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500+ Qualitative Research Titles and Topics

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Qualitative research is a methodological approach that involves gathering and analyzing non-numerical data to understand and interpret social phenomena. Unlike quantitative research , which emphasizes the collection of numerical data through surveys and experiments, qualitative research is concerned with exploring the subjective experiences, perspectives, and meanings of individuals and groups. As such, qualitative research topics can be diverse and encompass a wide range of social issues and phenomena. From exploring the impact of culture on identity formation to examining the experiences of marginalized communities, qualitative research offers a rich and nuanced perspective on complex social issues. In this post, we will explore some of the most compelling qualitative research topics and provide some tips on how to conduct effective qualitative research.

Qualitative Research Titles

Qualitative research titles often reflect the study’s focus on understanding the depth and complexity of human behavior, experiences, or social phenomena. Here are some examples across various fields:

“Understanding the Impact of Project-Based Learning on Student Engagement in High School Classrooms: A Qualitative Study”
“Navigating the Transition: Experiences of International Students in American Universities”
“The Role of Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education: Perspectives from Teachers and Parents”
“Exploring the Effects of Teacher Feedback on Student Motivation and Self-Efficacy in Middle Schools”
“Digital Literacy in the Classroom: Teacher Strategies for Integrating Technology in Elementary Education”
“Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices: A Case Study in Diverse Urban Schools”
“The Influence of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Achievement: Student Perspectives”
“Barriers to Implementing Inclusive Education in Public Schools: A Qualitative Inquiry”
“Teacher Professional Development and Its Impact on Classroom Practice: A Qualitative Exploration”
“Student-Centered Learning Environments: A Qualitative Study of Classroom Dynamics and Outcomes”
“The Experience of First-Year Teachers: Challenges, Support Systems, and Professional Growth”
“Exploring the Role of School Leadership in Fostering a Positive School Culture”
“Peer Relationships and Learning Outcomes in Cooperative Learning Settings: A Qualitative Analysis”
“The Impact of Social Media on Student Learning and Engagement: Teacher and Student Perspectives”
“Understanding Special Education Needs: Parent and Teacher Perceptions of Support Services in Schools

Health Science

“Living with Chronic Pain: Patient Narratives and Coping Strategies in Managing Daily Life”
“Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives on the Challenges of Rural Healthcare Delivery”
“Exploring the Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 on Frontline Healthcare Workers: A Qualitative Study”
“Patient and Family Experiences of Palliative Care: Understanding Needs and Preferences”
“The Role of Community Health Workers in Improving Access to Maternal Healthcare in Rural Areas”
“Barriers to Mental Health Services Among Ethnic Minorities: A Qualitative Exploration”
“Understanding Patient Satisfaction in Telemedicine Services: A Qualitative Study of User Experiences”
“The Impact of Cultural Competence Training on Healthcare Provider-Patient Communication”
“Navigating the Transition to Adult Healthcare Services: Experiences of Adolescents with Chronic Conditions”
“Exploring the Use of Alternative Medicine Among Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Qualitative Inquiry”
“The Role of Social Support in the Rehabilitation Process of Stroke Survivors”
“Healthcare Decision-Making Among Elderly Patients: A Qualitative Study of Preferences and Influences”
“Nurse Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture in Hospital Settings: A Qualitative Analysis”
“Experiences of Women with Postpartum Depression: Barriers to Seeking Help”
“The Impact of Nutrition Education on Eating Behaviors Among College Students: A Qualitative Approach”
“Understanding Resilience in Survivors of Childhood Trauma: A Narrative Inquiry”
“The Role of Mindfulness in Managing Work-Related Stress Among Corporate Employees: A Qualitative Study”
“Coping Mechanisms Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”
“Exploring the Psychological Impact of Social Isolation in the Elderly: A Phenomenological Study”
“Identity Formation in Adolescence: The Influence of Social Media and Peer Groups”
“The Experience of Forgiveness in Interpersonal Relationships: A Qualitative Exploration”
“Perceptions of Happiness and Well-Being Among University Students: A Cultural Perspective”
“The Impact of Art Therapy on Anxiety and Depression in Adult Cancer Patients”
“Narratives of Recovery: A Qualitative Study on the Journey Through Addiction Rehabilitation”
“Exploring the Psychological Effects of Long-Term Unemployment: A Grounded Theory Approach”
“Attachment Styles and Their Influence on Adult Romantic Relationships: A Qualitative Analysis”
“The Role of Personal Values in Career Decision-Making Among Young Adults”
“Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Inquiry”
“Exploring the Use of Digital Mental Health Interventions Among Adolescents: A Qualitative Study”
“The Psychological Impact of Climate Change on Young Adults: An Exploration of Anxiety and Action”
“Navigating Identity: The Role of Social Media in Shaping Youth Culture and Self-Perception”
“Community Resilience in the Face of Urban Gentrification: A Case Study of Neighborhood Change”
“The Dynamics of Intergenerational Relationships in Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Analysis”
“Social Capital and Economic Mobility in Low-Income Neighborhoods: An Ethnographic Approach”
“Gender Roles and Career Aspirations Among Young Adults in Conservative Societies”
“The Stigma of Mental Health in the Workplace: Employee Narratives and Organizational Culture”
“Exploring the Intersection of Race, Class, and Education in Urban School Systems”
“The Impact of Digital Divide on Access to Healthcare Information in Rural Communities”
“Social Movements and Political Engagement Among Millennials: A Qualitative Study”
“Cultural Adaptation and Identity Among Second-Generation Immigrants: A Phenomenological Inquiry”
“The Role of Religious Institutions in Providing Community Support and Social Services”
“Negotiating Public Space: Experiences of LGBTQ+ Individuals in Urban Environments”
“The Sociology of Food: Exploring Eating Habits and Food Practices Across Cultures”
“Work-Life Balance Challenges Among Dual-Career Couples: A Qualitative Exploration”
“The Influence of Peer Networks on Substance Use Among Adolescents: A Community Study”

Business and Management

“Navigating Organizational Change: Employee Perceptions and Adaptation Strategies in Mergers and Acquisitions”
“Corporate Social Responsibility: Consumer Perceptions and Brand Loyalty in the Retail Sector”
“Leadership Styles and Organizational Culture: A Comparative Study of Tech Startups”
“Workplace Diversity and Inclusion: Best Practices and Challenges in Multinational Corporations”
“Consumer Trust in E-commerce: A Qualitative Study of Online Shopping Behaviors”
“The Gig Economy and Worker Satisfaction: Exploring the Experiences of Freelance Professionals”
“Entrepreneurial Resilience: Success Stories and Lessons Learned from Failed Startups”
“Employee Engagement and Productivity in Remote Work Settings: A Post-Pandemic Analysis”
“Brand Storytelling: How Narrative Strategies Influence Consumer Engagement”
“Sustainable Business Practices: Stakeholder Perspectives in the Fashion Industry”
“Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges in Global Teams: Strategies for Effective Collaboration”
“Innovative Workspaces: The Impact of Office Design on Creativity and Collaboration”
“Consumer Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Customer Service: A Qualitative Exploration”
“The Role of Mentoring in Career Development: Insights from Women in Leadership Positions”
“Agile Management Practices: Adoption and Impact in Traditional Industries”

Environmental Studies

“Community-Based Conservation Efforts in Tropical Rainforests: A Qualitative Study of Local Perspectives and Practices”
“Urban Sustainability Initiatives: Exploring Resident Participation and Impact in Green City Projects”
“Perceptions of Climate Change Among Indigenous Populations: Insights from Traditional Ecological Knowledge”
“Environmental Justice and Industrial Pollution: A Case Study of Community Advocacy and Response”
“The Role of Eco-Tourism in Promoting Conservation Awareness: Perspectives from Tour Operators and Visitors”
“Sustainable Agriculture Practices Among Smallholder Farmers: Challenges and Opportunities”
“Youth Engagement in Climate Action Movements: Motivations, Perceptions, and Outcomes”
“Corporate Environmental Responsibility: A Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Expectations and Company Practices”
“The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems: Community Awareness and Behavioral Change”
“Renewable Energy Adoption in Rural Communities: Barriers, Facilitators, and Social Implications”
“Water Scarcity and Community Adaptation Strategies in Arid Regions: A Grounded Theory Approach”
“Urban Green Spaces: Public Perceptions and Use Patterns in Megacities”
“Environmental Education in Schools: Teachers’ Perspectives on Integrating Sustainability into Curricula”
“The Influence of Environmental Activism on Policy Change: Case Studies of Grassroots Campaigns”
“Cultural Practices and Natural Resource Management: A Qualitative Study of Indigenous Stewardship Models”

Anthropology

“Kinship and Social Organization in Matrilineal Societies: An Ethnographic Study”
“Rituals and Beliefs Surrounding Death and Mourning in Diverse Cultures: A Comparative Analysis”
“The Impact of Globalization on Indigenous Languages and Cultural Identity”
“Food Sovereignty and Traditional Agricultural Practices Among Indigenous Communities”
“Navigating Modernity: The Integration of Traditional Healing Practices in Contemporary Healthcare Systems”
“Gender Roles and Equality in Hunter-Gatherer Societies: An Anthropological Perspective”
“Sacred Spaces and Religious Practices: An Ethnographic Study of Pilgrimage Sites”
“Youth Subcultures and Resistance: An Exploration of Identity and Expression in Urban Environments”
“Cultural Constructions of Disability and Inclusion: A Cross-Cultural Analysis”
“Interethnic Marriages and Cultural Syncretism: Case Studies from Multicultural Societies”
“The Role of Folklore and Storytelling in Preserving Cultural Heritage”
“Economic Anthropology of Gift-Giving and Reciprocity in Tribal Communities”
“Digital Anthropology: The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Movements”
“Migration and Diaspora: Maintaining Cultural Identity in Transnational Communities”
“Cultural Adaptations to Climate Change Among Coastal Fishing Communities”

Communication Studies

“The Dynamics of Family Communication in the Digital Age: A Qualitative Inquiry”
“Narratives of Identity and Belonging in Diaspora Communities Through Social Media”
“Organizational Communication and Employee Engagement: A Case Study in the Non-Profit Sector”
“Cultural Influences on Communication Styles in Multinational Teams: An Ethnographic Approach”
“Media Representation of Women in Politics: A Content Analysis and Audience Perception Study”
“The Role of Communication in Building Sustainable Community Development Projects”
“Interpersonal Communication in Online Dating: Strategies, Challenges, and Outcomes”
“Public Health Messaging During Pandemics: A Qualitative Study of Community Responses”
“The Impact of Mobile Technology on Parent-Child Communication in the Digital Era”
“Crisis Communication Strategies in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of Reputation Management”
“Narrative Analysis of Personal Stories Shared on Mental Health Blogs”
“The Influence of Podcasts on Political Engagement Among Young Adults”
“Visual Communication and Brand Identity: A Qualitative Study of Consumer Interpretations”
“Communication Barriers in Cross-Cultural Healthcare Settings: Patient and Provider Perspectives”
“The Role of Internal Communication in Managing Organizational Change: Employee Experiences”

Information Technology

“User Experience Design in Augmented Reality Applications: A Qualitative Study of Best Practices”
“The Human Factor in Cybersecurity: Understanding Employee Behaviors and Attitudes Towards Phishing”
“Adoption of Cloud Computing in Small and Medium Enterprises: Challenges and Success Factors”
“Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management: A Qualitative Exploration of Potential Impacts”
“The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Personalizing User Experiences on E-commerce Platforms”
“Digital Transformation in Traditional Industries: A Case Study of Technology Adoption Challenges”
“Ethical Considerations in the Development of Smart Home Technologies: A Stakeholder Analysis”
“The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on News Consumption and Public Opinion”
“Collaborative Software Development: Practices and Challenges in Open Source Projects”
“Understanding the Digital Divide: Access to Information Technology in Rural Communities”
“Data Privacy Concerns and User Trust in Internet of Things (IoT) Devices”
“The Effectiveness of Gamification in Educational Software: A Qualitative Study of Engagement and Motivation”
“Virtual Teams and Remote Work: Communication Strategies and Tools for Effectiveness”
“User-Centered Design in Mobile Health Applications: Evaluating Usability and Accessibility”
“The Influence of Technology on Work-Life Balance: Perspectives from IT Professionals”

Tourism and Hospitality

“Exploring the Authenticity of Cultural Heritage Tourism in Indigenous Communities”
“Sustainable Tourism Practices: Perceptions and Implementations in Small Island Destinations”
“The Impact of Social Media Influencers on Destination Choice Among Millennials”
“Gastronomy Tourism: Exploring the Culinary Experiences of International Visitors in Rural Regions”
“Eco-Tourism and Conservation: Stakeholder Perspectives on Balancing Tourism and Environmental Protection”
“The Role of Hospitality in Enhancing the Cultural Exchange Experience of Exchange Students”
“Dark Tourism: Visitor Motivations and Experiences at Historical Conflict Sites”
“Customer Satisfaction in Luxury Hotels: A Qualitative Study of Service Excellence and Personalization”
“Adventure Tourism: Understanding the Risk Perception and Safety Measures Among Thrill-Seekers”
“The Influence of Local Communities on Tourist Experiences in Ecotourism Sites”
“Event Tourism: Economic Impacts and Community Perspectives on Large-Scale Music Festivals”
“Heritage Tourism and Identity: Exploring the Connections Between Historic Sites and National Identity”
“Tourist Perceptions of Sustainable Accommodation Practices: A Study of Green Hotels”
“The Role of Language in Shaping the Tourist Experience in Multilingual Destinations”
“Health and Wellness Tourism: Motivations and Experiences of Visitors to Spa and Retreat Centers”

Qualitative Research Topics

Qualitative Research Topics are as follows:

