Journal of

Review Preventive Medicine

J Prev Med Public Health 2023;56:12-20 • https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.22.451 & Public Health
pISSN 1975-8375 eISSN 2233-4521

Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Necessity and

Characteristics
Jeehee Pyo1,2, Won Lee3, Eun Young Choi4, Seung Gyeong Jang3, Minsu Ock1,2,5
1
Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea; 2Ulsan Metropolitan City
Public Health Policy’s Institute, Ulsan, Korea; 3Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea; 4College of Nursing, Sungshin Women’s
University, Seoul, Korea; 5Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Quantitative and qualitative research explore various social phenomena using different methods. However, there has been a tendency
to treat quantitative studies using complicated statistical techniques as more scientific and superior, whereas relatively few qualitative
studies have been conducted in the medical and healthcare fields. This review aimed to provide a proper understanding of qualitative
research. This review examined the characteristics of quantitative and qualitative research to help researchers select the appropriate
qualitative research methodology. Qualitative research is applicable in following cases: (1) when an exploratory approach is required
on a topic that is not well known, (2) when something cannot be explained fully with quantitative research, (3) when it is necessary to
newly present a specific view on a research topic that is difficult to explain with existing views, (4) when it is inappropriate to present
the rationale or theoretical proposition for designing hypotheses, as in quantitative research, and (5) when conducting research that
requires detailed descriptive writing with literary expressions. Qualitative research is conducted in the following order: (1) selection of
a research topic and question, (2) selection of a theoretical framework and methods, (3) literature analysis, (4) selection of the re-
search participants and data collection methods, (5) data analysis and description of findings, and (6) research validation. This review
can contribute to the more active use of qualitative research in healthcare, and the findings are expected to instill a proper under-
standing of qualitative research in researchers who review qualitative research reports and papers.

Key words: Qualitative research, Focus groups, Interview

INTRODUCTION ject, especially in order to discover new facts or information

about it” [1], while Webster’s Dictionary defines research as
The definition of research varies among studies and schol- “studious inquiry or examination - especially: investigation or
ars, and it is difficult to devise a single definition. The Oxford experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of
English Dictionary defines research as “a careful study of a sub- facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new
facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories
Received: October 30, 2022 Accepted: December 23, 2022 or laws” [2]. Moreover, research is broadly defined as the pro-
Corresponding author: Minsu Ock cess of solving unsolved problems to broaden human knowl-
Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital,
University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, edge [3]. A more thorough understanding of research can be
Dong-gu, Ulsan 44033, Korea gained by examining its types and reasons for conducting it.
E-mail: ohohoms@naver.com The reasons for conducting research may include practical
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons goals, such as degree attainment, job promotion, and financial
Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
profit. Research may be based on one’s own academic curiosity
nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and repro-
duction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. or aspiration or guided by professors or other supervisors. Aca-

