Q

qualitative research. Collection of data. usually by semistructured or unstructured method from small samples in discursive verbal form. Analysis is by subjective summary, again in discursive form. Often group discussions are used. Although this technique lacks the apparent essential of statistical reproducibility and is dependent on the collector and the analyser of the data, nevertheless it is widely used, not only on account of the relative speed and cheapness of data collection but also because of the relationships between all the variables which may be revealed. (JAB)