Understanding the lived experiences of first-generation college students
Exploring the impact of social media on self-esteem among adolescents
Investigating the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction
Analyzing the perceptions of employees regarding organizational culture
Examining the impact of parental involvement on academic achievement of elementary school students
Investigating the role of music therapy in managing symptoms of depression
Understanding the experience of women in male-dominated industries
Exploring the factors that contribute to successful leadership in non-profit organizations
Analyzing the effects of peer pressure on substance abuse among adolescents
Investigating the experiences of individuals with disabilities in the workplace
Understanding the factors that contribute to burnout among healthcare professionals
Examining the impact of social support on mental health outcomes
Analyzing the perceptions of parents regarding sex education in schools
Investigating the experiences of immigrant families in the education system
Understanding the impact of trauma on mental health outcomes
Exploring the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy for individuals with anxiety
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful intergenerational relationships
Investigating the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace
Understanding the impact of online gaming on social skills development among adolescents
Examining the perceptions of teachers regarding technology integration in the classroom
Analyzing the experiences of women in leadership positions
Investigating the factors that contribute to successful marriage and long-term relationships
Understanding the impact of social media on political participation
Exploring the experiences of individuals with mental health disorders in the criminal justice system
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community-based programs for youth development
Investigating the experiences of veterans in accessing mental health services
Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood obesity prevention
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful multicultural education programs
Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in the workplace
Understanding the impact of poverty on academic achievement
Exploring the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in the workplace
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful employee retention strategies
Investigating the experiences of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease
Understanding the impact of parent-child communication on adolescent sexual behavior
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health services on campus
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in the workplace
Investigating the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of mentorship on career success
Exploring the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities in the workplace
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community-based programs for mental health
Investigating the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of social media on romantic relationships
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding child discipline strategies
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful cross-cultural communication in the workplace
Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of cultural differences on healthcare delivery
Exploring the experiences of individuals with hearing loss in the workplace
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful parent-teacher communication
Investigating the experiences of individuals with depression in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health outcomes
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding alcohol and drug use on campus
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful mentor-mentee relationships
Investigating the experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities in the workplace
Understanding the impact of work-family balance on employee satisfaction and well-being
Exploring the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in vocational rehabilitation programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful project management in the construction industry
Investigating the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in peer support groups
Understanding the impact of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction and mental health
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood nutrition
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful environmental sustainability initiatives in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with bipolar disorder in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of job stress on employee burnout and turnover
Exploring the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities in recreational activities
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful strategic planning in nonprofit organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with hoarding disorder in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of culture on leadership styles and effectiveness
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding sexual health education on campus
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain management in the retail industry
Investigating the experiences of individuals with personality disorders in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of multiculturalism on group dynamics in the workplace
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in mindfulness-based pain management programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful employee engagement strategies in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with internet addiction disorder in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of social comparison on body dissatisfaction and self-esteem
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood sleep habits
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful diversity and inclusion initiatives in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with schizophrenia in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of job crafting on employee motivation and job satisfaction
Exploring the experiences of individuals with vision impairments in navigating public spaces
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer relationship management strategies in the service industry
Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative amnesia in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of cultural intelligence on intercultural communication and collaboration
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding campus diversity and inclusion efforts
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain sustainability initiatives in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of transformational leadership on organizational performance and employee well-being
Exploring the experiences of individuals with mobility impairments in public transportation
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful talent management strategies in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in harm reduction programs
Understanding the impact of gratitude practices on well-being and resilience
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood mental health and well-being
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful corporate social responsibility initiatives in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with borderline personality disorder in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of emotional labor on job stress and burnout
Exploring the experiences of individuals with hearing impairments in healthcare settings
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer experience strategies in the hospitality industry
Investigating the experiences of individuals with gender dysphoria in gender-affirming healthcare
Understanding the impact of cultural differences on cross-cultural negotiation in the global marketplace
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding academic stress and mental health
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain agility in organizations
Understanding the impact of music therapy on mental health and well-being
Exploring the experiences of individuals with dyslexia in educational settings
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful leadership in nonprofit organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in online support groups
Understanding the impact of exercise on mental health and well-being
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood screen time
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful change management strategies in organizations
Understanding the impact of cultural differences on international business negotiations
Exploring the experiences of individuals with hearing impairments in the workplace
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in corporate settings
Understanding the impact of technology on communication in romantic relationships
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community engagement strategies for local governments
Investigating the experiences of individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of financial stress on mental health and well-being
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful mentorship programs in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with gambling addictions in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of social media on body image and self-esteem
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood education
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful virtual team management strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative identity disorder in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of cultural differences on cross-cultural communication in healthcare settings
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in cognitive-behavioral therapy programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community-building strategies in urban neighborhoods
Investigating the experiences of individuals with alcohol use disorders in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of personality traits on romantic relationships
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health stigma on campus
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful fundraising strategies for political campaigns
Investigating the experiences of individuals with traumatic brain injuries in rehabilitation programs
Understanding the impact of social support on mental health and well-being among the elderly
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in medical treatment decision-making processes
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful innovation strategies in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative disorders in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of cultural differences on cross-cultural communication in education settings
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood physical activity
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful conflict resolution in family relationships
Investigating the experiences of individuals with opioid use disorders in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of emotional intelligence on leadership effectiveness
Exploring the experiences of individuals with learning disabilities in the workplace
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful change management in educational institutions
Investigating the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in recovery support groups
Understanding the impact of self-compassion on mental health and well-being
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding campus safety and security measures
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful marketing strategies for nonprofit organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with postpartum depression in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of ageism in the workplace
Exploring the experiences of individuals with dyslexia in the education system
Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in cognitive-behavioral therapy programs
Understanding the impact of socioeconomic status on access to healthcare
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood screen time usage
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain management strategies
Understanding the impact of parenting styles on child development
Exploring the experiences of individuals with addiction in harm reduction programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful crisis management strategies in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with trauma in trauma-focused therapy programs
Examining the perceptions of healthcare providers regarding patient-centered care
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful product development strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in employment programs
Understanding the impact of cultural competence on healthcare outcomes
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in healthcare navigation
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community engagement strategies for non-profit organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities in the workplace
Understanding the impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain sustainability strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with personality disorders in dialectical behavior therapy programs
Understanding the impact of gender identity on mental health treatment seeking behaviors
Exploring the experiences of individuals with schizophrenia in community-based treatment programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful project team management strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder in exposure and response prevention therapy programs
Understanding the impact of cultural competence on academic achievement and success
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding academic integrity
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful social media marketing strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with bipolar disorder in community-based treatment programs
Understanding the impact of mindfulness on academic achievement and success
Exploring the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in medication-assisted treatment programs
Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in exposure therapy programs
Understanding the impact of healthcare disparities on health outcomes
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain optimization strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with borderline personality disorder in schema therapy programs
Understanding the impact of culture on perceptions of mental health stigma
Exploring the experiences of individuals with trauma in art therapy programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful digital marketing strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in online support groups
Understanding the impact of workplace bullying on job satisfaction and performance
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health resources on campus
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain risk management strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in mindfulness-based pain management programs
Understanding the impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy on social anxiety disorder
Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being
Exploring the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in treatment programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful leadership in business organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in cognitive-behavioral therapy programs
Understanding the impact of cultural differences on intercultural communication
Examining the perceptions of teachers regarding inclusive education for students with disabilities
Investigating the experiences of individuals with depression in therapy programs
Understanding the impact of workplace culture on employee retention and turnover
Exploring the experiences of individuals with traumatic brain injuries in rehabilitation programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful crisis communication strategies in organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in mindfulness-based interventions
Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in healthcare settings
Understanding the impact of technology on work-life balance
Exploring the experiences of individuals with learning disabilities in academic settings
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful entrepreneurship in small businesses
Understanding the impact of gender identity on mental health and well-being
Examining the perceptions of individuals with disabilities regarding accessibility in public spaces
Understanding the impact of religion on coping strategies for stress and anxiety
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in complementary and alternative medicine treatments
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer retention strategies in business organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with postpartum depression in therapy programs
Understanding the impact of ageism on older adults in healthcare settings
Examining the perceptions of students regarding online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in virtual work environments
Investigating the experiences of individuals with gambling disorders in treatment programs
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in peer support groups
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful social media marketing strategies for businesses
Investigating the experiences of individuals with ADHD in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of sleep on cognitive and emotional functioning
Examining the perceptions of individuals with chronic illnesses regarding healthcare access and affordability
Investigating the experiences of individuals with borderline personality disorder in dialectical behavior therapy programs
Understanding the impact of social support on caregiver well-being
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in disability activism
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful cultural competency training programs in healthcare settings
Understanding the impact of personality disorders on interpersonal relationships
Examining the perceptions of healthcare providers regarding the use of telehealth services
Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative disorders in therapy programs
Understanding the impact of gender bias in hiring practices
Exploring the experiences of individuals with visual impairments in the workplace
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful diversity and inclusion programs in the workplace
Understanding the impact of online dating on romantic relationships
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood vaccination
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful communication in healthcare settings
Understanding the impact of cultural stereotypes on academic achievement
Exploring the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in sober living programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful classroom management strategies
Understanding the impact of social support on addiction recovery
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health stigma
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful conflict resolution in the workplace
Understanding the impact of race and ethnicity on healthcare access and outcomes
Exploring the experiences of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder in treatment programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful project management strategies
Understanding the impact of teacher-student relationships on academic achievement
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer service strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with social anxiety disorder in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of workplace stress on job satisfaction and performance
Exploring the experiences of individuals with disabilities in sports and recreation
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful marketing strategies for small businesses
Investigating the experiences of individuals with phobias in treatment programs
Understanding the impact of culture on attitudes towards mental health and illness
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding sexual assault prevention
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful time management strategies
Investigating the experiences of individuals with addiction in recovery support groups
Understanding the impact of mindfulness on emotional regulation and well-being
Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in treatment programs
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful conflict resolution in romantic relationships
Investigating the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in social skills training programs
Understanding the impact of parent-child communication on adolescent substance use
Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood mental health services
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful fundraising strategies for non-profit organizations
Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in support groups
Understanding the impact of personality traits on career success and satisfaction
Exploring the experiences of individuals with disabilities in accessing public transportation
Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in sports teams
Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in alternative medicine treatments
Understanding the impact of stigma on mental health treatment seeking behaviors
Examining the perceptions of college students regarding diversity and inclusion on campus.

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161+ Exciting Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Are you doing Qualitative research? Looking for the best qualitative research topics for stem students? It is a most interesting and good field for research. Qualitative research allows STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) students to delve deeper into complex issues, explore human behavior, and understand the intricacies of the world around them.

In this article, we’ll provide you with an extensive list of 161+ qualitative research topics tailored to STEM students. We’ll also explore how to find and choose good qualitative research topics, and why these topics are particularly beneficial for students, including those in high school.

Also Like To Read: 171+ Brilliant Quantitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Table of Contents

What Are Qualitative Research Topics for STEM Students

Qualitative research topics for stem students are questions or issues that necessitate an in-depth exploration of people’s experiences, beliefs, and behaviors. STEM students can use this approach to investigate societal impacts, ethical dilemmas, and user experiences related to scientific advancements and innovations.

Unlike quantitative research, which focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis, qualitative research delves into the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of a particular phenomenon.

How to Find and Choose Good Qualitative Research Topics

Selecting qualitative research topics for stem students is a crucial step in the research process. Here are some tips to help you find and choose a suitable topic:

Passion and Interest: Start by considering your personal interests and passions. What topics within STEM excite you? Research becomes more engaging when you’re genuinely interested in the subject.
Relevance: Choose qualitative research topics for stem students. Look for gaps in the existing knowledge or unanswered questions.
Literature Review: Conduct a thorough literature review to identify the latest trends and areas where qualitative research is lacking. This can guide you in selecting a topic that contributes to the field.
Feasibility: Ensure that your chosen topic is feasible within the resources and time constraints available to you. Some research topics may require extensive resources and funding.
Ethical Considerations: Be aware of ethical concerns related to your qualitative research topics for stem students, especially when dealing with human subjects or sensitive issues.

Here are the most exciting and very interesting Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students, high school students, nursing students, college students, etc.

Biology Qualitative Research Topics

Impact of Ecosystem Restoration on Biodiversity
Ethical Considerations in Human Gene Editing
Public Perceptions of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Coping Mechanisms and Stress Responses in Marine Biologists
Cultural Perspectives on Traditional Herbal Medicine
Community Attitudes Toward Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Ethical Issues in Animal Testing and Research
Indigenous Knowledge and Ethnobotany
Psychological Well-being of Conservation Biologists
Attitudes Toward Endangered Species Protection

Chemistry Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Adoption of Green Chemistry Practices in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Public Perception of Chemical Safety in Household Products
Strategies for Improving Chemistry Education
Art Conservation and Chemical Analysis
Consumer Attitudes Toward Organic Chemistry in Everyday Life
Ethical Considerations in Chemical Waste Disposal
The Role of Chemistry in Sustainable Agriculture
Perceptions of Nanomaterials and Their Applications
Chemistry-Related Career Aspirations in High School Students
Cultural Beliefs and Traditional Chemical Practices

Physics Qualitative Research Topics

Gender Bias in Physics Education and Career Progression
Philosophical Implications of Quantum Mechanics
Public Understanding of Renewable Energy Technologies
Influence of Science Fiction on Scientific Research
Perceptions of Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe
Student Experiences in High School Physics Classes
Physics Outreach Programs and Their Impact on Communities
Cultural Variations in the Perception of Time and Space
Role of Physics in Environmental Conservation
Public Engagement with Science Through Astronomy Events

Engineering Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Ethics in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Human-Centered Design in Engineering
Innovation and Sustainability in Civil Engineering
Public Perception of Self-Driving Cars
Engineering Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation
Experiences of Women in Male-Dominated Engineering Fields
Role of Engineers in Disaster Response and Recovery
Ethical Considerations in Technology Patents
Perceptions of Engineering Education and Career Prospects
Students Views on the Role of Engineers in Society

Computer Science Qualitative Research Topics

Gender Diversity in Tech Companies
Ethical Implications of AI-Powered Decision-Making
User Experience and Interface Design
Cybersecurity Awareness and Behaviors
Digital Privacy Concerns and Practices
Social Media Use and Mental Health in College Students
Gaming Culture and its Impact on Social Interactions
Student Attitudes Toward Coding and Programming
Online Learning Platforms and Student Satisfaction
Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life

Mathematics Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Gender Stereotypes in Mathematics Education
Cultural Variations in Problem-Solving Approaches
Perception of Math in Everyday Life
Math Anxiety and Coping Mechanisms
Historical Development of Mathematical Concepts
Attitudes Toward Mathematics Among Elementary School Students
Role of Mathematics in Solving Real-World Problems
Homeschooling Approaches to Teaching Mathematics
Effectiveness of Math Tutoring Programs
Math-Related Stereotypes in Society

Environmental Science Qualitative Research Topics

Local Communities’ Responses to Climate Change
Public Understanding of Conservation Practices
Sustainable Agriculture and Farmer Perspectives
Environmental Education and Behavior Change
Indigenous Ecological Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation
Conservation Awareness and Behavior of Tourists
Climate Change Perceptions Among Youth
Perceptions of Water Scarcity and Resource Management
Environmental Activism and Youth Engagement
Community Responses to Environmental Disasters

