Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which qualitative tradition should I use?

Your choice depends on your research purpose. Use phenomenology to explore lived experiences, grounded theory to build a theory, ethnography to understand a cultural group, case study to investigate a bounded system in depth, and narrative inquiry to study individual stories and identity.

Q: How do I establish trustworthiness in my qualitative study?

Use Lincoln and Guba's framework: credibility (member checking, triangulation, prolonged engagement), transferability (thick description), dependability (audit trail, consistent procedures), and confirmability (reflexivity, audit trail).

About This Site

What is The Qualitative Researcher?

The Qualitative Researcher is a free educational resource dedicated to qualitative research methods. We provide comprehensive guides to research traditions, process tutorials, software walkthroughs, downloadable templates, and a glossary of qualitative research terms.

Who is this site for?

Our primary audience is graduate students (master's and doctoral) conducting qualitative or mixed-methods research. Faculty teaching qualitative methods courses, program evaluators, UX researchers, and anyone interested in qualitative inquiry will also find our resources valuable.

Is everything on this site free?

Yes. All guides, tutorials, blog posts, glossary entries, and downloadable templates are completely free. Templates are provided under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.

What is the relationship between this site and Subthesis?

The Qualitative Researcher is an educational resource created by Subthesis. This site teaches methodology and provides static templates. Subthesis offers interactive tools like the Codebook Generator and Interview Protocol Template.

Qualitative Research Questions

How many participants do I need for my qualitative study?

There is no universal answer. Sample size depends on your research tradition, research questions, and the richness of your data. Common ranges: phenomenology (5-25), grounded theory (20-60), case study (1-5 cases), ethnography (extended engagement with one group). The key concept is data saturation — when no new themes emerge from additional data. See our blog post on qualitative sample size for detailed guidance.

Which qualitative tradition should I use?

Your choice depends on your research purpose. Use phenomenology to explore lived experiences, grounded theory to build a theory, ethnography to understand a cultural group, case study to investigate a bounded system in depth, and narrative inquiry to study individual stories and identity. Read our tradition guides for detailed comparisons.

What qualitative software should I use?

The most popular options are NVivo, Atlas.ti, Dedoose, and MAXQDA. NVivo is the most widely used in academia; Atlas.ti is valued for its visual analysis tools; Dedoose is web-based and good for collaboration; MAXQDA is strong for mixed methods. Many researchers also code by hand or in spreadsheets. See our software guides and software comparison blog post.

What's the difference between thematic analysis and content analysis?

Thematic analysis identifies and interprets patterns of meaning (themes) across qualitative data. Content analysis systematically categorizes and often quantifies textual data. Thematic analysis is more interpretive; content analysis can be more descriptive and may include frequency counts. Read our detailed comparison.

How do I establish trustworthiness in my qualitative study?

Use Lincoln and Guba's framework: credibility (member checking, triangulation, prolonged engagement), transferability (thick description), dependability (audit trail, consistent procedures), and confirmability (reflexivity, audit trail). See our trustworthiness guide.

Can I use qualitative methods in a mixed-methods study?

Yes. Mixed-methods research intentionally integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches. Common designs include convergent (parallel data collection), explanatory sequential (quant then qual), and exploratory sequential (qual then quant). Integration occurs through joint displays, data transformation, or narrative weaving. See our mixed methods blog post.

Templates and Tools

Can I modify the templates for my study?

Absolutely. Our templates are starting points designed to be adapted. Modify headings, add sections, remove what doesn't apply. Just document any modifications in your methods section.

Are the consent form templates IRB-approved?

Our consent form template follows general best practices but is not pre-approved by any specific IRB. Always submit your consent form to your institution's IRB for review and approval before using it with participants.

Where can I find interactive research tools?

Visit Subthesis for interactive tools including the Codebook Generator and Interview Protocol Template.