Qualitative Research Reporting: A Comprehensive Analysis
Introduction
The report represents the final and formal culmination of qualitative research. This chapter examines the quality of the report, the inherent challenges in its presentation (depending on the specific requirements), and how to document qualitative findings from a scientific perspective. The report serves as a technical instrument that conveys an objective and thorough account of the entire investigation.
Reporting Results in the Research Process
The report in the research phase is intrinsically linked to the demand or problem that initiated the study, along with the results obtained. Therefore, it is a circular process, simultaneously a beginning and an end. Since research is an ongoing process, the report is paradoxically viewed both as a product for consumption and a process for further development.
Product to Consume
A product resulting from the resources invested in research provides a timely conclusion to the investigation and addresses a specific question or problem.
Process to Develop
The report is created with the intention of continued reporting. Its meaning and existence are extended over time through a chain of research, all interconnected by common research lines.
The interpretation of the report is ambivalent, revealing two perspectives or possibilities related to the entity requesting the report and the intended use of the research findings:
- Response: The report provides answers to specific questions.
- Question: The formalization of these responses opens the door to numerous new questions.
For example, a study on the role of mothers in childcare and upbringing might reveal a prevalence towards the father’s role. This conclusion could spark new inquiries. While not all reports are designed for this purpose, qualitative reports, especially those stemming from open-design research, often offer a wealth of additional information not explicitly covered in the initial objectives. This information can be rich and nuanced, suggesting new avenues for further research.
This is not to say that quantitative reports are not conducive to new research. The point is that the report, as a research tool, relies on the researcher’s ability to perform creative readings aimed at identifying new research problems.
Both quantitative and qualitative reports offer a range of possibilities that extend beyond uncovering new themes or aspects of reality to investigate. The methodology employed in a report can be used to reframe the same research from a different methodological perspective. For instance, a qualitative report highlighting the diverse viewpoints women hold regarding abortion could be followed by a quantitative study examining the relative prevalence of each viewpoint.
The qualitative report facilitates and expands the methodology into different fields, serving as a means to enhance the application of research techniques. The report is not merely a compilation of results; it is also an instrument or technique to be applied within the broader research process. Through reports, we gain access not only to the problems investigated but also to how these problems have been formulated at a specific point in time and how they evolve over time.