Geology and Earth Sciences Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Geologists’ Risk Perception and Decision-Making
Volcano Hazard Preparedness in At-Risk Communities
Public Attitudes Toward Geological Hazards
Environmental Consequences of Extractive Industries
Perceptions of Geological Time and Deep Earth Processes
Use of Geospatial Technology in Environmental Research
Role of Geology in Disaster Preparedness and Response
Geological Factors Influencing Urban Planning
Community Engagement in Geoscience Education
Climate Change Communication and Public Understanding

Astronomy and Space Science Qualitative Research Topics

The Role of Science Communication in Astronomy Education
Perceptions of Space Exploration and Colonization
UFO and Extraterrestrial Life Beliefs
Public Understanding of Black Holes and Neutron Stars
Space Tourism and Future Space Travel
Impact of Space Science Outreach Programs on Student Interest
Cultural Beliefs and Rituals Related to Celestial Events
Space Science in Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Public Engagement with Astronomical Phenomena
Space Exploration in Science Fiction and Popular Culture

Medicine and Health Sciences Qualitative Research Topics

Patient-Physician Communication and Trust
Ethical Considerations in Human Cloning and Genetic Modification
Public Attitudes Toward Vaccination
Coping Strategies for Healthcare Workers in Pandemics
Cultural Beliefs and Health Practices
Health Disparities Among Underserved Communities
Medical Decision-Making and Informed Consent
Mental Health Stigma and Help-Seeking Behavior
Wellness Practices and Health-Related Beliefs
Perceptions of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Psychology Qualitative Research Topics

Perceptions of Body Image in Different Cultures
Workplace Stress and Coping Mechanisms
LGBTQ+ Youth Experiences and Well-Being
Cross-Cultural Differences in Parenting Styles and Outcomes
Perceptions of Psychotherapy and Counseling
Attitudes Toward Medication for Mental Health Conditions
Psychological Well-being of Older Adults
Role of Cultural and Social Factors in Psychological Well-being
Technology Use and Its Impact on Mental Health

Social Sciences Qualitative Research Topics

Political Polarization and Online Echo Chambers
Immigration and Acculturation Experiences
Educational Inequality and School Policy
Youth Engagement in Environmental Activism
Identity and Social Media in the Digital Age
Social Media and Its Influence on Political Beliefs
Family Dynamics and Conflict Resolution
Social Support and Coping Strategies in College Students
Perceptions of Cyberbullying Among Adolescents
Impact of Social Movements on Societal Change

Interesting Sociology Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Perceptions of Racial Inequality and Discrimination
Aging and Quality of Life in Elderly Populations
Gender Roles and Expectations in Relationships
Online Communities and Social Support
Cultural Practices and Beliefs Related to Marriage
Family Dynamics and Coping Mechanisms
Perceptions of Community Safety and Policing
Attitudes Toward Social Welfare Programs
Influence of Media on Perceptions of Social Issues
Youth Perspectives on Education and Career Aspirations

Anthropology Qualitative Research Topics

Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation
Cultural Variation in Parenting Practices
Indigenous Language Revitalization Efforts
Social Impacts of Tourism on Indigenous Communities
Rituals and Ceremonies in Different Cultural Contexts
Food and Identity in Cultural Practices
Traditional Healing and Healthcare Practices
Indigenous Rights and Land Conservation
Ethnographic Studies of Marginalized Communities
Cultural Practices Surrounding Death and Mourning

Economics and Business Qualitative Research Topics

Small Business Resilience in Times of Crisis
Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
Corporate Social Responsibility Perceptions
International Trade and Cultural Perceptions
Consumer Behavior and Decision-Making in E-Commerce
Business Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Startups
Perceptions of Economic Inequality and Wealth Distribution
Impact of Economic Policies on Communities
Role of Economic Education in Financial Literacy

Good Education Qualitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Homeschooling Experiences and Outcomes
Teacher Burnout and Coping Strategies
Inclusive Education and Special Needs Integration
Student Perspectives on Online Learning
High-Stakes Testing and Its Impact on Students
Multilingual Education and Bilingualism
Perceptions of Educational Technology in Classrooms
School Climate and Student Well-being
Teacher-Student Relationships and Their Effects on Learning
Cultural Diversity in Education and Inclusion

Environmental Engineering Qualitative Research Topics

Sustainable Transportation and Community Preferences
Ethical Considerations in Waste Reduction and Recycling
Public Attitudes Toward Renewable Energy Projects
Environmental Impact Assessment and Community Engagement
Sustainable Urban Planning and Neighborhood Perceptions
Water Quality and Conservation Practices in Residential Areas
Green Building Practices and User Experiences
Community Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
Role of Environmental Engineers in Disaster Preparedness

Why Qualitative Research Topics Are Good for STEM Students

Deeper Understanding: Qualitative research encourages STEM students to explore complex issues from a human perspective. This deepens their understanding of the broader impact of scientific discoveries and technological advancements.
Critical Thinking: Qualitative research fosters critical thinking skills by requiring students to analyze and interpret data, consider diverse viewpoints, and draw nuanced conclusions.
Real-World Relevance: Many qualitative research topics have real-world applications. Students can address problems, inform policy, and contribute to society by investigating issues that matter.
Interdisciplinary Learning: Qualitative research often transcends traditional STEM boundaries, allowing students to draw on insights from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other fields.
Preparation for Future Careers: Qualitative research skills are valuable in various STEM careers, as they enable students to communicate complex ideas and understand the human and social aspects of their work.

Qualitative Research Topics for High School STEM Students

High school STEM students can benefit from qualitative research by honing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Here are some qualitative research topics suitable for high school students:

Perceptions of STEM Education: Investigate students’ and teachers’ perceptions of STEM education and its effectiveness.
Environmental Awareness: Examine the factors influencing high school students’ environmental awareness and eco-friendly behaviors.
Digital Learning in the Classroom: Explore the impact of technology on learning experiences and student engagement.
STEM Gender Gap: Analyze the reasons behind the gender gap in STEM fields and potential strategies for closing it.
Science Communication: Study how high school students perceive and engage with popular science communication channels, like YouTube and podcasts.
Impact of Extracurricular STEM Activities: Investigate how participation in STEM clubs and competitions influences students’ interest and performance in science and technology.

In essence, these are the best qualitative research topics for STEM students in the Philippines and are usable for other countries students too. Qualitative research topics offer STEM students a unique opportunity to explore the multifaceted aspects of their fields, develop essential skills, and contribute to meaningful discoveries. With the right topic selection, a strong research design, and ethical considerations, STEM students can easily get the best knowledge on exciting qualitative research that benefits both their career growth. So, choose a topic that resonates with your interests and get best job in your interest field.

Qualitative Research Topics & Ideas For Students

The Best Qualitative Research Topics For Students

Do you have difficulty finding a qualitative research title for your project? If you are, you need not worry because you are not alone. However, there are many unique qualitative titles you can explore for your research. You just need a few qualitative research title examples to get you started. Qualitative research is focused on data obtained through a researcher’s first-hand observations, natural setting recording, artifacts, case studies, documents, questionnaires, and interviews. The findings in qualitative research are usually non-numerical. Also, it is common in humanities and social sciences. This post provides over 100 qualitative research topics you can consider.

The Best Qualitative Research Topics That Impress the Teacher

Exceptional Qualitative Research Topics In Social Science

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An excellent research topic will help you earn a good grade. Consider any example of a qualitative research title from the following options:

The impacts of social media on physical social engagement in society
The benefits of treating mental disorders with medication
The effects of Gender-Based Violence on women’s social lives in rural areas
The decline of academic pursuit in third-world countries
Sexual workers: the stigma they experience
How has the promotion of feminist values influenced workplaces?
Free education: its impact in third-world countries
What is the correlation between education and success?
Ableism: its effects on disabled people in society
Food insecurity in third-world nations

The topic of your research paper can influence how easily you can conduct your study and draw conclusions.

Here are fantastic examples of qualitative research titles:

Female harm: how it is influenced by culture
The socioeconomic impacts of free education
The link between food insecurity and poor performance in schools
Alcoholism among college students: a critical study
How to mitigate child labor in our society
The root causes of child labor in Latin America
The stigma of living with transmissive medical conditions
The root cause of the stigma of people living with disabilities
How to identify depression in small children
Signs of autism in kids below two years old

Choosing a qualitative research topic is not a task you should take lightly because it can influence your performance. Here are some noteworthy qualitative research titles examples:

Basic patient care policies in developing nations
The impacts of alcoholism on education
Adult learning: what does it entail?
Homeschooling: Is it the latest trend after the pandemic?
Does computer literacy influence the quality of education kids enjoy?
How to effectively teach students with learning disabilities
The relationship between poor education systems and crime rates in third-world countries
Student bullying: the psychological impacts
Should high school students go through university preparedness programs?
research writing in high schools: its significance

Are you looking for qualitative research topic examples to start your study? Below are some creative examples to consider:

Remote tests: are they as effective as in-class tests?
The value of social activities in academic institutions
Why should healthcare be free in all countries?
The implications of racist laws on society
The reception of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments
What is the difference between foreign policies in first-world and third-world nations?
Racism and Colorism: what is the difference?
Dissecting the causes of low voter turnouts in the 21 st century
The challenges of social media on kid’s brain development
The inclusion of black women in American politics and its impacts

When competing with several brilliant minds, a good research topic can do you greatly. The following qualitative research examples titles are a great place to start:

Should school uniforms be discarded for high schoolers?
The need for equal representation in global politics
The implications of police brutality on politics
The role of parental care in foster kids
The distinction between Islamic values and Christian values
The correlation between political instability and migration
Sex trafficking and violence against women: what is the link?
How can global governments eradicate homelessness?
Fraternities and sororities: are they still relevant?
The role of literature in promoting societal changes

Qualitative research is popular in the education field and other social sciences. Choose a qualitative research title example on the subject of education from the following list:

Effectively introducing foreign languages in the high school curriculum
How can teachers help students with disabilities improve their learning?
The link between social activities and comprehension among students
Research writing in high schools: is it necessary?
How has virtual learning influenced teacher-student relationships?
The implications of allowing smartphones in classes
Should all schools introduce sign language lessons in their curriculum?
Student loans: their impacts on black students
The impacts of race on college acceptance rates
Poverty and education: what is the link?
Ethnic and socioeconomic causes of poor school attendance in developing worlds
Various teaching methods and their efficiency
Efficient teaching methods for children below two years
Why do students perform better in humanities than in sciences?
The difference between college acceptance and completion in most nations
Remote learning in developing countries
What are the best ways of approaching bullying in schools?
How do teachers promote inequality among students?
Does social class influence academic performance negatively or positively?
How do teachers shape their students’ personalities?

Coming up with a qualitative research title can be hard because of the numerous subject areas and the issue of uniqueness. Therefore, we have prepared the following qualitative title examples for you:

How to promote oral learning in classrooms
Political instability in developing countries: its economic impacts
The impacts of weather on social activities
Boredom and poor-decision making: the connection
Exploring the connection between attachment types and love languages
Socioeconomic impacts of instability on a country
How does social media impact the perception of reality
Reality TV shows: are they a true reflection of reality?
How culture applies to different age groups
Is social media influencing the loss of cultural values?

You can base your research topic on a specific region or nation, like the Philippines. A sample qualitative research title can get you started. You can pick a sample qualitative research title from the ideas below:

Why are so many Philippines residents migrating to America?
The impact of politics on migration in the Philippines
How has violence led to food insecurity in rural areas in the Philippines?
The Philippine education system: an overview
How cultural norms influence social activities in the Philippines
Gender roles in the Philippines society
How popular Filipino cultures have served as agents of social change in the nation
The link between male dominance and GBV in the Philippines
Barriers to clean hygiene in health centers in the Philippines
The spread of COVID in rural areas in the Philippines

Most top performers in research subjects attribute their success to choosing the best title for qualitative research. Here are some qualitative research topics about humanities and social science to promote good performance:

The impact of poor market rivalry on supply and demand
The role of parents in shaping kids’ morals
Is social media the root cause of poor societal morals?
How does alcohol impact a person’s normal behavior?
How often should adults engage in sporting activities?
Children’s eating habits and their influences
Low socioeconomic backgrounds and their impacts on self-esteem
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s views on viral diseases
How can school-going kids manage depression
Causes of mental challenges among school-going kids

Finding a good topic for qualitative research is a critical task that requires a lot of thought and research. However, we have simplified the process with the following qualitative topic ideas:

Pop music and erratic youth behavior: is there a link?
How do public figures influence cultures?
Ideas for improving healthcare in developing nations
Possible solutions for alleviating the food crisis in developing nations
New ways of mitigating viral diseases
Social media trends among the elderly
Quarantine as a mitigation approach for infectious diseases
Promoting social justice in patriarchal societies
Worrying trends among the young population
Emerging marketing trends in 2023

Qualitative research for college and high school students helps improve reading, writing, and intellectual skills. Here are some qualitative research examples and topic ideas for students :

How to detect and prevent natural disasters beforehand
Can the whole world have the same education system?
What is the most effective therapy for patients recuperating from brain surgery?
Possible solutions for promoting ethical practices in telehealth
Can addicts overcome addiction without therapy?
The latest technology trends and their impacts?
How can global governments promote mental health awareness?
Have smartphones caused reduced attention spans among users?
Sexual violence in rural areas
The introduction of Islam in African nations

We Are Here for You

Qualitative research is an investigative analysis of intangible or inexact data, mostly non-numerical. The title of qualitative research you choose will guide your entire research process and influence its conclusions. Do you need a paper or an example of a research title qualitative topic? Our expert team is ready to write it for you.

131 Interesting Qualitative Research Topics For High Scoring Thesis

Qualitative research topics are undoubtedly not easy. While statistics enthralls some students, others don’t like the subject. That’s because qualitative assignments entail cognitive analysis, which complicates them. But apart from the hardships of completing the projects, selecting topics for qualitative research papers is also a challenge.

This article presents a list of 130-plus qualitative research topic ideas to help learners that struggle to get titles for their papers. It is helpful because many learners have difficulties picking titles that will make their essays impressive to educators. But before presenting the topics, this article defines qualitative research.

What Is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative research is an investigative and innovative abstract data analysis. When writing a qualitative research paper, a learner analyzes intangible data. Qualitative researchers code the data after or during collection. Therefore, having top-notch research topics is necessary for a first-class essay.

Knowing how to write a qualitative research paper is vital because it helps the student deliver a copy that provides a clear picture of an event or situation. A researcher can achieve this via practical experience, reliable reporting, and conversations. Gathering raw data is the initial step in qualitative research. A researcher can gather raw data by conducting reviews, observations, and surveys. Also, researchers can use creative methods to collect data.

