Patton: 12 Major Characteristics of Qualitative Research

What is the main characteristic of naturalistic inquiry in qualitative research?

• Highly manipulative

• Predetermined constraints

• Studying real-world situations naturally

• Rigid designs

What does emergent design flexibility in qualitative research involve?

• Avoiding discovery paths

• Eliminating responsiveness

• Adapting inquiry as understanding deepens

• Sticking to rigid designs

Why is purposeful sampling important in qualitative research?

• To generalize from a sample to a population

• To select non-information rich cases

• To capture personal perspectives

• To gain insight about the phenomenon

What is the focus of inductive analysis and creative synthesis in qualitative research?

• Ending with a rigid synthesis

• Guided exploration

• Rigid analytical rules

• Immersion in data details

Why is context sensitivity important in qualitative research?

• To place findings in a context

• To make generalizations

• To undermine credibility

• To focus on variables and relationships