Research Methods and Applications for Student Affairs

Chapter FiveLearning Qualitative Research

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Understand the purpose and role of qualitative methods in research.
• Differentiate between the major types of qualitative methods.
• Know answers to basic questions about qualitative methods in research.
• Apply basic qualitative terminology.
• Relate qualitative research to student affairs practice.

Qualitative research is used extensively in student affairs to enlighten and inform student success, recommend best practices for programs and services, map learning environments, and identify areas of concern. Interviews are the most prominently used method and are generally used as a primary form of analysis. Document analysis and ...