12 Copyright © 2023 The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine

 Necessity of Qualitative Research

demic research aims can be further divided into the following: the research topic, with mixed quantitative and qualitative re-
(1) accurately describing an object or phenomenon, (2) identi- search methodologies becoming more widespread in recent
fying general laws and establishing well-designed theories for years [7]. Applying these 2 methods through a virtuous cycle
understanding and explaining a certain phenomenon, (3) pre- of integration from a complementary perspective can provide
dicting future events based on laws and theories, and (4) ma- a more accurate understanding of human phenomena and
nipulating causes and conditions to induce or prevent a phe- solutions to real-world problems.
nomenon [3]. This review aimed to provide a proper understanding of
The appropriate type of research must be selected based on qualitative research to assist researchers in selecting the ap-
the purpose and topic. Basic research has the primary purpose propriate research methodology. Specifically, this review ex-
of expanding the existing knowledge base through new dis- amined the characteristics of quantitative and qualitative re-
coveries, while applied research aims to solve a real problem. search, the applicability of qualitative research, and the data
Descriptive research attempts to factually present compari- sources collected and analyzed in qualitative research.
sons and interpretations of findings based on analyses of the
characteristics, progression, or relationships of a certain phe- COMPARISON OF QUALITATIVE AND
nomenon by manipulating the variables or controlling the QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
conditions. Experimental or analytical research attempts to
identify causal relationships between variables through ex- A clearer understanding of qualitative research can be ob-
periments by arbitrarily manipulating the variables or control- tained by comparing qualitative and quantitative research,
ling the conditions [3]. In addition, research can be quantita- with which people are generally familiar [8,9]. Quantitative re-
tive or qualitative, depending on the data collection and ana- search focuses on testing the validity of hypotheses established
lytical methods. Quantitative research relies on statistical anal- by the researcher to identify the causal relationships of a spe-
yses of quantitative data obtained primarily through investi- cific phenomenon and discovering laws to predict that phe-
gation and experiment, while qualitative research uses specific nomenon (Table 1). Therefore, it emphasizes controlling the
methodologies to analyze qualitative data obtained through influence of variables that may interfere with the process of
participant observations and in-depth interviews. However, as identifying causality and laws. In contrast, qualitative research
these types of research are not polar opposites and the criteria aims to discover and explore new hypotheses or theories based
for classifying research types are unclear, there is some degree on a deep understanding of the meaning of a specific phenom-
of methodological overlap. enon. As such, qualitative research attempts to accept various
What is more important than differentiating types of research environmental factors naturally. In quantitative research, im-
is identifying the appropriate type of research to gain a better portance is placed on the researcher acting as an outsider to
understanding of specific questions and improve problems take an objective view by keeping a certain distance from the
encountered by people in life. An appropriate research type or research subject. In contrast, qualitative research encourages
methodology is essential to apply findings reliably. However, looking inside the research subjects to understand them deep-
quantitative research based on the philosophical ideas of em- ly, while also emphasizing the need for researchers to take an
piricism and positivism has been the mainstay in the field of intersubjective view that is formed and shared based on a mu-
healthcare, with academic advancement achieved through tual understanding with the research subjects.
the application of various statistical techniques to quantitative The data used in quantitative research can be expressed as
data [4]. In particular, there has been a tendency to treat com- numerical values, and data accumulated through question-
plicated statistical techniques as more scientific and superior, naire surveys and tests are often used in analyses. In contrast,
with few qualitative studies in not only clinical medicine, but qualitative research uses narrative data with words and images
also primary care and social medicine, which are relatively collected through participant observations, in-depth interviews,
strongly influenced by the social sciences [5,6]. and focus group discussions used in the analyses. Quantitative
Quantitative and qualitative research use different ways of research data are measured repeatedly to enhance their reli-
exploring various social phenomena. Both research methodol- ability, while the analyses of such data focus on superficial as-
ogies can be applied individually or in combination based on pects of the phenomenon of interest. Qualitative research in-

13
Jeehee Pyo, et al.

Table 1. Comparison of methodological characteristics between quantitative research and qualitative research
Characteristics Quantitative research Qualitative research
Research purpose Test the validity of the hypotheses established by the researcher Discover and explore new hypotheses or theories based on
to identify the causal relationships and laws of the phenomenon a deep understanding of the meaning of the phenomenon
and predict the phenomenon
Perspective on variables View factors other than the variables of interest as factors to be View factors as natural and accept assessments in a
controlled and minimize the influence of confounding factors natural environment
Research view Objective, outsider view Intersubjective, insider view
Data used Quantifiable, measurable data Narrative data that can be expressed by words, images and
so on
Data collection method Primarily questionnaire surveys or tests Primarily participant observation, in-depth interviews, and
focus group discussions
Nature of data and depth Focus on superficial aspects of the phenomenon by using reliable The aim is to identify the specific contents, dynamics, and
of analysis data obtained through repeated measurements processes inherent within the phenomenon and situation
using deep and rich data
Strengths and weaknesses High reliability and generalizability High validity
Difficulties with in-depth analysis of dynamic phenomena that Weak generalizability; interjection of subjectivity of the
cannot be expressed by numbers alone; difficulties in interpreting researcher is inevitable
the results analyzed by numbers

