List and define Patton's (2002) 12 major characteristics of qualitative research.

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The Answer is Patton's (2002) 12 major characteristics of qualitative research are as follows:

1. Natural setting: Qualitative research takes place in the natural environment of the participants, allowing for a deeper understanding of their experiences.

2. Researcher as instrument: The researcher's own experiences, biases, and perspectives are acknowledged and may influence the research process and findings.

3. Inductive data analysis: Qualitative research involves the iterative process of collecting and analyzing data to develop theories and concepts from the ground up.

4. Holistic perspective: Qualitative research seeks to understand the complexity and interconnectedness of social phenomena, rather than isolating variables.

5. Participant perspectives: The perspectives and experiences of the participants are central to qualitative research, and their voices are often emphasized through direct quotes and narratives.

6. Emergent design: Qualitative research often involves flexible and evolving research designs that adapt to new insights and findings as the study progresses.

7. Reflexivity: Researchers engage in ongoing reflection and critical self-awareness to understand how their own perspectives and biases may influence the research process.

8. Context sensitivity: Qualitative research attends to the specific social, cultural, and historical contexts that shape the experiences and meanings of the participants.

9. Subjective interpretation: Qualitative research acknowledges that knowledge is constructed through the interpretations and meanings that individuals assign to their experiences.

10. Rich, detailed data: Qualitative research often involves in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis to generate rich, detailed data that capture the complexity of social phenomena.

11. Longitudinal perspective: Qualitative research may involve studying phenomena over time to understand how they evolve and change.

12. Ethnographic immersion: In some cases, qualitative research involves immersive, long-term engagement in a particular social setting to understand the culture and context in depth.

These characteristics collectively distinguish qualitative research from quantitative approaches, emphasizing the importance of context, interpretation, and the subjective experiences of participants.

List and Define Patton's (2002) 12 Major Characteristics of Qualitative