Final answer:
The criticism of qualitative research that the approach is too rigid and inflexible is incorrect; qualitative research is recognized for its flexibility, as opposed to the structured nature of quantitative methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following is not a criticism of qualitative research? The answer is c) The approach is too rigid and inflexible. Criticisms of qualitative research often include that studies are difficult to replicate, there is a lack of transparency, and the accounts are too subjective and impressionistic. On the contrary, qualitative research is known for its flexibility and adaptability to different environments and contexts. The rigidity is often attributed to quantitative research methods that include structured protocols and statistical analyses.
Case studies, which depend on qualitative research, are valued for their in-depth exploration of specific environments like classrooms or hospitals, but have limitations such as the inability to generalize findings to a larger population and the lack of researcher control. In qualitative studies, the data can be time-consuming to collect and organize, and it reflects what people think and believe, which may not always align with their behaviors in real life. However, the strength of qualitative research lies in its capacity to capture rich, detailed accounts of experiences, attitudes, and social processes.
The scientific method may occasionally be critiqued as too rigid, but flexibility is essential in scientific inquiry to accommodate new insights and directions as experiments unfold. Hence, rigid and inflexible approaches are not characteristic criticisms of qualitative research.