stead focuses on obtaining deep and rich data and aims to iden- (2) when something cannot be explained fully with quantita-
tify the specific contents, dynamics, and processes inherent tive research, (3) when it is necessary to newly present a spe-
within the phenomenon and situation. cific view on a research topic that is difficult to explain with
There are clear distinctions in the advantages, disadvantag- existing views, (4) when it is inappropriate to present the ra-
es, and goals of quantitative and qualitative research. On one tionale or theoretical proposition for designing hypotheses, as
hand, quantitative research has the advantages of reliability in quantitative research, and (5) when conducting research
and generalizability of the findings, and advances in data col- that requires detailed descriptive writing with literary expres-
lection and analysis methods have increased reliability and sions [7]. In particular, qualitative research is useful for open-
generalizability. However, quantitative research presents diffi- ing new fields of research, such as important topics that have
culties with an in-depth analysis of dynamic phenomena that not been previously examined or whose significance has not
cannot be expressed by numbers alone and interpreting the been recognized. Moreover, qualitative research is advanta-
results analyzed in terms numbers. On the other hand, qualita- geous for examining known topics from a fresh perspective.
tive research has the advantage of validity, which refers to how In the healthcare field, qualitative research is conducted on
accurately or appropriately a phenomenon was measured. various topics considering its characteristics and strengths.
However, qualitative research also has the disadvantage of Quantitative research, which focuses on hypothesis validation,
weak generalizability, which determines whether an observed such as the superiority of specific treatments or the effective-
phenomenon applies to other cases. ness of specific policies, and the generalization of findings, has
been the primary research methodology in the field of health-
APPLICATIONS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH care. Qualitative research has been mostly applied for studies
AND ITS USEFULNESS IN THE HEALTHCARE such as subjective disease experiences and attitudes with re-
FIELD spect to health-related patient quality of life [10-12], experi-
ences and perceptions regarding the use of healthcare servic-
Qualitative research cannot be the solution to all problems. es [13-15], and assessments of the quality of care [16,17].
A specific methodology should not be applied to all situations. Moreover, qualitative research has focused on vulnerable pop-
Therefore, researchers need to have a good understanding of ulations, such as the elderly, children, disabled [18-20], minori-
the applicability of qualitative research. Generally, qualitative ties, and socially underprivileged with specific experiences
research is applicable in following cases: (1) when an explor- [21,22].
atory approach is required on a topic that is not well known, For instance, patient safety is considered a pillar of quality of

14
 Necessity of Qualitative Research

care, which is an aspect of healthcare with increasing interna- tative research alone can produce significant findings; howev-
tional interest. The ultimate goal of patient safety research should er, combining quantitative and qualitative research produces
be the improvement of patient safety, for which it is necessary a synergistic effect. In the healthcare field, which remains un-
to identify the root causes of potential errors and adverse events. familiar with qualitative research, combining these 2 method-
In such cases, qualitative rather than quantitative research is ologies could both enhance the validity of research findings
often required. It is also important to identify whether there and facilitate open discussions with other researchers [29].
are any barriers when applying measures for enhancing pa- In addition, qualitative research has been used for diverse
tient safety to clinical practice. To identify such barriers, quali- sub-topics, including the experiences of patients and guard-
tative research is necessary to observe healthcare workers di- ians with respect to various diseases (such as cancer, myocar-
rectly applying the solutions step-by-step during each process, dial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depres-
determine whether there are difficulties in applying the solu- sion, falls, and dementia), awareness of treatment for diabetes
tions to relevant stakeholders, and ask how to improve the pro- and hypertension, the experiences of physicians and nurses
cess if there are difficulties. when they come in contact with medical staff, awareness of
Patient safety is a very broad topic, and patient safety issues community health environments, experiences of medical ser-
could be categorized into preventing, recognizing, and respond- vice utilization by the general public in medically vulnerable
ing to patient safety issues based on related metrics [23]. Re- areas, the general public’s awareness of vaccination policies,
sponding to issues that pertain to the handling of patient safe- the health issues of people with special types of employment
ty incidents that have already occurred has received relatively (such as delivery and call center workers), and the unmet health-
less interest than other categories of research on this topic, care needs of persons with vision or hearing impairment.
particularly in Korea. Until 2017, almost no research was con-
ducted on the experiences of and difficulties faced by patients GENERAL WORKFLOW OF QUALITATIVE
and healthcare workers who have been involved in patient RESEARCH
safety incidents. This topic can be investigated using qualita-
tive research. Rather than focusing on deriving objective information, qual-
A study in Korea investigated the physical and mental suf- itative research aims to discern the quality of a specific phe-
fering experienced during the process of accepting disability nomenon, obtaining answers to “why” and “how” questions.
and medical litigation by a patient who became disabled due Qualitative research aims to collect data multi-dimensionally
to medical malpractice [21]. Another qualitative case study was and provide in-depth explanations of the phenomenon being
conducted with participants who lost a family member due to researched. Ultimately, the purpose of qualitative research is
a medical accident and identified psychological suffering due set to help researchers gain an understanding of the research
to the incident, as well as secondary psychological suffering topic and reveal the implications of the research findings. There-
during the medical litigation process, which increased the ex- fore, qualitative research is generally conducted in the follow-
pandability of qualitative research findings [24]. A quantitative ing order: (1) selection of a research topic and question, (2) se-
study based on these findings confirmed that people who ex- lection of a theoretical framework and methods, (3) literature
perienced patient safety incidents had negative responses af- analysis, (4) selection of the research participants (or participa-
ter the incidents and a high likelihood of sleep or eating disor- tion target) and data collection methods, (5) data analysis and
ders, depending on their responses [25]. description of findings, and (6) research validation (Figure 1)
A study that applied the grounded theory to examine the [30]. However, unlike quantitative research, in which hypothe-
second victim phenomenon, referring to healthcare workers sis setting and testing take place unidirectionally, a major char-
who have experienced patient safety incidents, and presented acteristic of qualitative research is that the process is reversible
the response stages experienced by second victims demon- and research methods can be modified. In other words, the re-
strated the strength of qualitative research [26]. Subsequently, search topic and question could change during the literature
other studies used questionnaire surveys on physicians and analysis process, and theoretical and analytical methods could
nurses to quantify the physical, mental, and work-related diffi- change during the data collection process.
culties experienced by second victims [27,28]. As such, quali-

