical traditions that, in general, stem from an interpretivist view of the world. In contrast to quantitative research, which stems primarily from a positivist view of the world and is typically used to measure things that one can see, qualitative research seeks to explain or understand how certain people experience and interpret their lives. Often, qualitative research is used to explore social phenomena and processes in their natural settings, such as how people cope with disease and illness, how the social category of gender is socially constructed through formal education, or how people learn to identify themselves as gay or lesbian. Qualitative research is used to make sense of such phenomena in terms of what they mean to people or how people make sense of such experiences. Using methods such as detailed interviewing, participant observation, and focus groups, qualitative researchers try to gain insight into the actor's perspective and capture his or her point of view or lived experience.