Question

Why do qualitative researchers like to give detailed descriptions of social settings?

a) To provide a contextual understanding of social behaviour.
b) It makes their researcher somewhat interesting.
c) As they are bored with their own research.
d) Because they do not believe in going beyond the level of description.

Answer 1

Qualitative researchers use detailed descriptions of social settings to provide a contextual understanding of social behavior and to reveal symbolic meanings and unnoticed social patterns in natural environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Qualitative researchers give detailed descriptions of social settings primarily to provide a contextual understanding of social behavior. This approach allows them to gain insights into the symbolic worlds and everyday experiences of research subjects. Qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observation aim to grasp the complex reality of human behavior by engaging deeply with participants in natural environments.

By spending extended periods within these settings, researchers can observe unnoticed social patterns and interpret the meaning behind actions and interactions. Such descriptive and interpretive results offer substantial contextual information which, although not always generalizable, contribute richly to our understanding of the social phenomena under examination.