, HIN4801 ASSIGNMENT 03
DUE DATE: 29 JUNE 2026
1.1 Qualitative Research Approach
Definition of the Qualitative Research Approach
The qualitative research approach is a methodological framework used to explore and
understand human experiences, perceptions, and social phenomena in depth. It focuses
on non-numerical data such as words, meanings, opinions, and descriptions rather than
statistical measurement. The main purpose is to interpret how individuals construct
meaning within a specific context and to develop a rich understanding of complex
issues in real-life settings (Creswell & Creswell, 2023).
Qualitative research is particularly appropriate when a study aims to explore “how” and
“why” questions rather than “how many” or “how much.” It allows the researcher to
engage directly with participants to understand their lived experiences and
interpretations of a phenomenon. This makes it suitable for educational and
institutional studies where human behaviour and experience are central to the problem
being investigated (Ritchie et al., 2023).
In the context of the scenario, the librarians at Tsimuku University are investigating
Honours students’ awareness, usage, and experiences of online library services such as
online research support, LibGuides, and online consultation services introduced during
the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues require detailed explanations from students,
which makes a qualitative approach more suitable than a quantitative one.
Key Characteristics of the Qualitative Research Approach
A key characteristic of qualitative research is its exploratory nature. It is used when
little is known about a problem or when the researcher seeks to gain deeper insight
DUE DATE: 29 JUNE 2026
1.1 Qualitative Research Approach
Definition of the Qualitative Research Approach
The qualitative research approach is a methodological framework used to explore and
understand human experiences, perceptions, and social phenomena in depth. It focuses
on non-numerical data such as words, meanings, opinions, and descriptions rather than
statistical measurement. The main purpose is to interpret how individuals construct
meaning within a specific context and to develop a rich understanding of complex
issues in real-life settings (Creswell & Creswell, 2023).
Qualitative research is particularly appropriate when a study aims to explore “how” and
“why” questions rather than “how many” or “how much.” It allows the researcher to
engage directly with participants to understand their lived experiences and
interpretations of a phenomenon. This makes it suitable for educational and
institutional studies where human behaviour and experience are central to the problem
being investigated (Ritchie et al., 2023).
In the context of the scenario, the librarians at Tsimuku University are investigating
Honours students’ awareness, usage, and experiences of online library services such as
online research support, LibGuides, and online consultation services introduced during
the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues require detailed explanations from students,
which makes a qualitative approach more suitable than a quantitative one.
Key Characteristics of the Qualitative Research Approach
A key characteristic of qualitative research is its exploratory nature. It is used when
little is known about a problem or when the researcher seeks to gain deeper insight