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Jeehee Pyo, et al.

works are based on philosophical ideas, which affect the selec-

Selection of tion of specific qualitative research methods. Representative
research topic qualitative research methods include the grounded theory,
and question
which is suitable for achieving the goal of developing a theory
Selection of that can explain the processes involved in the phenomenon
Research theoretical being researched; ethnographic study, which is suitable for re-
validation framework
and methods search topics that attempt to identify and interpret the culture
of a specific group; phenomenology, which is suitable for re-
search topics that attempt to identify the nature of research
participants’ experiences or the phenomenon being researched;
case studies, which aim to gain an in-depth understanding of
Data analysis
and Literature a case that has unique characteristics and can be differentiat-
description analysis ed from other cases; action research, which aims to find solu-
of findings
tions to problems faced by research participants, with the re-
Selection
of the research searchers taking the same position as the participants; and
participants and narrative research, which is suitable for research topics that at-
data collection
methods tempt to interpret the entire life or individual experiences con-
tained within the stories of research participants. Other meth-
Figure 1. General workflow of qualitative research. odologies include photovoice research, consensual qualitative
research, and auto-ethnographic research.
Selection of a Research Topic and Question
As with any research, the first step in qualitative research is Literature Analysis
the selection of a research topic and question. Qualitative re- Literature analysis results can be helpful in specifically se-
searchers can select a research topic based on their interests lecting the research problem, theoretical framework, and re-
from daily life as a researcher, their interests in issues within search methods. The literature analysis process compels quali-
the healthcare field, and ideas from the literature, such as aca- tative researchers to contemplate the new knowledge that
demic journals. The research question represents a more spe- their research will add to the academic field. A comprehensive
cific aspect of the research topic. Before specifically starting to literature analysis is encouraged both in qualitative and quan-
conduct research based on a research topic, the researcher titative research, and if the prior literature related to the sub-
should clarify what is being researched and determine what ject to be studied is insufficient, it is sometimes evaluated as
research would be desirable. When selecting a research topic having low research potential or research value. Some have
and question, the research should ask: is the research execut- claimed that a formal literature review should not be performed
able, are the research topic and question worth researching, before the collection of field data, as it could create bias, there-
and is this a research question that a researcher would want to by interfering with the investigation. However, as the qualita-
research? tive research process is cyclic rather than unidirectional, the
majority believes that a literature review can be performed at
Selection of Theoretical Framework and Methods any time. Moreover, an ethical review prior to starting the re-
A theoretical framework refers to the thoughts or attitudes search is a requirement; therefore, the research protocol must
that a researcher has about the phenomenon being researched. be prepared and submitted for review and approval prior to
Selecting the theoretical framework first could help qualitative conducting the research. To prepare research protocols, the
researchers not only in selecting the research purpose and existing literature must be analyzed at least to a certain de-
problem, but also in carrying out various processes, including gree. Nonetheless, qualitative researchers must keep in mind
an exploration of the precedent literature and research, selec- that their emotions, bias, and expectations may interject them-
tion of the data type to be collected, data analysis, and de- selves during the literature review process and should strive to
scription of findings. In qualitative research, theoretical frame- minimize any bias to ensure the validity of the research.

