Strengths and Limitations

Now that Maxine and Jonathan have discussed the main type of qualitative data collection methods, Maxine wants to summarize what they covered. The following tables summarize the strengths and limitations of qualitative data collection methods.

Table Showing Strengths of Data Collection Methods

Fosters face-to-face interactions with participants

Useful for uncovering participants’ perspective

Facilitates immediate follow-up for clarification

Good for documenting major events, crises, social conflicts

Good for obtaining data on nonverbal behavior and communication

Obtains large amounts of data quickly

Easy and efficient to administer and manage

Data Collection Method:

In-depth Interviews

Fosters face-to-face interactions with participants

Useful for uncovering participants’ perspective

Facilitates immediate follow-up for clarification

Good for documenting major events, crises, social conflicts

Good for obtaining data on nonverbal behavior and communication

Obtains large amounts of data quickly

Easy and efficient to administer and manage

Data Collection Method:

Focus Groups

Fosters face-to-face interactions with participants

Useful for uncovering participants’ perspective

Facilitates immediate follow-up for clarification

Good for documenting major events, crises, social conflicts

Good for obtaining data on nonverbal behavior and communication

Obtains large amounts of data quickly

Easy and efficient to administer and manage

Data Collection Method:

Participant Observation

Fosters face-to-face interactions with participants

Useful for uncovering participants’ perspective

Facilitates immediate follow-up for clarification

Good for documenting major events, crises, social conflicts

Good for obtaining data on nonverbal behavior and communication

Obtains large amounts of data quickly

Easy and efficient to administer and manage

Data Collection Method:

Observation

Fosters face-to-face interactions with participants

Useful for uncovering participants’ perspective

Facilitates immediate follow-up for clarification

Good for documenting major events, crises, social conflicts

Good for obtaining data on nonverbal behavior and communication

Obtains large amounts of data quickly

Easy and efficient to administer and manage

Data Collection Method:

Document Analysis

Fosters face-to-face interactions with participants

Useful for uncovering participants’ perspective

Facilitates immediate follow-up for clarification

Good for documenting major events, crises, social conflicts

Good for obtaining data on nonverbal behavior and communication

Obtains large amounts of data quickly

Easy and efficient to administer and manage

Table Showing Weaknesses of Data Collection Methods

Requires specialized training

Dependent on cooperation of small group of key individuals

Difficult to replicate

Data often subject to observer effects

Can cause discomfort or even danger to researcher

Especially dependent on openness and honesty of participants

Highly dependent on the ability of the researcher to be resourceful, systematic, and honest

Data Collection Method:

In-depth Interviews

Requires specialized training

Dependent on cooperation of small group of key individuals

Difficult to replicate

Data often subject to observer effects

Can cause discomfort or even danger to researcher

Especially dependent on openness and honesty of participants

Highly dependent on the ability of the researcher to be resourceful, systematic, and honest

Data Collection Method:

Focus Groups

Requires specialized training

Dependent on cooperation of small group of key individuals

Difficult to replicate

Data often subject to observer effects

Can cause discomfort or even danger to researcher

Especially dependent on openness and honesty of participants

Highly dependent on the ability of the researcher to be resourceful, systematic, and honest

Data Collection Method:

Participant Observation

Requires specialized training

Dependent on cooperation of small group of key individuals

Difficult to replicate

Data often subject to observer effects

Can cause discomfort or even danger to researcher

Especially dependent on openness and honesty of participants

Highly dependent on the ability of the researcher to be resourceful, systematic, and honest

Data Collection Method:

Observation

Requires specialized training

Dependent on cooperation of small group of key individuals

Difficult to replicate

Data often subject to observer effects

Can cause discomfort or even danger to researcher

Especially dependent on openness and honesty of participants

Highly dependent on the ability of the researcher to be resourceful, systematic, and honest

Data Collection Method:

Document Analysis

Requires specialized training

Dependent on cooperation of small group of key individuals

Difficult to replicate

Data often subject to observer effects

Can cause discomfort or even danger to researcher

Especially dependent on openness and honesty of participants

Highly dependent on the ability of the researcher to be resourceful, systematic, and honest