Qualitative research
Qualitative work is judged on the quality of its reasoning, not the size of its dataset. These guides cover how many participants you need, what saturation really means, and how to write findings that are analysis rather than a quote dump.
Plan defensible qualitative sampling, then analyse and write findings that hold up to review.
- How many interviews or focus groups do I need?
- How do I justify saturation without hand-waving?
- How do I move from transcripts to codes and themes?
Start here
How Many Interviews Do You Need for a Qualitative Study? There Is No Magic Number
There is no universal rule that 12, 15 or 20 interviews is enough. Learn how to justify qualitative sample size using aim, heterogeneity, depth and information power.
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Thematic Analysis in Qualitative Research: A Step-by-Step Guide to Coding and Themes
Learn how to conduct thematic analysis in qualitative research, from familiarising yourself with transcripts and coding data to developing, reviewing and writing strong themes.
14 min readSaturation in Qualitative Research: What It Means and What It Does Not Mean
“Saturation was reached after 12 interviews” is not enough. Learn the different meanings of saturation and how to document sample adequacy transparently.
10 min readHow to Write Qualitative Findings Without Producing a Quote Dump
Strong qualitative findings make an analytical claim, explain it and use quotations as evidence. Learn how to move from a pile of quotes to an actual findings chapter.
7 min readSurvey or Interview? How to Choose the Right Method for Your Research
Survey or interview? Learn which method fits your research question, what each can answer and when a mixed-methods design makes sense.
7 min readSemi-structured Research Interviews: Questions and Probes
Write neutral interview questions and follow-up probes that reveal experiences without supplying the answer you hope to hear.
3 min readHow to Pilot a Qualitative Interview Guide
Pilot an interview guide for meaning, flow, depth and feasibility, then document revisions instead of treating the pilot as a rehearsal.
3 min readAnalytic Memo in Qualitative Research: Example and Template
Use an analytic memo to develop an interpretation, examine your assumptions and identify the evidence needed to test a developing idea.
3 min readFramework Analysis Matrix: A Worked Qualitative Example
Chart qualitative cases in a framework matrix while retaining context, source references and the difference between summary and interpretation.
3 min readFocus Group Composition: Who Should Be in the Same Group?
Plan focus-group composition around relationships, hierarchy and the interaction your question needs, with a practical grouping example.
3 min readNegative Case Analysis in Qualitative Research: An Example
Use contradictory cases to refine qualitative claims, examine boundaries and resist forcing every account into the same explanation.
3 min readMixed Methods Joint Display: A Worked Example
Connect quantitative findings and qualitative explanations in a joint display, including disagreement, limitations and the resulting integrated inference.
3 min read
Tools and templates
See everything for this stage: what to learn, use, download and check.