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 Necessity of Qualitative Research

Selection of the Research Participants and Data Table 2. Sampling methods of selecting research participants
Collection Methods in qualitative research
The subjects of qualitative research are not necessarily hu- Sampling method Explanation
mans. It is more important to find the research subject(s) from Typical sampling Selecting the most typical environment and
people for the research topic
which the most in-depth answers to the research problem can
Unique sampling Selecting unique and uncommon situations or
be obtained. However, the subjects in most qualitative studies (extreme case sampling) subjects who satisfy the research purpose
are humans, as most research question focus on humans. There- Maximum variation Selecting subjects showing maximum variation
fore, it is important to obtain research participants with suffi- sampling with a target population
cient knowledge, experience, and attitudes to provide the most Convenience sampling Selecting subjects who can be sampled most
conveniently considering practical limitations,
appropriate answers to the research question. Quantitative re- such as funding, time, and location
search, which views generalizability as a key research goal, Snowballing sampling Selecting key research participants who satisfy
emphasizes the selection of research participants (i.e., the re- the criteria established by the researcher and
using their recommendations to recruit
search sample that can represent the study’s population of in- additional research participants
terest), whereas qualitative research emphasizes finding re-
search participants who can best describe and demonstrate
the phenomenon of interest. from various observation levels, (3) documented data collect-
In qualitative research, the participant selection method is ed from personal or public documents, and (4) image data,
referred to as purposeful sampling (or purposive sampling), such as photographs and videos.
which can be divided into various types. Sampling methods Interview data are the most commonly used data source in
have various advantages, disadvantages, and characteristics. qualitative research [31]. In qualitative research, an interview
For instance, unique sampling (extreme case sampling) has the refers to communication that takes place based on a clear sense
advantage of being able to obtain interesting research findings of purpose of acquiring certain information, unlike conversa-
by researching phenomena that have previously received little tions that typically take place in daily life. The level of data ac-
or no interest, and the disadvantage of deriving research find- quired through interviews varies significantly depending on
ings that are interesting to only some readers if the research is the researcher’s personal qualifications and abilities, as well as
conducted on an overly unique situation. Maximum variation his or her level of interest and knowledge regarding the re-
sampling, also referred to as theoretical sampling, is common- search topic. Therefore, interviewers must be trained to go be-
ly used in qualitative research based on the grounded theory. yond simply identifying the clearly expressed experiences of
Selecting the appropriate participant sampling method that research participants to exploring their inner experiences and
suits the purpose of research is crucial (Table 2). emotions [32]. Interview data can be classified based on the
Once the researcher has decided how to select study partici- level of structuralization of the data collection method, sample
pants, the data collection methods must be determined. Just size, and interview method. The characteristics of each type of
as with participant sampling, various data collection methods interview are given in Table 3.
are available, all of which have various advantages and disad- Observations, which represent a key data collection method
vantages; therefore, the method must be selected based on in anthropology, refer to a series of actions taken by the re-
the research question and circumstances. Unlike quantitative searcher in search of a deep understanding by systematically
research, which usually uses a single data source and data col- examining the appearances of research participants that take
lection method, the use of multiple data sources and data col- place in natural situations [33]. Observations can be catego-
lection methods is encouraged in qualitative research [30]. Us- rized as participant and non-participant, insider and outsider,
ing a single data source and data collection method could cause disguised and undisguised, short- and long-term, and struc-
data collection to be skewed by researcher bias; therefore, us- tured and unstructured. However, a line cannot be drawn clearly
ing multiple data sources and data collection methods is ideal. to differentiate these categories, and the degree of each varies
In qualitative research, the following data types are commonly along a single spectrum. Therefore, it is necessary for a qualita-
used: (1) interview data obtained through one-on-one in-depth tive researcher to select the appropriate data collection meth-
interviews and focus group discussions, (2) observational data od based on the circumstances and characteristics of the re-

