What are the methodological challenges in qualitative research techniques?
Key challenges to conducting rigorous qualitative research range from instrument development through data collection to data analysis. In addition, results need to be documented and reported using formal accepted methods. For example, typical deficiencies are unfocused instrument development and lack of supporting theory. Rigor related to instrument protocol development requires attention to validity, intrusiveness (the Hawthorne effect) and triangulation. In addition, attention must be paid to distinguishing between collecting subjective and objective data, information on the formal vs. the informal organizational structures and processes and the differences between collecting facts vs. opinions vs. interpretations. Planned, systematic, comprehensive data collection requires variable definitions and measures, document coding form protocols, administrative database specifications and survey instrument question libraries. In the data collection phase, problems can be minimized through p
