Question

As a qualitative researcher, how might you work to generalize your qualitative research findings more broadly?

Select one:
a. Obtain a bigger sample
b. Qualitative researchers care nothing about generalizability
c. Broadcast your findings in as many public forums as possible
d. Place your results in the context of an existing theory

Answer 1

To generalize qualitative research findings, place them within the context of existing theories, allowing for a broader application beyond the study's specific scope.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a qualitative researcher, one way to work toward generalizing qualitative research findings more broadly is to place your results in the context of an existing theory. This approach can help bridge the gap between the specific nuances of qualitative data and wider theoretical frameworks. By doing so, insights gained from the study can be viewed as instances of broader phenomena, making it easier to see how findings could apply to similar contexts beyond the immediate scope of the research.

Qualitative research often focuses on deeply understanding specific cases or contexts, which can be unique. Therefore, generalizability is not necessarily the primary goal, as it might be for quantitative research. Nonetheless, researchers may strive to enhance the relevance of their work by theorizing about their findings.