Best Examples Of Qualitative Research Topics

Qualitative research covers many things. Here are examples of topics that learners can explore in their qualitative study.

What causes stigma around some health challenges?
Stigma facing the people living with disabilities- What is the cause?
Can Pro Bono legal assistance improve the criminal justice system?
How the less privileged can benefit from Pro Bono services
The educational challenges facing rural children- Are there ways to help them?
Child labor causes- How to mitigate the practice
Substance and drugs- What are young people abusing more?
How alcohol affects college students
Can food insecurity interfere with children’s performance in school?
Food banks intricacies- Understanding the challenge in low-income areas
Free education- Does it have socioeconomic benefits?
Culture and female harm- What’s the connection?
The impact of social media on physical and social engagement among teens in urban areas
Using medication to treat depression- What are the health benefits?
Investigating peer educators’ efficiency in creating awareness of health and social issues
Gender-based violence- What causes it in rural areas, and how does it affect victims?
Sexual reproductive health challenges of child brides- Are there ways to control it?
Investigating the causes of school dropout among teenagers
How to address school dropout among young adults
Investigating the deteriorating academic pursuit in Third-World countries
Social activities- Do they have benefits for depressed people?
Investigating cerebral palsy and the stigma that people associate with it.
Living with disabilities- Are there social implications?
The impact of ableism on disabled people
Exploring the promotion and benefits of feminist values
Why should society promote free education in all learning environments?
What causes food insecurities among low-income earners?
Food and housing insecurity- What are the root causes?
What are the effects of displacement- Investigating the homeless people’s mental health

These are good examples of qualitative research topics. However, a student that picks a title in this category should research it extensively to impress the educator with their work.

Qualitative Nursing Research Topics

Professors ask students to write about qualitative topics when pursuing nursing studies. Here are issues to consider in this category.

How does the nurse-patient relationship affect health outcomes?
How can nurses deal with complex patients?
How can nurses provide culturally competent care?
How do personal beliefs affect nursing practice?
What is the impact of spirituality on nursing care?
How does the nurse’s role change when working with terminally ill patients?
What challenges do nurses face when providing end-of-life care?
How can nurses best support families whose members have serious illnesses?
What are the unique challenges of caring for elderly patients?
How does the nurse’s role change when working in a hospice setting?
Health outreach programs- What are the most effective ways to execute them?
Effective methods of curbing drug abuse
Effective ways to help rape survivors
How can nurses administer care to female genital mutilation victims?
How to care for special needs individuals
Anxiety and depression symptoms
Methods of administering care to Dyslexia patients
How to help individuals dealing with mental disorders
Signs of Alzheimer’s disease in older people
How to provide primary patient care

These are good qualitative research topics for students pursuing nursing studies. Nevertheless, learners must research any of these titles before writing their papers.

Qualitative Research Topics In Education

Most topics spring up from the education niche despite fitting other specifications. Here are examples of qualitative research topics that include the education niche.

Are guidance and counseling essential in schools?
How computer literacy affects education
Why governments in developing schools should encourage adult education
Autistic children’s education- Which learning style suits them?
Is mental health education relevant in the modern school curriculum?
Exploring the learning conditions for kids in third world countries
Child education and food insecurity- What is the connection?
The impact of virtual learning on high school students
How does alcoholism affect a student and their education?
Homeschooling- What are its advantages and disadvantages?
How do teachers’ beliefs about intelligence affect their teaching?
What is the teacher’s role in developing a student’s self-concept?
Does race or ethnicity play a role in how teachers treat their students?
What are the teachers’ experiences with teaching students with special needs?
What methods do effective teachers use to motivate their students?
What are the most effective ways to teach reading and writing?
How does technology use affect how teachers teach, and students learn?
What are the challenges faced by teachers in rural areas?
What are the challenges faced by teachers in urban areas?
How do charter schools differ from traditional public schools?

Many topics and issues in the education system allow learners to find subjects to investigate and cover in their papers quickly. And this is not an exhaustive qualitative research topic list in this field. Nevertheless, it covers the most exciting ideas to explore.

Qualitative Research Topics In Public Health

Educators ask students to write academic papers while studying the public health sector. And this provides insights into crucial and relevant aspects of this sector. Here are qualitative research topics examples in this category.

How does the public health sector manage epidemics?
The role of public health in disaster management
Evaluating the effectiveness of public health campaigns
An analysis of the factors that hinder effective public health delivery
Access to healthcare: A study of rural and urban populations
Health needs assessment of refugees
Mental health support within the public health sector
The role of technology in public health
Understanding and addressing health disparities
Sexual and reproductive health rights in the public health discourse
How immunization benefits people in rural areas
What causes water-borne diseases, and how can society mitigate them?
Symptoms of high blood pressure among young people
How antenatal care helps pregnant women
How to boost breast cancer awareness

These are excellent qualitative research paper topics in the public health sector. Nevertheless, learners need sufficient time and resources to investigate their preferred titles in this category to write winning papers.

Qualitative Research Topics In Project Management

Project management writing focuses on ways to achieve results and goals while basing the achievement on the process. This subject covers planning, structuring, proffering, and controlling ways to execute plans to accomplish desired goals. Here are research topics for qualitative research in project management.

How effective communication strategies can impact the outcome of a project
How different leadership styles affect team productivity during a project
The role of conflict management in ensuring successful project outcomes
Gender differences in the perception and understanding of project risk
The impact of organizational culture on a project’s likelihood of success
How different project management methodologies affect its outcome
The effect of stakeholder involvement on project success
How to manage virtual teams effectively to ensure successful project outcomes
What motivates project managers to achieve successful results?
How can project managers create a positive work environment that leads to successful outcomes?
What challenges do project managers face when trying to achieve successful outcomes?
How can project management be used to achieve social change?
What are the ethical implications of project management?
What are the global impacts of project management?
Ways to achieve sustainable development through project management

These are topics to explore in project management. Nevertheless, learners need adequate time to investigate their chosen titles and write winning essays.

Qualitative Research Topics In Political Science

Qualitative research can also cover political science. Investigating this field enables people to understand it better and can be broad. Here are sample titles to consider in for your scientific thesis .

How do social media affect the way people engage with politics?
What motivates people to vote?
How does voting behavior change over time?
What are the consequences of gerrymandering?
How does campaign finance influence elections?
Interest groups- What is their role in politics?
How do the media cover politics?
What are the effects of political scandals?
How does public opinion influence policymakers?
How feminism enhanced the American politics
The adverse effects of misrepresentation
The American democracy- A look into its dimensions
Colorism, racism, and classism- How the American ideologies differ
What causes an election crisis?
Two-party system- What challenges does it face in America?
Black women’s inclusion in the American politics
Should America have a multi-party system?
Why mass media matters in politics’ scrutiny and promotion

While political science is a broad field, these narrow topics help learners handle their research effectively. Pick any of these ideas to write a winning essay.

Topics For Ethnography Qualitative Research

Ethnographic research entails studying and paying attention to society and describing it. Here are topics to consider for a research paper in this field.

Studying a subculture: Reasons people join and stay in gangs
How does social media use vary by culture?
An ethnographic study of a homeless shelter or soup kitchen
Understanding the lives of sex workers through ethnography
The impact of religion on family life
How does parenting vary between cultures?
How do children learn and socialize in different cultures?
What is the effect of migration on family life?
What are the experiences of refugees?- An explorative case study
What is the impact of poverty on family life?
How do people in different cultures understand and experience mental illness?
What is the role of the family in other cultures?
What are the end-of-life experiences and beliefs around death in different cultures?

This article has presented easy qualitative research topics. However, some need time and resources to investigate and write quality papers. Therefore, pick your paper title carefully to write an essay that will earn you an excellent grade.

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Knowledge Base

Methodology

What Is Qualitative Research? | Methods & Examples

What Is Qualitative Research? | Methods & Examples

Published on June 19, 2020 by Pritha Bhandari . Revised on June 22, 2023.

Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research , which involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical analysis.

Qualitative research is commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, in subjects such as anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences, history, etc.

How does social media shape body image in teenagers?
How do children and adults interpret healthy eating in the UK?
What factors influence employee retention in a large organization?
How is anxiety experienced around the world?
How can teachers integrate social issues into science curriculums?

Approaches to qualitative research, qualitative research methods, qualitative data analysis, advantages of qualitative research, disadvantages of qualitative research, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about qualitative research.

Qualitative research is used to understand how people experience the world. While there are many approaches to qualitative research, they tend to be flexible and focus on retaining rich meaning when interpreting data.

Common approaches include grounded theory, ethnography , action research , phenomenological research, and narrative research. They share some similarities, but emphasize different aims and perspectives.

Note that qualitative research is at risk for certain research biases including the Hawthorne effect , observer bias , recall bias , and social desirability bias . While not always totally avoidable, awareness of potential biases as you collect and analyze your data can prevent them from impacting your work too much.

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Each of the research approaches involve using one or more data collection methods . These are some of the most common qualitative methods:

Observations: recording what you have seen, heard, or encountered in detailed field notes.
Interviews: personally asking people questions in one-on-one conversations.
Focus groups: asking questions and generating discussion among a group of people.
Surveys : distributing questionnaires with open-ended questions.
Secondary research: collecting existing data in the form of texts, images, audio or video recordings, etc.
You take field notes with observations and reflect on your own experiences of the company culture.
You distribute open-ended surveys to employees across all the company’s offices by email to find out if the culture varies across locations.
You conduct in-depth interviews with employees in your office to learn about their experiences and perspectives in greater detail.

Qualitative researchers often consider themselves “instruments” in research because all observations, interpretations and analyses are filtered through their own personal lens.

For this reason, when writing up your methodology for qualitative research, it’s important to reflect on your approach and to thoroughly explain the choices you made in collecting and analyzing the data.

Qualitative data can take the form of texts, photos, videos and audio. For example, you might be working with interview transcripts, survey responses, fieldnotes, or recordings from natural settings.

Most types of qualitative data analysis share the same five steps:

Prepare and organize your data. This may mean transcribing interviews or typing up fieldnotes.
Review and explore your data. Examine the data for patterns or repeated ideas that emerge.
Develop a data coding system. Based on your initial ideas, establish a set of codes that you can apply to categorize your data.
Assign codes to the data. For example, in qualitative survey analysis, this may mean going through each participant’s responses and tagging them with codes in a spreadsheet. As you go through your data, you can create new codes to add to your system if necessary.
Identify recurring themes. Link codes together into cohesive, overarching themes.

There are several specific approaches to analyzing qualitative data. Although these methods share similar processes, they emphasize different concepts.

Qualitative research often tries to preserve the voice and perspective of participants and can be adjusted as new research questions arise. Qualitative research is good for:

Flexibility

The data collection and analysis process can be adapted as new ideas or patterns emerge. They are not rigidly decided beforehand.

Natural settings

Data collection occurs in real-world contexts or in naturalistic ways.

Meaningful insights

Detailed descriptions of people’s experiences, feelings and perceptions can be used in designing, testing or improving systems or products.

Generation of new ideas

Open-ended responses mean that researchers can uncover novel problems or opportunities that they wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

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Researchers must consider practical and theoretical limitations in analyzing and interpreting their data. Qualitative research suffers from:

Unreliability

The real-world setting often makes qualitative research unreliable because of uncontrolled factors that affect the data.

Subjectivity

Due to the researcher’s primary role in analyzing and interpreting data, qualitative research cannot be replicated . The researcher decides what is important and what is irrelevant in data analysis, so interpretations of the same data can vary greatly.

Limited generalizability

Small samples are often used to gather detailed data about specific contexts. Despite rigorous analysis procedures, it is difficult to draw generalizable conclusions because the data may be biased and unrepresentative of the wider population .

Labor-intensive

Although software can be used to manage and record large amounts of text, data analysis often has to be checked or performed manually.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Chi square goodness of fit test
Degrees of freedom
Null hypothesis
Discourse analysis
Control groups
Mixed methods research
Non-probability sampling
Quantitative research
Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Research bias

Rosenthal effect
Implicit bias
Cognitive bias
Selection bias
Negativity bias
Status quo bias

Quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics, while qualitative research deals with words and meanings.

Quantitative methods allow you to systematically measure variables and test hypotheses . Qualitative methods allow you to explore concepts and experiences in more detail.

There are five common approaches to qualitative research :

Grounded theory involves collecting data in order to develop new theories.
Ethnography involves immersing yourself in a group or organization to understand its culture.
Narrative research involves interpreting stories to understand how people make sense of their experiences and perceptions.
Phenomenological research involves investigating phenomena through people’s lived experiences.
Action research links theory and practice in several cycles to drive innovative changes.

Data collection is the systematic process by which observations or measurements are gathered in research. It is used in many different contexts by academics, governments, businesses, and other organizations.

There are various approaches to qualitative data analysis , but they all share five steps in common:

Prepare and organize your data.
Review and explore your data.
Develop a data coding system.
Assign codes to the data.
Identify recurring themes.

The specifics of each step depend on the focus of the analysis. Some common approaches include textual analysis , thematic analysis , and discourse analysis .

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300 Qualitative Research Topics For Easy Academic Victory

You are on the right page if you are looking for a perfect qualitative research topic and have difficulty finding it.

Writing a qualitative research paper is not a piece of cake. Let alone the research and writing; the first and most significant challenge is finding the qualitative research topic that is a perfect fit for you. You have to be sure about a handful of things to decide the best topic for you, and you can ace it. First and most important, you must choose a topic that you find appealing and motivating. If you are not interested in a topic, not only will it tire you, but it will make your research dull and exhausting as well. Two, choose a relevant topic that adds value to the academia. Last but not least, there must be enough data about the theme that you are about to choose. In case of any confusion, concerns, or questions, you can consult for paper writing help from Paper Perk .

Table of Contents

Qualitative Research Topics: Psych, Education, Health, Medicine & More

Wandering around the internet looking for qualitative research topics can be exhausting. We are writing this article to make it a one-stop solution for you. There is enough inspiration to come up with the most suitable topic for you, no matter your academic area.

