Final answer:
Qualitative research in Social Studies employs methods like in-depth interviews and focus groups to explore human behavior, with analyses including thematic analysis and discourse analysis. It aims to provide rich insights into subjective experiences rather than generating repeatable statistical data.
Step-by-step explanation:
Qualitative research is a method of inquiry in Social Studies that focuses on understanding human behavior through in-depth exploration of complex ideas, subjective experiences, and meanings, rather than measurable quantities. Various data collection methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, case studies, and literature review are employed to gather non-numerical data. Data analysis involves methods like thematic analysis, discourse analysis, and content analysis, requiring the researcher's interpretive and analytical skills. The process is not aimed at finding repeatable outcomes, as in quantitative studies, but rather to generate a rich understanding of a topic. Thematic structures, interpretation and selective coding, and formulating categories are crucial when analyzing qualitative data. The eventual aim is to uncover themes and patterns to link back to the overarching research questions.
Qualitative sociology contrasts with its quantitative counterpart, which relies on statistical techniques and more significant numbers of participants. In qualitative studies, researchers might utilize symbolic interactionist perspectives to understand contexts and internal thought processes. This form of research provides insights that are impossible to capture with quantitative methods alone, highlighting its relevance in Social Studies, especially when exploring areas that require personal, sensitive, or nuanced information.