Wibbly Wobbly Researchy Wearchy: Embracing the Qualitative Adventure
LTEC 6512: Qualitative Research Methods in the Learning Technologies. As I begin this semester, I’m stepping into qualitative research with mixed feelings. I see its potential to uncover deeper insights, but I feel uneasy about the process. It seems less structured and more open to interpretation than I’m used to, which makes it feel subjective. A little more “squishy” than I like. At the same time, I know that all research—whether qualitative or quantitative—is influenced by human choices and biases.
My biggest challenge with qualitative research is getting comfortable with the idea that it relies so heavily on interpretation. It feels subjective because it often involves analyzing people’s words, experiences, and behaviors, which don’t fit neatly into categories or numbers. That lack of structure is unsettling for me. Coming from a background where I rely on numbers, I’m used to a sense of stability in data.
That said, I understand that this sense of stability in quantitative research can be misleading. Numbers may feel objective, but they’re shaped by the questions we ask, the methods we use, and how we interpret the results. In that way, all research has a bit of a "wibbly wobbly" quality to it—shaped by choices and context, not entirely rigid or fixed. It’s a little like the "wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff" from Doctor Who: it’s not as straightforward as it looks. This realization helps me accept that qualitative research isn’t inherently more subjective than quantitative research—it just feels that way because the process is less familiar to me.
What I do find intriguing about qualitative research is its ability to provide depth and context. It can explore motivations, emotions, and experiences in ways that numbers alone can’t. These insights make research more meaningful and relevant, especially when the focus is on understanding people and their perspectives. Quantitative data can tell us “what” is happening, but qualitative data can help us understand “why.”
For someone like me, who tends to see research through a mathematical lens, this shift in perspective is challenging but also valuable. It pushes me to think beyond what’s comfortable and to consider the bigger picture. Much like the Doctor’s perspective on time, qualitative research asks us to embrace complexity and look at things from multiple angles.
My Approach Moving Forward
As I move through the semester, I plan to keep an open mind. I want to learn how to navigate qualitative methods effectively, especially when it comes to reducing bias and ensuring reliability. I also want to understand how qualitative and quantitative approaches can work together to provide a more complete view of a research problem.
For now, I’m approaching qualitative research with cautious curiosity. It challenges the way I think about data, but it also opens up opportunities to explore deeper, more meaningful questions. I hope this semester will help me find a balance between my preference for numbers and the richness that qualitative research can offer. It may feel a bit “wibbly wobbly” at times, but I’m ready to embrace the adventure and see where it takes me.