Psychological Qualitative Research Topics

Emotional Intelligence: Can it be an excellent alternative to IQ?
Oxytocin in autistic children.
Meditation: A means to control emotions
Emotional dependency during pregnancy
Schizophrenia: Causes and treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Psychology of physical attraction in opposite sexes
What is a borderline personality disorder? Facts and myths
Psychological elements in electronic media: Marketing, persuasion, and propaganda
Psychology in public relations
Psychology in international relations
Causes of depression and what to do to avoid it?
Detailed analysis of speech disorders
Criminal psychology and the origin of serial killers
Psychological aspects of the aging process
The character of NGOs regarding awareness about mental health
How to prevent child abuse with the help of psychology?
Aspects of criminal psychology
Emotional imbalance: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
Memory loss? Is it a neural problem or a psychological problem?
The secrets to well-being
Mental disorders in teens

Read More: Psychology Research Paper Topics

Political Qualitative Research Topics

What role did masons’ living conditions have in forming workers’ political movements ?
How do presidential elections matter?
Political compass: A critical analysis
Is a representative democracy genuinely democratic?
How has Europe evolved in terms of democracy?
Democratic evolution in the United States in the last three centuries
Is democracy a myth or a reality?
Why is voter abstention a danger to democracy?
Role of minorities in the United States politics
Freedom of expression in developing countries
Freedom of expression under Islamist regimes
Misconduct on television: Awareness and Legislation

Read More: Political Science Research Topics

Qualitative Research Topics for Art and Culture

Is history a universally shared concept?
Can a man be indifferent to art?
How do we articulate the link between science and technology?
What is the purpose of art?
What does the artist show us? Expression and symbolism
What is an artist? What does an artist do?
What is an artist?
Is art always transgressive?
Work of art: The proof of the freedom of the spirit
Can art compete with nature?
Does art only have the function of freeing us from our passions?
Passion and emotion in art
Absurd surrealism
Grotesque surrealism
Different movements in art
Progress and evolution of art
The art of the middle ages
The art of the renaissance
Is the work of art necessarily beautiful?
Does art change our relationship with reality?
Does the critic able to regard something as art or not?
Does the experience of beauty necessarily pass through the work of art?
Things that art teaches us, artists, as a technician
Importance of meaning in a work of art
Meaningless art and absurdist existentialism
The need for a model in the production of art
Can we conceive of a society without art?
Different aspects of society are defined and differentiated by art
The fear of industrial production among the artists
Dystopian art: The ability to predict the future among artists
Elements that distinguish the work of art from any object
Why the artists deserve a special place in the world
Rules and regulations in art
Reproduction of art: Plagiarism in art and harm of repetition
Art and escapism
Anachronistic art and the element of satire
Should the artist seek to please the audience
Can we blame a work of art for not being worth anything?
Does every human being understand and appreciate art?
Do you think that, according to Aristotle’s formula, art is an “imitation of nature”?
Why does what we dislike in life please us in a work of art?
Does art seem to be a “revolt against the tyranny of desire”?
Why do we apply the term “creation” to artistic activity?
Sacrosanctity of art and human duty to uphold it

Qualitative Research Topics Involving Environment Issues

Advantages and disadvantages of technology for the environment
Benefits of environmental education in children
Methods to make modern society aware of the environment
Alternative energies
Nuclear energy production: An alternative to the planet’s growing energy demand
X degree care for the environment
Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of renewable energy
Need to develop environmentally friendly products
Documentation of experience: Protection of nature
Elements involved in environmental deterioration
Environment and strategies for sustainability
Environmental activism in adolescents and young people
Sustainability and security for environmental justice
Raising awareness about the protection of the environment through sports, literature, and culture
Environment influenced by collective and individual actions
Awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of technologies
Effects and causes of acid rain and groundwater
Ways to live sustainably or focus on a specific aspect of sustainability
Recent disasters caused by global warming
Greenhouse effect and melting ice
Importance of renewable energy
Wildlife and endangered species
Air quality and pollution
Water quality in underdeveloped countries
Famines caused by environmental changes
Various recycling programs: Which one is the most effective
Awareness to participate in the initiatives about the protection of the environment
How deforestation has affected animals or how it is related to climate change
Importance of the coral reef, the dangers of its destruction, or preservation strategies

Read More: Best Legal Research Paper Topics

Qualitative Research Topics on Public Relations

Public Relations and socio-productive activity
Organizational Communication and Public Relations
Ethics in the practice of Public Relations
Epistemological foundations of Public Relations.
Factors that limit the practice of Public Relations.
Public Relations is a strategic factor of the company.
Relationship workers and professional practice in the United States
Corporate image and Public Relations
Corporate identity and Public Relations.
Public Relations and social enterprise
Public Relations as an integration factor.
Profile of the teacher of Public Relations.
Legislation of Public Relations in Europe
The free exercise of Public Relations
Public Relations and the labor market
Public Relations and digital communication
History of Public Relations in Europe
History of Public Relations in the United States
History of Public Relations in Canada
Semiology and Public Relations
Linguistics and Public Relations
Indicators to evaluate Public Relations programs
Planning of Public Relations in organizations
Public Relations through radio and television
University teaching in Public Relations

Read More: Criminal Justice Research Paper Topics

Qualitative Research Topics for High School Students

How has technological development helped hospitals?
Benefits of technological advances in the classroom
Advantages and disadvantages of technology in children
How and why are fun activities different during every stage of the educational period, Montessori, school, college, and university?
Most dangerous challenges that must be avoided as students
Challenges made by celebrities: How do future career choices and jobs look for you in the next decade?
The pros and cons of viral challenges from Tiktok and reels
How/what do social networks help?
Disadvantages of social networks
Problems of social network in adolescents
What is the most suitable age for children to have a social media presence?
Toxic behaviors accompanied by social media: Prevention and Solution

Educational Qualitative Research Topics

History of education
How education has changed over time in one place
Importance of sports and games in early childhood education
Possible results of adding playtime to education
Pros and cons of a grading system
Most effective grading methods
How tests affect the success or mental health of students
Assessment methods: Such as standardized tests or open tests
Investigate how dress codes affect student performance
Different schools of learning
Qualities that effective teachers possess
Effects of teaching and lesson planning
Different approaches of public and private schools
Pros or cons of a charter school systems
How class size and number of students affect student performance
Qualities of an Effective Teacher
The length of the school day, or the length of breaks, and how the durations affect the progress of the students
How the start time of school affects performance

Read More: Biology Research Paper Topics

Qualitative Research Topics for Business and Economy

The chartered accountant and the client: what relationship today?
How does the arrival of the low-cost accountant change differentiation practices in accounting?
Law and accounting: how do the new laws impact the profession of a chartered accountant?
Accountants, why are they so difficult to recruit?
How does accounting make it possible to assess the state of health of a company?
Accounting and new technologies: the future or the end of the accountant?
Can inequalities be reduced with new technologies?
What distribution of wealth in France (or other)?
Why do companies relocate?
Protectionism or free trade?
Has the organization of work changed after the pandemic?
Do flexibility and home-working reduce unemployment?
Should we be afraid of financial bubbles?
Financial crises, similar cogs? Are we headed to a new recession?
What is money, and who creates it?
The stock market against growth?
How does economic growth lead to sustainable development?
What is the impact of innovation on growth?
What role does investment play?
What are the keys to productivity?
Is it possible to measure economic growth?
Why do stock markets crash?

Read More Law / Legal Research Paper Topics

Medical Qualitative Research Topics

Current situation of palliative care in health institutions in the United States
Complications of acute diarrheal disease in children under five years of age
Nutritional status of surgical oncology patients and its relationship with postoperative complications
Cost-effectiveness of cervical cancer screening strategies in California
Thyroid cancer and risk factors in patients treated at San Jose Hospital
Communicative processes in American ancestral medicine
Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis in a patient with a pulmonary septic complication
Telemedicine and Tele-health of the inhabitants of Massachusetts
Feasibility study and technical, infrastructure and human sustainability for the implementation of the care model
Epidemiological profile of the general surgery outpatient service
Physical activity and sport as determinants of health
Cost of treatment and follow-up of people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
National Health System for the formal introduction of the family doctor
How is the social security system in France unsustainable?
Comparative study of health systems in the United States and Europe?
Allergies and intolerances, what are the differences for lactose?
Is gluten intolerance an actual disease?
Social inequalities in health in rural countries
Public health policy or health policy
Public health at the European level, what public policies
Public health in developing countries
Public health and environmental issues through the prism of red meat consumption
Communication of medicines when advertising is prohibited

Related: Medical research paper writing services

Qualitative Research Topics for Law and Crime

Consequences of the death penalty.
Capital offenses: Law, persecution, and penalties
Classic methods used in the death penalty
Arguments for or against this punishment
The stipulation for others and the promise of a stronghold
Consumer protection in the American Law
The social attributions of the captain of the ship
Recent developments in the constitutional justice
Reframing the civil code
Critical analysis of the scope of the principle of free justice
Institutions of the criminal records
Equality of the creditors in collective proceedings
Risk management in expertise
The repressive jurisdiction of the court of peace in the event of insufficiency of the judges
Labor law and the rights of workers
Secularism and labor law: Question of religion in business
The Management of transit migration
The legal framework of bank credit
Legal regime of intellectual rights
Compensation for moral damage
Family criminal law in the relation between parents and children
Unilateral termination of the contract
Role of the military in public prosecution
Critical analysis of the pre-jurisdictional procedure regarding human rights
The fault of the administration in land matters
The subsequent attitude of the victim and compensation for the damages
Action for retrocession in the event of excessive liberalities
The exploitation of child labor under Labor Law
Reflection on the introduction of the system of the dematerialization of bearer shares
Study on the feasibility of a structure for the amicable settlement of consumer disputes
The life insurance contract
Legal liability of the community pharmacist
The legal age of marriage: legislative, jurisprudential, and doctrinal approach
Protection of the unpaid seller in the event of insolvency of the buyer
The renewal of the employment contract
The regulatory framework for outdoor advertising, signs, and pre-sign
Extra-judicial resolution of land disputes

Qualitative Research Topics Concerning Drug Abuse

Drug use in adolescents
Consequences of excessive drug use
Legal and illegal addictive substances
Effects of drugs on the brain
Effects of alcohol and tobacco
Social science research on drugs
Psychological research on drugs
Biomedical research in the field of drugs
Drug addiction treatment
Cannabis in Europe: a study of social research
Drug expectations
Dynamics of drug cartels: Perception, politics, and markets
Sources and uses of methamphetamine
Sensation seeking
Contribution of research in psychology on drugs
Drug research: recent developments
in the field of psychology
Places of cannabis consumption
Drug prevention for the most vulnerable young people
Cannabis retail markets
Cultivation of cannabis at home
Cannabis Dependence and the Strength of Marijuana
Cannabis and youth
Cannabis and schizophrenia

Women Issues and Rights Qualitative Research Topics

How to educate teens about pregnancy
Women’s rights violations in the middle east
Forced-Hijab conflict in Iran
How to live a healthy pregnancy period
Access to health is a fundamental right: what role can parliaments play in ensuring health for women and children?
The wave of feminist movements in the Middle East
The situation of women and children in times of conflict
The role of women parliamentarians in the prevention of national and international terrorism and in the promotion of peace
Promoting women’s participation and gender equality in multilateral negotiations
The contribution of women to the establishment of a new global financial and economic model
Feminism in Egypt
Impact of the media on the status of women and image of women politicians in the media
Poverty and extreme poverty: women as victims of this phenomenon and as key actors in the fight to eradicate it
Complementarity of women’s rights and children’s rights
Health and well-being of older people, especially women
Women in Armed Conflict
Feminism in the South Asian Subcontinent
Violence against women
Role of women in ensuring environmental protection within the framework of development
Women in the informal economic sector and their access to microcredits
Women in economic life and the world of work
Impact of women on the democratic process
Women in the political process
Women’s rights violations in Africa
Financing women’s electoral campaigns
Women’s political and electoral training
Women in political parties
United Nations Initiatives for Women’s Education and the role of Malala Yousafzai
Women in national parliaments
The partnership between men and women in politics

Still feel the need to know more? It is noble to be insatiable about knowledge, so here are 402 More Research Paper Topics for you.

As we said in the beginning, writing a qualitative research paper is not a piece of cake. But after reading all these topics above, you now know that it is not rocket science either. All you need is a little commitment and a pint of inspiration potion that we have above 300 research paper topics.

If you still need professional qualitative research writing services, you can get to know our writers or contact us. We are online 24/7 with immediate responses to offer you research paper help .

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Research Topics & Ideas: Data Science

50 Topic Ideas To Kickstart Your Research Project

Research topics and ideas about data science and big data analytics

If you’re just starting out exploring data science-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research by providing a hearty list of data science and analytics-related research ideas , including examples from recent studies.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . These topic ideas provided here are intentionally broad and generic , so keep in mind that you will need to develop them further. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

To develop a suitable research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan to fill that gap. If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Data Science-Related Research Topics

Developing machine learning models for real-time fraud detection in online transactions.
The use of big data analytics in predicting and managing urban traffic flow.
Investigating the effectiveness of data mining techniques in identifying early signs of mental health issues from social media usage.
The application of predictive analytics in personalizing cancer treatment plans.
Analyzing consumer behavior through big data to enhance retail marketing strategies.
The role of data science in optimizing renewable energy generation from wind farms.
Developing natural language processing algorithms for real-time news aggregation and summarization.
The application of big data in monitoring and predicting epidemic outbreaks.
Investigating the use of machine learning in automating credit scoring for microfinance.
The role of data analytics in improving patient care in telemedicine.
Developing AI-driven models for predictive maintenance in the manufacturing industry.
The use of big data analytics in enhancing cybersecurity threat intelligence.
Investigating the impact of sentiment analysis on brand reputation management.
The application of data science in optimizing logistics and supply chain operations.
Developing deep learning techniques for image recognition in medical diagnostics.
The role of big data in analyzing climate change impacts on agricultural productivity.
Investigating the use of data analytics in optimizing energy consumption in smart buildings.
The application of machine learning in detecting plagiarism in academic works.
Analyzing social media data for trends in political opinion and electoral predictions.
The role of big data in enhancing sports performance analytics.
Developing data-driven strategies for effective water resource management.
The use of big data in improving customer experience in the banking sector.
Investigating the application of data science in fraud detection in insurance claims.
The role of predictive analytics in financial market risk assessment.
Developing AI models for early detection of network vulnerabilities.