17
Jeehee Pyo, et al.

Table 3. Detailed types of interview methods according to the characteristics of in-depth interviews and focus group discussion
Classification Specific method Characteristics
Level of Structured Data are collected by asking closed questions in the order provided by highly specific interview guidelines
structuralization interview Useful for asking questions without omitting any details that should be checked with each research participant
Leaves little room for different interpretations of the participant’s responses or expressing original thoughts
Semi-structured Between a structured and unstructured interview; interview guidelines are developed in advance, but the questions are
interview not strictly set and may vary
The most widely used data collection method in qualitative research, as it allows interviews to be conducted flexibly
depending on the characteristics and responses of the participants
Researcher bias may influence the interview process
Unstructured The interview is conducted like a regular conversation, with extremely minimal prior information about the research
interview topic and adherence to interview guidelines to exclude the intention for acquiring information needed for the research
Can obtain rich and realistic meaning and experiences of the research participants
The quality of information acquired and length (duration) of interview may vary depending on the competency of the
interviewer, such as conversational skills and reasoning ability
Sample size One-on-one Excluding cases in which a guardian must accompany the research participant, such elderly or frail patients and children,
in-depth a single participant discusses the research topic with one to two researchers during each interview session
interview This data collection method is recommended for research topics that are difficult to discuss with others and suitable for
obtaining in-depth opinions and experiences from individual participants
The range of information that can be acquired may vary depending on the conversational skills and interview experience
of the interviewer and requires a relatively large amount of effort to collect sufficient data
Focus group At least 2 (generally 4–8) participants discuss the research topic during each interview session led by the researcher
discussion This method is effective when conducting interviews with participants who may be more willing to open up about
themselves in a group setting than when alone, such as children and adolescents
Richer experiences and opinions can be derived by promoting interaction within the group
While it can be an effective data collection method, there may be some limitations in the depth of the interview; some
participants may feel left out or not share their opinion if 1 or 2 participants dominate the discussion
Interview method Face-to-face The interviewer personally meets with the research participant to conduct the interview
It is relatively easy to build rapport between the research participant and interviewer; can respond properly to the
interview process by identifying non-verbal messages
Cannot conduct interviews with research participants who are difficult to meet face-to-face
Non-face-to-face Interview between the interviewer and research participant is conducted through telephone, videoconferencing, or email
Suitable data collection method for topics that deal with political or ethical matters or intimate personal issues;
in particular, email interviews allow sufficient time for the research participant to think before responding
It is not easy to generate interactions between the research participant and interviewer; in particular, it is difficult to
obtain honest experiences through email interviews, and there is the possibility of misinterpreting the responses

search topic. quisition cost. While some data may have been collected for
Various types of document data can be used in qualitative research purposes, other data may not have been originally
research. Personal documents include diaries, letters, and au- produced for research. Therefore, the researcher must not dis-
tobiographies, while public documents include legal docu- tort the original information contained in the data source and
ments, public announcements, and civil documents. Online must verify the accuracy and authenticity of the data source in
documents include emails and blog or bulletin board post- advance [30].
ings, while other documents include graffiti. All these docu-
ment types may be used as data sources in qualitative research. CONCLUSION
In addition, image data acquired by the research participant or
researcher, such as photographs and videos, serve as useful This review examined the characteristics of qualitative re-
data sources in qualitative research. Such data sources are rel- search to help researchers select the appropriate qualitative
atively objective and easily accessible, while they contain a research methodology and identify situations suitable for qual-
significant amount of qualitative meaning despite the low ac- itative research in the healthcare field. In addition, this paper

18
 Necessity of Qualitative Research

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