What is a common limitation of qualitative research?

Qualitative research often involves interactions between the researcher and participants, which can lead to subjective interpretations of the data collected. This subjectivity can introduce bias, with the researcher's perspectives, assumptions, and personal experiences potentially influencing the data interpretation or the way questions are posed during interviews or focus groups. Because qualitative research aims to capture in-depth insights into human behavior and experiences, the researcher's involvement can significantly affect the outcome, making it a common limitation of this research approach.

In contrast, replicability is generally more challenging in qualitative research due to its subjective nature and the unique contexts of each study, which does not support the idea that it produces easily replicable results. While qualitative studies often rely on smaller, more purposeful samples to obtain rich, detailed insights, they don’t typically require larger sample sizes compared to quantitative studies, which aim for statistical significance with broader populations. Additionally, qualitative research is characterized by its emphasis on personal interaction, making the notion of providing less personal interaction not applicable.