Data Science Research Ideas (Continued)

The application of big data in public transportation systems for route optimization.
Investigating the impact of big data analytics on e-commerce recommendation systems.
The use of data mining techniques in understanding consumer preferences in the entertainment industry.
Developing predictive models for real estate pricing and market trends.
The role of big data in tracking and managing environmental pollution.
Investigating the use of data analytics in improving airline operational efficiency.
The application of machine learning in optimizing pharmaceutical drug discovery.
Analyzing online customer reviews to inform product development in the tech industry.
The role of data science in crime prediction and prevention strategies.
Developing models for analyzing financial time series data for investment strategies.
The use of big data in assessing the impact of educational policies on student performance.
Investigating the effectiveness of data visualization techniques in business reporting.
The application of data analytics in human resource management and talent acquisition.
Developing algorithms for anomaly detection in network traffic data.
The role of machine learning in enhancing personalized online learning experiences.
Investigating the use of big data in urban planning and smart city development.
The application of predictive analytics in weather forecasting and disaster management.
Analyzing consumer data to drive innovations in the automotive industry.
The role of data science in optimizing content delivery networks for streaming services.
Developing machine learning models for automated text classification in legal documents.
The use of big data in tracking global supply chain disruptions.
Investigating the application of data analytics in personalized nutrition and fitness.
The role of big data in enhancing the accuracy of geological surveying for natural resource exploration.
Developing predictive models for customer churn in the telecommunications industry.
The application of data science in optimizing advertisement placement and reach.

Recent Data Science-Related Studies

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual studies in the data science and analytics space to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of recent studies to help refine your thinking. These are actual studies, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

Data Science in Healthcare: COVID-19 and Beyond (Hulsen, 2022)
Auto-ML Web-application for Automated Machine Learning Algorithm Training and evaluation (Mukherjee & Rao, 2022)
Survey on Statistics and ML in Data Science and Effect in Businesses (Reddy et al., 2022)
Visualization in Data Science VDS @ KDD 2022 (Plant et al., 2022)
An Essay on How Data Science Can Strengthen Business (Santos, 2023)
A Deep study of Data science related problems, application and machine learning algorithms utilized in Data science (Ranjani et al., 2022)
You Teach WHAT in Your Data Science Course?!? (Posner & Kerby-Helm, 2022)
Statistical Analysis for the Traffic Police Activity: Nashville, Tennessee, USA (Tufail & Gul, 2022)
Data Management and Visual Information Processing in Financial Organization using Machine Learning (Balamurugan et al., 2022)
A Proposal of an Interactive Web Application Tool QuickViz: To Automate Exploratory Data Analysis (Pitroda, 2022)
Applications of Data Science in Respective Engineering Domains (Rasool & Chaudhary, 2022)
Jupyter Notebooks for Introducing Data Science to Novice Users (Fruchart et al., 2022)
Towards a Systematic Review of Data Science Programs: Themes, Courses, and Ethics (Nellore & Zimmer, 2022)
Application of data science and bioinformatics in healthcare technologies (Veeranki & Varshney, 2022)
TAPS Responsibility Matrix: A tool for responsible data science by design (Urovi et al., 2023)
Data Detectives: A Data Science Program for Middle Grade Learners (Thompson & Irgens, 2022)
MACHINE LEARNING FOR NON-MAJORS: A WHITE BOX APPROACH (Mike & Hazzan, 2022)
COMPONENTS OF DATA SCIENCE AND ITS APPLICATIONS (Paul et al., 2022)
Analysis on the Application of Data Science in Business Analytics (Wang, 2022)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest. In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

Get 1-On-1 Help

If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

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Neurol Res Pract

How to use and assess qualitative research methods

Loraine busetto.

1 Department of Neurology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Wolfgang Wick

2 Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuro-Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany

Christoph Gumbinger

Associated data.

Not applicable.

This paper aims to provide an overview of the use and assessment of qualitative research methods in the health sciences. Qualitative research can be defined as the study of the nature of phenomena and is especially appropriate for answering questions of why something is (not) observed, assessing complex multi-component interventions, and focussing on intervention improvement. The most common methods of data collection are document study, (non-) participant observations, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. For data analysis, field-notes and audio-recordings are transcribed into protocols and transcripts, and coded using qualitative data management software. Criteria such as checklists, reflexivity, sampling strategies, piloting, co-coding, member-checking and stakeholder involvement can be used to enhance and assess the quality of the research conducted. Using qualitative in addition to quantitative designs will equip us with better tools to address a greater range of research problems, and to fill in blind spots in current neurological research and practice.

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of qualitative research methods, including hands-on information on how they can be used, reported and assessed. This article is intended for beginning qualitative researchers in the health sciences as well as experienced quantitative researchers who wish to broaden their understanding of qualitative research.

What is qualitative research?

Qualitative research is defined as “the study of the nature of phenomena”, including “their quality, different manifestations, the context in which they appear or the perspectives from which they can be perceived” , but excluding “their range, frequency and place in an objectively determined chain of cause and effect” [ 1 ]. This formal definition can be complemented with a more pragmatic rule of thumb: qualitative research generally includes data in form of words rather than numbers [ 2 ].

Why conduct qualitative research?

Because some research questions cannot be answered using (only) quantitative methods. For example, one Australian study addressed the issue of why patients from Aboriginal communities often present late or not at all to specialist services offered by tertiary care hospitals. Using qualitative interviews with patients and staff, it found one of the most significant access barriers to be transportation problems, including some towns and communities simply not having a bus service to the hospital [ 3 ]. A quantitative study could have measured the number of patients over time or even looked at possible explanatory factors – but only those previously known or suspected to be of relevance. To discover reasons for observed patterns, especially the invisible or surprising ones, qualitative designs are needed.

While qualitative research is common in other fields, it is still relatively underrepresented in health services research. The latter field is more traditionally rooted in the evidence-based-medicine paradigm, as seen in " research that involves testing the effectiveness of various strategies to achieve changes in clinical practice, preferably applying randomised controlled trial study designs (...) " [ 4 ]. This focus on quantitative research and specifically randomised controlled trials (RCT) is visible in the idea of a hierarchy of research evidence which assumes that some research designs are objectively better than others, and that choosing a "lesser" design is only acceptable when the better ones are not practically or ethically feasible [ 5 , 6 ]. Others, however, argue that an objective hierarchy does not exist, and that, instead, the research design and methods should be chosen to fit the specific research question at hand – "questions before methods" [ 2 , 7 – 9 ]. This means that even when an RCT is possible, some research problems require a different design that is better suited to addressing them. Arguing in JAMA, Berwick uses the example of rapid response teams in hospitals, which he describes as " a complex, multicomponent intervention – essentially a process of social change" susceptible to a range of different context factors including leadership or organisation history. According to him, "[in] such complex terrain, the RCT is an impoverished way to learn. Critics who use it as a truth standard in this context are incorrect" [ 8 ] . Instead of limiting oneself to RCTs, Berwick recommends embracing a wider range of methods , including qualitative ones, which for "these specific applications, (...) are not compromises in learning how to improve; they are superior" [ 8 ].

Research problems that can be approached particularly well using qualitative methods include assessing complex multi-component interventions or systems (of change), addressing questions beyond “what works”, towards “what works for whom when, how and why”, and focussing on intervention improvement rather than accreditation [ 7 , 9 – 12 ]. Using qualitative methods can also help shed light on the “softer” side of medical treatment. For example, while quantitative trials can measure the costs and benefits of neuro-oncological treatment in terms of survival rates or adverse effects, qualitative research can help provide a better understanding of patient or caregiver stress, visibility of illness or out-of-pocket expenses.

How to conduct qualitative research?

Given that qualitative research is characterised by flexibility, openness and responsivity to context, the steps of data collection and analysis are not as separate and consecutive as they tend to be in quantitative research [ 13 , 14 ]. As Fossey puts it : “sampling, data collection, analysis and interpretation are related to each other in a cyclical (iterative) manner, rather than following one after another in a stepwise approach” [ 15 ]. The researcher can make educated decisions with regard to the choice of method, how they are implemented, and to which and how many units they are applied [ 13 ]. As shown in Fig. 1 , this can involve several back-and-forth steps between data collection and analysis where new insights and experiences can lead to adaption and expansion of the original plan. Some insights may also necessitate a revision of the research question and/or the research design as a whole. The process ends when saturation is achieved, i.e. when no relevant new information can be found (see also below: sampling and saturation). For reasons of transparency, it is essential for all decisions as well as the underlying reasoning to be well-documented.

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Iterative research process

While it is not always explicitly addressed, qualitative methods reflect a different underlying research paradigm than quantitative research (e.g. constructivism or interpretivism as opposed to positivism). The choice of methods can be based on the respective underlying substantive theory or theoretical framework used by the researcher [ 2 ].

Data collection

The methods of qualitative data collection most commonly used in health research are document study, observations, semi-structured interviews and focus groups [ 1 , 14 , 16 , 17 ].

Document study

Document study (also called document analysis) refers to the review by the researcher of written materials [ 14 ]. These can include personal and non-personal documents such as archives, annual reports, guidelines, policy documents, diaries or letters.

Observations

Observations are particularly useful to gain insights into a certain setting and actual behaviour – as opposed to reported behaviour or opinions [ 13 ]. Qualitative observations can be either participant or non-participant in nature. In participant observations, the observer is part of the observed setting, for example a nurse working in an intensive care unit [ 18 ]. In non-participant observations, the observer is “on the outside looking in”, i.e. present in but not part of the situation, trying not to influence the setting by their presence. Observations can be planned (e.g. for 3 h during the day or night shift) or ad hoc (e.g. as soon as a stroke patient arrives at the emergency room). During the observation, the observer takes notes on everything or certain pre-determined parts of what is happening around them, for example focusing on physician-patient interactions or communication between different professional groups. Written notes can be taken during or after the observations, depending on feasibility (which is usually lower during participant observations) and acceptability (e.g. when the observer is perceived to be judging the observed). Afterwards, these field notes are transcribed into observation protocols. If more than one observer was involved, field notes are taken independently, but notes can be consolidated into one protocol after discussions. Advantages of conducting observations include minimising the distance between the researcher and the researched, the potential discovery of topics that the researcher did not realise were relevant and gaining deeper insights into the real-world dimensions of the research problem at hand [ 18 ].

Semi-structured interviews

Hijmans & Kuyper describe qualitative interviews as “an exchange with an informal character, a conversation with a goal” [ 19 ]. Interviews are used to gain insights into a person’s subjective experiences, opinions and motivations – as opposed to facts or behaviours [ 13 ]. Interviews can be distinguished by the degree to which they are structured (i.e. a questionnaire), open (e.g. free conversation or autobiographical interviews) or semi-structured [ 2 , 13 ]. Semi-structured interviews are characterized by open-ended questions and the use of an interview guide (or topic guide/list) in which the broad areas of interest, sometimes including sub-questions, are defined [ 19 ]. The pre-defined topics in the interview guide can be derived from the literature, previous research or a preliminary method of data collection, e.g. document study or observations. The topic list is usually adapted and improved at the start of the data collection process as the interviewer learns more about the field [ 20 ]. Across interviews the focus on the different (blocks of) questions may differ and some questions may be skipped altogether (e.g. if the interviewee is not able or willing to answer the questions or for concerns about the total length of the interview) [ 20 ]. Qualitative interviews are usually not conducted in written format as it impedes on the interactive component of the method [ 20 ]. In comparison to written surveys, qualitative interviews have the advantage of being interactive and allowing for unexpected topics to emerge and to be taken up by the researcher. This can also help overcome a provider or researcher-centred bias often found in written surveys, which by nature, can only measure what is already known or expected to be of relevance to the researcher. Interviews can be audio- or video-taped; but sometimes it is only feasible or acceptable for the interviewer to take written notes [ 14 , 16 , 20 ].

Focus groups

Focus groups are group interviews to explore participants’ expertise and experiences, including explorations of how and why people behave in certain ways [ 1 ]. Focus groups usually consist of 6–8 people and are led by an experienced moderator following a topic guide or “script” [ 21 ]. They can involve an observer who takes note of the non-verbal aspects of the situation, possibly using an observation guide [ 21 ]. Depending on researchers’ and participants’ preferences, the discussions can be audio- or video-taped and transcribed afterwards [ 21 ]. Focus groups are useful for bringing together homogeneous (to a lesser extent heterogeneous) groups of participants with relevant expertise and experience on a given topic on which they can share detailed information [ 21 ]. Focus groups are a relatively easy, fast and inexpensive method to gain access to information on interactions in a given group, i.e. “the sharing and comparing” among participants [ 21 ]. Disadvantages include less control over the process and a lesser extent to which each individual may participate. Moreover, focus group moderators need experience, as do those tasked with the analysis of the resulting data. Focus groups can be less appropriate for discussing sensitive topics that participants might be reluctant to disclose in a group setting [ 13 ]. Moreover, attention must be paid to the emergence of “groupthink” as well as possible power dynamics within the group, e.g. when patients are awed or intimidated by health professionals.

Choosing the “right” method

As explained above, the school of thought underlying qualitative research assumes no objective hierarchy of evidence and methods. This means that each choice of single or combined methods has to be based on the research question that needs to be answered and a critical assessment with regard to whether or to what extent the chosen method can accomplish this – i.e. the “fit” between question and method [ 14 ]. It is necessary for these decisions to be documented when they are being made, and to be critically discussed when reporting methods and results.

Let us assume that our research aim is to examine the (clinical) processes around acute endovascular treatment (EVT), from the patient’s arrival at the emergency room to recanalization, with the aim to identify possible causes for delay and/or other causes for sub-optimal treatment outcome. As a first step, we could conduct a document study of the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) for this phase of care – are they up-to-date and in line with current guidelines? Do they contain any mistakes, irregularities or uncertainties that could cause delays or other problems? Regardless of the answers to these questions, the results have to be interpreted based on what they are: a written outline of what care processes in this hospital should look like. If we want to know what they actually look like in practice, we can conduct observations of the processes described in the SOPs. These results can (and should) be analysed in themselves, but also in comparison to the results of the document analysis, especially as regards relevant discrepancies. Do the SOPs outline specific tests for which no equipment can be observed or tasks to be performed by specialized nurses who are not present during the observation? It might also be possible that the written SOP is outdated, but the actual care provided is in line with current best practice. In order to find out why these discrepancies exist, it can be useful to conduct interviews. Are the physicians simply not aware of the SOPs (because their existence is limited to the hospital’s intranet) or do they actively disagree with them or does the infrastructure make it impossible to provide the care as described? Another rationale for adding interviews is that some situations (or all of their possible variations for different patient groups or the day, night or weekend shift) cannot practically or ethically be observed. In this case, it is possible to ask those involved to report on their actions – being aware that this is not the same as the actual observation. A senior physician’s or hospital manager’s description of certain situations might differ from a nurse’s or junior physician’s one, maybe because they intentionally misrepresent facts or maybe because different aspects of the process are visible or important to them. In some cases, it can also be relevant to consider to whom the interviewee is disclosing this information – someone they trust, someone they are otherwise not connected to, or someone they suspect or are aware of being in a potentially “dangerous” power relationship to them. Lastly, a focus group could be conducted with representatives of the relevant professional groups to explore how and why exactly they provide care around EVT. The discussion might reveal discrepancies (between SOPs and actual care or between different physicians) and motivations to the researchers as well as to the focus group members that they might not have been aware of themselves. For the focus group to deliver relevant information, attention has to be paid to its composition and conduct, for example, to make sure that all participants feel safe to disclose sensitive or potentially problematic information or that the discussion is not dominated by (senior) physicians only. The resulting combination of data collection methods is shown in Fig. 2 .

