Question

What is qualitative research?

What are some of the techniques used in qualitative research ?

Define and describe community-based participatory research.

Why is it important/vital to involve the community in research?

How would you make sure that the community is involved in your research project?

Answer 1

Qualitative research is the research focused on factors which cannot be explained by numbers alone. Qualitative research happens to gauge the understanding and behaviours of people or consumers. It focuses on 'Why' people behave as they do and what they will do. The research mostly happens with open-ended questions with no definite yes-no answers.

Some of the techniques used in qualitative research are 1)Focus Groups 2)Interviews 3) Observations 4)Records 5)Ethnography research 6)Brainstorming

Community bases participatory research is the research involving community participants in every phase of research. The purpose of this research is to understand the social interactions of the groups and community members which influence the social behaviours and policies of a community. Community members carry out the research and this is because some communities will not provide correct answers to outsiders. Therefore, people who can be trusted are recruited from own community.

It is important and vital to involve the community in research as these members have more trust compared to outsiders. Also, many community members can discuss freely with their own members rather than others. These people also may understand the problems and issues, social behaviours and norms better than an academic researcher.

To make sure that a community is involved in the research, it is important to gain the trust of community elders and influencers who can mobilize volunteers for such research. These people who are respected will can make people follow their instructions.