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Possible combination of data collection methods

Attributions for icons: “Book” by Serhii Smirnov, “Interview” by Adrien Coquet, FR, “Magnifying Glass” by anggun, ID, “Business communication” by Vectors Market; all from the Noun Project

The combination of multiple data source as described for this example can be referred to as “triangulation”, in which multiple measurements are carried out from different angles to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study [ 22 , 23 ].

Data analysis

To analyse the data collected through observations, interviews and focus groups these need to be transcribed into protocols and transcripts (see Fig. 3 ). Interviews and focus groups can be transcribed verbatim , with or without annotations for behaviour (e.g. laughing, crying, pausing) and with or without phonetic transcription of dialects and filler words, depending on what is expected or known to be relevant for the analysis. In the next step, the protocols and transcripts are coded , that is, marked (or tagged, labelled) with one or more short descriptors of the content of a sentence or paragraph [ 2 , 15 , 23 ]. Jansen describes coding as “connecting the raw data with “theoretical” terms” [ 20 ]. In a more practical sense, coding makes raw data sortable. This makes it possible to extract and examine all segments describing, say, a tele-neurology consultation from multiple data sources (e.g. SOPs, emergency room observations, staff and patient interview). In a process of synthesis and abstraction, the codes are then grouped, summarised and/or categorised [ 15 , 20 ]. The end product of the coding or analysis process is a descriptive theory of the behavioural pattern under investigation [ 20 ]. The coding process is performed using qualitative data management software, the most common ones being InVivo, MaxQDA and Atlas.ti. It should be noted that these are data management tools which support the analysis performed by the researcher(s) [ 14 ].

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From data collection to data analysis

Attributions for icons: see Fig. Fig.2, 2 , also “Speech to text” by Trevor Dsouza, “Field Notes” by Mike O’Brien, US, “Voice Record” by ProSymbols, US, “Inspection” by Made, AU, and “Cloud” by Graphic Tigers; all from the Noun Project

How to report qualitative research?

Protocols of qualitative research can be published separately and in advance of the study results. However, the aim is not the same as in RCT protocols, i.e. to pre-define and set in stone the research questions and primary or secondary endpoints. Rather, it is a way to describe the research methods in detail, which might not be possible in the results paper given journals’ word limits. Qualitative research papers are usually longer than their quantitative counterparts to allow for deep understanding and so-called “thick description”. In the methods section, the focus is on transparency of the methods used, including why, how and by whom they were implemented in the specific study setting, so as to enable a discussion of whether and how this may have influenced data collection, analysis and interpretation. The results section usually starts with a paragraph outlining the main findings, followed by more detailed descriptions of, for example, the commonalities, discrepancies or exceptions per category [ 20 ]. Here it is important to support main findings by relevant quotations, which may add information, context, emphasis or real-life examples [ 20 , 23 ]. It is subject to debate in the field whether it is relevant to state the exact number or percentage of respondents supporting a certain statement (e.g. “Five interviewees expressed negative feelings towards XYZ”) [ 21 ].

How to combine qualitative with quantitative research?

Qualitative methods can be combined with other methods in multi- or mixed methods designs, which “[employ] two or more different methods [ …] within the same study or research program rather than confining the research to one single method” [ 24 ]. Reasons for combining methods can be diverse, including triangulation for corroboration of findings, complementarity for illustration and clarification of results, expansion to extend the breadth and range of the study, explanation of (unexpected) results generated with one method with the help of another, or offsetting the weakness of one method with the strength of another [ 1 , 17 , 24 – 26 ]. The resulting designs can be classified according to when, why and how the different quantitative and/or qualitative data strands are combined. The three most common types of mixed method designs are the convergent parallel design , the explanatory sequential design and the exploratory sequential design. The designs with examples are shown in Fig. 4 .

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Three common mixed methods designs

In the convergent parallel design, a qualitative study is conducted in parallel to and independently of a quantitative study, and the results of both studies are compared and combined at the stage of interpretation of results. Using the above example of EVT provision, this could entail setting up a quantitative EVT registry to measure process times and patient outcomes in parallel to conducting the qualitative research outlined above, and then comparing results. Amongst other things, this would make it possible to assess whether interview respondents’ subjective impressions of patients receiving good care match modified Rankin Scores at follow-up, or whether observed delays in care provision are exceptions or the rule when compared to door-to-needle times as documented in the registry. In the explanatory sequential design, a quantitative study is carried out first, followed by a qualitative study to help explain the results from the quantitative study. This would be an appropriate design if the registry alone had revealed relevant delays in door-to-needle times and the qualitative study would be used to understand where and why these occurred, and how they could be improved. In the exploratory design, the qualitative study is carried out first and its results help informing and building the quantitative study in the next step [ 26 ]. If the qualitative study around EVT provision had shown a high level of dissatisfaction among the staff members involved, a quantitative questionnaire investigating staff satisfaction could be set up in the next step, informed by the qualitative study on which topics dissatisfaction had been expressed. Amongst other things, the questionnaire design would make it possible to widen the reach of the research to more respondents from different (types of) hospitals, regions, countries or settings, and to conduct sub-group analyses for different professional groups.

How to assess qualitative research?

A variety of assessment criteria and lists have been developed for qualitative research, ranging in their focus and comprehensiveness [ 14 , 17 , 27 ]. However, none of these has been elevated to the “gold standard” in the field. In the following, we therefore focus on a set of commonly used assessment criteria that, from a practical standpoint, a researcher can look for when assessing a qualitative research report or paper.

Assessors should check the authors’ use of and adherence to the relevant reporting checklists (e.g. Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR)) to make sure all items that are relevant for this type of research are addressed [ 23 , 28 ]. Discussions of quantitative measures in addition to or instead of these qualitative measures can be a sign of lower quality of the research (paper). Providing and adhering to a checklist for qualitative research contributes to an important quality criterion for qualitative research, namely transparency [ 15 , 17 , 23 ].

Reflexivity

While methodological transparency and complete reporting is relevant for all types of research, some additional criteria must be taken into account for qualitative research. This includes what is called reflexivity, i.e. sensitivity to the relationship between the researcher and the researched, including how contact was established and maintained, or the background and experience of the researcher(s) involved in data collection and analysis. Depending on the research question and population to be researched this can be limited to professional experience, but it may also include gender, age or ethnicity [ 17 , 27 ]. These details are relevant because in qualitative research, as opposed to quantitative research, the researcher as a person cannot be isolated from the research process [ 23 ]. It may influence the conversation when an interviewed patient speaks to an interviewer who is a physician, or when an interviewee is asked to discuss a gynaecological procedure with a male interviewer, and therefore the reader must be made aware of these details [ 19 ].

Sampling and saturation

The aim of qualitative sampling is for all variants of the objects of observation that are deemed relevant for the study to be present in the sample “ to see the issue and its meanings from as many angles as possible” [ 1 , 16 , 19 , 20 , 27 ] , and to ensure “information-richness [ 15 ]. An iterative sampling approach is advised, in which data collection (e.g. five interviews) is followed by data analysis, followed by more data collection to find variants that are lacking in the current sample. This process continues until no new (relevant) information can be found and further sampling becomes redundant – which is called saturation [ 1 , 15 ] . In other words: qualitative data collection finds its end point not a priori , but when the research team determines that saturation has been reached [ 29 , 30 ].

This is also the reason why most qualitative studies use deliberate instead of random sampling strategies. This is generally referred to as “ purposive sampling” , in which researchers pre-define which types of participants or cases they need to include so as to cover all variations that are expected to be of relevance, based on the literature, previous experience or theory (i.e. theoretical sampling) [ 14 , 20 ]. Other types of purposive sampling include (but are not limited to) maximum variation sampling, critical case sampling or extreme or deviant case sampling [ 2 ]. In the above EVT example, a purposive sample could include all relevant professional groups and/or all relevant stakeholders (patients, relatives) and/or all relevant times of observation (day, night and weekend shift).

Assessors of qualitative research should check whether the considerations underlying the sampling strategy were sound and whether or how researchers tried to adapt and improve their strategies in stepwise or cyclical approaches between data collection and analysis to achieve saturation [ 14 ].

Good qualitative research is iterative in nature, i.e. it goes back and forth between data collection and analysis, revising and improving the approach where necessary. One example of this are pilot interviews, where different aspects of the interview (especially the interview guide, but also, for example, the site of the interview or whether the interview can be audio-recorded) are tested with a small number of respondents, evaluated and revised [ 19 ]. In doing so, the interviewer learns which wording or types of questions work best, or which is the best length of an interview with patients who have trouble concentrating for an extended time. Of course, the same reasoning applies to observations or focus groups which can also be piloted.

Ideally, coding should be performed by at least two researchers, especially at the beginning of the coding process when a common approach must be defined, including the establishment of a useful coding list (or tree), and when a common meaning of individual codes must be established [ 23 ]. An initial sub-set or all transcripts can be coded independently by the coders and then compared and consolidated after regular discussions in the research team. This is to make sure that codes are applied consistently to the research data.

Member checking

Member checking, also called respondent validation , refers to the practice of checking back with study respondents to see if the research is in line with their views [ 14 , 27 ]. This can happen after data collection or analysis or when first results are available [ 23 ]. For example, interviewees can be provided with (summaries of) their transcripts and asked whether they believe this to be a complete representation of their views or whether they would like to clarify or elaborate on their responses [ 17 ]. Respondents’ feedback on these issues then becomes part of the data collection and analysis [ 27 ].

Stakeholder involvement

In those niches where qualitative approaches have been able to evolve and grow, a new trend has seen the inclusion of patients and their representatives not only as study participants (i.e. “members”, see above) but as consultants to and active participants in the broader research process [ 31 – 33 ]. The underlying assumption is that patients and other stakeholders hold unique perspectives and experiences that add value beyond their own single story, making the research more relevant and beneficial to researchers, study participants and (future) patients alike [ 34 , 35 ]. Using the example of patients on or nearing dialysis, a recent scoping review found that 80% of clinical research did not address the top 10 research priorities identified by patients and caregivers [ 32 , 36 ]. In this sense, the involvement of the relevant stakeholders, especially patients and relatives, is increasingly being seen as a quality indicator in and of itself.

How not to assess qualitative research

The above overview does not include certain items that are routine in assessments of quantitative research. What follows is a non-exhaustive, non-representative, experience-based list of the quantitative criteria often applied to the assessment of qualitative research, as well as an explanation of the limited usefulness of these endeavours.

Protocol adherence

Given the openness and flexibility of qualitative research, it should not be assessed by how well it adheres to pre-determined and fixed strategies – in other words: its rigidity. Instead, the assessor should look for signs of adaptation and refinement based on lessons learned from earlier steps in the research process.

Sample size

For the reasons explained above, qualitative research does not require specific sample sizes, nor does it require that the sample size be determined a priori [ 1 , 14 , 27 , 37 – 39 ]. Sample size can only be a useful quality indicator when related to the research purpose, the chosen methodology and the composition of the sample, i.e. who was included and why.

Randomisation

While some authors argue that randomisation can be used in qualitative research, this is not commonly the case, as neither its feasibility nor its necessity or usefulness has been convincingly established for qualitative research [ 13 , 27 ]. Relevant disadvantages include the negative impact of a too large sample size as well as the possibility (or probability) of selecting “ quiet, uncooperative or inarticulate individuals ” [ 17 ]. Qualitative studies do not use control groups, either.

Interrater reliability, variability and other “objectivity checks”

The concept of “interrater reliability” is sometimes used in qualitative research to assess to which extent the coding approach overlaps between the two co-coders. However, it is not clear what this measure tells us about the quality of the analysis [ 23 ]. This means that these scores can be included in qualitative research reports, preferably with some additional information on what the score means for the analysis, but it is not a requirement. Relatedly, it is not relevant for the quality or “objectivity” of qualitative research to separate those who recruited the study participants and collected and analysed the data. Experiences even show that it might be better to have the same person or team perform all of these tasks [ 20 ]. First, when researchers introduce themselves during recruitment this can enhance trust when the interview takes place days or weeks later with the same researcher. Second, when the audio-recording is transcribed for analysis, the researcher conducting the interviews will usually remember the interviewee and the specific interview situation during data analysis. This might be helpful in providing additional context information for interpretation of data, e.g. on whether something might have been meant as a joke [ 18 ].

Not being quantitative research

Being qualitative research instead of quantitative research should not be used as an assessment criterion if it is used irrespectively of the research problem at hand. Similarly, qualitative research should not be required to be combined with quantitative research per se – unless mixed methods research is judged as inherently better than single-method research. In this case, the same criterion should be applied for quantitative studies without a qualitative component.

The main take-away points of this paper are summarised in Table Table1. 1 . We aimed to show that, if conducted well, qualitative research can answer specific research questions that cannot to be adequately answered using (only) quantitative designs. Seeing qualitative and quantitative methods as equal will help us become more aware and critical of the “fit” between the research problem and our chosen methods: I can conduct an RCT to determine the reasons for transportation delays of acute stroke patients – but should I? It also provides us with a greater range of tools to tackle a greater range of research problems more appropriately and successfully, filling in the blind spots on one half of the methodological spectrum to better address the whole complexity of neurological research and practice.

Take-away-points

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations, authors’ contributions.

LB drafted the manuscript; WW and CG revised the manuscript; all authors approved the final versions.

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US media coverage of new science less likely to mention researchers with African and East Asian names

by Hao Peng, The Conversation

When one Chinese national recently petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a permanent resident, he thought his chances were pretty good. As an accomplished biologist, he figured that news articles in top media outlets, including The New York Times, covering his research would demonstrate his "extraordinary ability" in the sciences, as called for by the EB-1A visa .

But when the immigration officers rejected his petition, they noted that his name did not appear anywhere in the news article. News coverage of a paper he co-authored did not directly demonstrate his major contribution to the work.

As this biologist's close friend, I felt bad for him because I knew how much he had dedicated to the project. He even started the idea as one of his Ph.D. dissertation chapters. But as a scientist who studies topics related to scientific innovation , I understand the immigration officers' perspective: Research is increasingly done through teamwork , so it's hard to know individual contributions if a news article reports only the study findings.

This anecdote made me and my colleagues Misha Teplitskiy and David Jurgens curious about what affects journalists' decisions about which researchers to feature in their news stories.

There's a lot at stake for a scientist whose name is or isn't mentioned in journalistic coverage of their work. News media plays a key role in disseminating new scientific findings to the public . The coverage of a particular study brings prestige to its research team and their institutions. The depth and quality of coverage then shapes public perception of who is doing good science and in some cases, as my friend's story suggests, can affect individual careers.

Do scientists' social identities, such as ethnicity or race, play a role in this process?

This question is not straightforward to answer. On the one hand, racial bias may exist, given the profound underrepresentation of minorities in U.S. mainstream media . On the other, science journalism is known for its high standard of objective reporting . We decided to investigate this question in a systematic fashion using large-scale observational data.

Chinese or African names received least coverage

My colleagues and I analyzed 223,587 news stories from 2011-2019 from 288 U.S. media outlets reporting on 100,486 scientific papers sourced from Altmetric.com, a website that monitors online posts about research papers . For each paper, we focused on authors with the highest chance of being mentioned: the first author, the last author, and other designated corresponding authors. We calculated how often the authors were mentioned in the news articles reporting their research.

We used an algorithm with 78% reported accuracy to infer perceived ethnicity from authors' names . We figured that journalists may rely on such cues in the absence of scientists' self-reported information. We considered authors with Anglo names—like John Brown or Emily Taylor—as the majority group and then compared the average mention rates across nine broad ethnic groups.

Our methodology does not distinguish Black from white names because many African Americans have Anglo names, such as Michael Jackson. This design is still meaningful because we intended to focus on perceived identity.

We found that the overall chance of a scientist being credited by name in a news story was 40%. Authors with minority ethnicity names, however, were significantly less likely to be mentioned compared with authors with Anglo names. The disparity was most pronounced for authors with East Asian and African names; they were on average mentioned or quoted about 15% less in U.S. science media relative to those with Anglo names.

This association is consistent even after accounting for factors such as geographical location , corresponding author status, authorship position, affiliation rank, author prestige, research topics, journal impact and story length.

And it held across different types of outlets, including publishers of press releases, general interest news and those with content focused on science and technology.

Pragmatic factors and rhetorical choices

Our results don't directly imply media bias. So what's going on?

First and foremost, the underrepresentation of scientists with East Asian and African names may be due to pragmatic challenges faced by U.S.-based journalists in interviewing them. Factors like time zone differences for researchers based overseas and actual or perceived English fluency could be at play as a journalist works under deadline to produce the story.

We isolated these factors by focusing on researchers affiliated with American institutions. Among U.S.-based researchers, pragmatic difficulties should be minimized because they're in the same geographic region as the journalists and they're likely to be proficient in English, at least in writing. In addition, these scientists would presumably be equally likely to respond to journalists' interview requests, given that media attention is increasingly valued by U.S. institutions .

Even when we looked just at U.S. institutions, we found significant disparities in mentions and quotations for non-Anglo-named authors, albeit slightly reduced. In particular, East Asian- and African-named authors again experience a 4 to 5 percentage-point drop in mention rates compared with their Anglo-named counterparts. This result suggests that while pragmatic considerations can explain some disparities, they don't account for all of them.

We found that journalists were also more likely to substitute institutional affiliations for scientists with African and East Asian names—for instance, writing about "researchers from the University of Michigan." This institution substitution effect underscores a potential bias in media representation, where scholars with minority ethnicity names may be perceived as less authoritative or deserving of formal recognition.

Reflecting a globalized enterprise

Part of the depth of science news coverage depends on how thoroughly and accurately researchers are portrayed in stories, including whether scientists are mentioned by name and the extent to which their contributions are highlighted via quotes. As science becomes increasingly globalized, with English as its primary language, our study highlights the importance of equitable representation in shaping public discourse and fostering diversity in the scientific community.

While our focus was on the depth of coverage with respect to name credits, we suspect that disparities are even larger at an earlier point in science dissemination, when journalists are selecting which research papers to report. Understanding these disparities is complicated because of decades or even centuries of bias ingrained in the whole science production pipeline, including whose research gets funded , who gets to publish in top journals and who is represented in the scientific workforce itself .

Journalists are picking from a later stage of a process that has a number of inequities built in. Thus, addressing disparities in scientists' media representation is only one way to foster inclusivity and equality in science. But it's a step toward sharing innovative scientific knowledge with the public in a more equitable way.

Provided by The Conversation

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It’s commonly thought that the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, exists mainly alongside other elements — with oxygen in water, for example, and with carbon in methane. But naturally occurring underground pockets of pure hydrogen are punching holes in that notion — and generating attention as a potentially unlimited source of carbon-free power. One interested party is the U.S. Department of Energy, which last month awarded $20 million in research grants to 18 teams from laboratories, universities, and private companies to develop technologies that can lead to cheap, clean fuel from the subsurface. Geologic hydrogen, as it’s known, is produced when water reacts with iron-rich rocks, causing the iron to oxidize. One of the grant recipients, MIT Assistant Professor Iwnetim Abate’s research group, will use its $1.3 million grant to determine the ideal conditions for producing hydrogen underground — considering factors such as catalysts to initiate the chemical reaction, temperature, pressure, and pH levels. The goal is to improve efficiency for large-scale production, meeting global energy needs at a competitive cost. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are potentially billions of tons of geologic hydrogen buried in the Earth’s crust. Accumulations have been discovered worldwide, and a slew of startups are searching for extractable deposits. Abate is looking to jump-start the natural hydrogen production process, implementing “proactive” approaches that involve stimulating production and harvesting the gas. “We aim to optimize the reaction parameters to make the reaction faster and produce hydrogen in an economically feasible manner,” says Abate, the Chipman Development Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE). Abate’s research centers on designing materials and technologies for the renewable energy transition, including next-generation batteries and novel chemical methods for energy storage.

Sparking innovation

Interest in geologic hydrogen is growing at a time when governments worldwide are seeking carbon-free energy alternatives to oil and gas. In December, French President Emmanuel Macron said his government would provide funding to explore natural hydrogen. And in February, government and private sector witnesses briefed U.S. lawmakers on opportunities to extract hydrogen from the ground. Today commercial hydrogen is manufactured at $2 a kilogram, mostly for fertilizer and chemical and steel production, but most methods involve burning fossil fuels, which release Earth-heating carbon. “ Green hydrogen ,” produced with renewable energy, is promising, but at $7 per kilogram, it’s expensive. “If you get hydrogen at a dollar a kilo, it’s competitive with natural gas on an energy-price basis,” says Douglas Wicks, a program director at Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), the Department of Energy organization leading the geologic hydrogen grant program. Recipients of the ARPA-E grants include Colorado School of Mines, Texas Tech University, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, plus private companies including Koloma, a hydrogen production startup that has received funding from Amazon and Bill Gates. The projects themselves are diverse, ranging from applying industrial oil and gas methods for hydrogen production and extraction to developing models to understand hydrogen formation in rocks. The purpose: to address questions in what Wicks calls a “total white space.” “In geologic hydrogen, we don’t know how we can accelerate the production of it, because it’s a chemical reaction, nor do we really understand how to engineer the subsurface so that we can safely extract it,” Wicks says. “We’re trying to bring in the best skills of each of the different groups to work on this under the idea that the ensemble should be able to give us good answers in a fairly rapid timeframe.” Geochemist Viacheslav Zgonnik, one of the foremost experts in the natural hydrogen field, agrees that the list of unknowns is long, as is the road to the first commercial projects. But he says efforts to stimulate hydrogen production — to harness the natural reaction between water and rock — present “tremendous potential.” “The idea is to find ways we can accelerate that reaction and control it so we can produce hydrogen on demand in specific places,” says Zgonnik, CEO and founder of Natural Hydrogen Energy, a Denver-based startup that has mineral leases for exploratory drilling in the United States. “If we can achieve that goal, it means that we can potentially replace fossil fuels with stimulated hydrogen.”

“A full-circle moment”

For Abate, the connection to the project is personal. As a child in his hometown in Ethiopia, power outages were a usual occurrence — the lights would be out three, maybe four days a week. Flickering candles or pollutant-emitting kerosene lamps were often the only source of light for doing homework at night. “And for the household, we had to use wood and charcoal for chores such as cooking,” says Abate. “That was my story all the way until the end of high school and before I came to the U.S. for college.” In 1987, well-diggers drilling for water in Mali in Western Africa uncovered a natural hydrogen deposit , causing an explosion. Decades later, Malian entrepreneur Aliou Diallo and his Canadian oil and gas company tapped the well and used an engine to burn hydrogen and power electricity in the nearby village. Ditching oil and gas, Diallo launched Hydroma, the world’s first hydrogen exploration enterprise. The company is drilling wells near the original site that have yielded high concentrations of the gas. “So, what used to be known as an energy-poor continent now is generating hope for the future of the world,” Abate says. “Learning about that was a full-circle moment for me. Of course, the problem is global; the solution is global. But then the connection with my personal journey, plus the solution coming from my home continent, makes me personally connected to the problem and to the solution.”

Experiments that scale

Abate and researchers in his lab are formulating a recipe for a fluid that will induce the chemical reaction that triggers hydrogen production in rocks. The main ingredient is water, and the team is testing “simple” materials for catalysts that will speed up the reaction and in turn increase the amount of hydrogen produced, says postdoc Yifan Gao. “Some catalysts are very costly and hard to produce, requiring complex production or preparation,” Gao says. “A catalyst that’s inexpensive and abundant will allow us to enhance the production rate — that way, we produce it at an economically feasible rate, but also with an economically feasible yield.” The iron-rich rocks in which the chemical reaction happens can be found across the United States and the world. To optimize the reaction across a diversity of geological compositions and environments, Abate and Gao are developing what they call a high-throughput system, consisting of artificial intelligence software and robotics, to test different catalyst mixtures and simulate what would happen when applied to rocks from various regions, with different external conditions like temperature and pressure. “And from that we measure how much hydrogen we are producing for each possible combination,” Abate says. “Then the AI will learn from the experiments and suggest to us, ‘Based on what I’ve learned and based on the literature, I suggest you test this composition of catalyst material for this rock.’” The team is writing a paper on its project and aims to publish its findings in the coming months. The next milestones for the project, after developing the catalyst recipe, is designing a reactor that will serve two purposes. First, fitted with technologies such as Raman spectroscopy, it will allow researchers to identify and optimize the chemical conditions that lead to improved rates and yield of hydrogen production. The lab-scale device will also inform the design of a real-world reactor that can accelerate hydrogen production in the field. “That would be a plant-scale reactor that would be implanted into the subsurface,” Abate says. The cross-disciplinary project is also tapping the expertise of Yang Shao-Horn, of MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and DMSE, for computational analysis of the catalyst, and Esteban Gazel, a Cornell University scientist who will lend his expertise in geology and geochemistry. He’ll focus on understanding the iron-rich ultramafic rock formations across the United States and the globe and how they react with water. For Wicks at ARPA-E, the questions Abate and the other grant recipients are asking are just the first, critical steps in uncharted energy territory. “If we can understand how to stimulate these rocks into generating hydrogen, safely getting it up, it really unleashes the potential energy source,” he says. Then the emerging industry will look to oil and gas for the drilling, piping, and gas extraction know-how. “As I like to say, this is enabling technology that we hope to, in a very short term, enable us to say, ‘Is there really something there?’”

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About half of americans say public k-12 education is going in the wrong direction.

School buses arrive at an elementary school in Arlington, Virginia. (Chen Mengtong/China News Service via Getty Images)

About half of U.S. adults (51%) say the country’s public K-12 education system is generally going in the wrong direction. A far smaller share (16%) say it’s going in the right direction, and about a third (32%) are not sure, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in November 2023.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to understand how Americans view the K-12 public education system. We surveyed 5,029 U.S. adults from Nov. 9 to Nov. 16, 2023.

The survey was conducted by Ipsos for Pew Research Center on the Ipsos KnowledgePanel Omnibus. The KnowledgePanel is a probability-based web panel recruited primarily through national, random sampling of residential addresses. The survey is weighted by gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, income and other categories.

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

A diverging bar chart showing that only 16% of Americans say public K-12 education is going in the right direction.

A majority of those who say it’s headed in the wrong direction say a major reason is that schools are not spending enough time on core academic subjects.

These findings come amid debates about what is taught in schools , as well as concerns about school budget cuts and students falling behind academically.

Related: Race and LGBTQ Issues in K-12 Schools

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say the public K-12 education system is going in the wrong direction. About two-thirds of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (65%) say this, compared with 40% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. In turn, 23% of Democrats and 10% of Republicans say it’s headed in the right direction.

Among Republicans, conservatives are the most likely to say public education is headed in the wrong direction: 75% say this, compared with 52% of moderate or liberal Republicans. There are no significant differences among Democrats by ideology.

Similar shares of K-12 parents and adults who don’t have a child in K-12 schools say the system is going in the wrong direction.

A separate Center survey of public K-12 teachers found that 82% think the overall state of public K-12 education has gotten worse in the past five years. And many teachers are pessimistic about the future.

Related: What’s It Like To Be A Teacher in America Today?

Why do Americans think public K-12 education is going in the wrong direction?

We asked adults who say the public education system is going in the wrong direction why that might be. About half or more say the following are major reasons:

Schools not spending enough time on core academic subjects, like reading, math, science and social studies (69%)
Teachers bringing their personal political and social views into the classroom (54%)
Schools not having the funding and resources they need (52%)

About a quarter (26%) say a major reason is that parents have too much influence in decisions about what schools are teaching.

How views vary by party

A dot plot showing that Democrats and Republicans who say public education is going in the wrong direction give different explanations.

Americans in each party point to different reasons why public education is headed in the wrong direction.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say major reasons are:

A lack of focus on core academic subjects (79% vs. 55%)
Teachers bringing their personal views into the classroom (76% vs. 23%)

A bar chart showing that views on why public education is headed in the wrong direction vary by political ideology.

In turn, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to point to:

Insufficient school funding and resources (78% vs. 33%)
Parents having too much say in what schools are teaching (46% vs. 13%)

Views also vary within each party by ideology.

Among Republicans, conservatives are particularly likely to cite a lack of focus on core academic subjects and teachers bringing their personal views into the classroom.

Among Democrats, liberals are especially likely to cite schools lacking resources and parents having too much say in the curriculum.

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

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Among many u.s. children, reading for fun has become less common, federal data shows, most european students learn english in school, for u.s. teens today, summer means more schooling and less leisure time than in the past, about one-in-six u.s. teachers work second jobs – and not just in the summer, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

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About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions.

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