Comprehending humans has been a challenge ever since. That is the reason that research in Social Sciences positions challenges that are altogether different and unique as compared to natural sciences. In natural sciences it is possible to replicate the results by repeated experiments and get conclusive with results but in social sciences, it is all about unprejudiced observation, and there is no scope of having replication in results, so definite understanding becomes very challenging.
However, the advantages that are associated with qualitative research still uphold their relevance. The foremost thing is that the qualitative methods work the best in a situation where quantitative methods are not usable. Also, this method sets free the researcher from the pressure of manipulating the variables and work around multiple time repetition of experiment in a strife to get duplication in results. Because qualitative research has more emphasis on observation and better understanding that leads to development of opinions and feelings in a better way. To add further, it sustains the dynamic nature of the group and creates a brilliant opportunity for the researcher as he can be an observer of the nonverbal gestures too. This helps in better results and deeper understanding of what is not available on the surface.
Qualitative research helps to examine the issue more in depth as compared to quantitative research. It also gives the scope to redirect the course of the interview as per the understanding and requirement of the researcher. There is always the flexibility in qualitative research to modify the research framework as unexplored information emerges on the surface. The kind of the data that comes out from qualitative research is far more profound and sometimes even surprisingly compelling. And last but not the least the findings from a qualitative research can easily be transferred to another set up, regarding applicability.
There are a few limitations of qualitative research. That holds true for all kinds of research. Some of the main limitations are; firstly, the lack of a comprehensive data set. It happens because the data collection technique is more interview and observation based. This involves a lot of time and effort from the end of the researcher, so no surplus data is also often collected.
The second main limitation is that generalizations are more accurate and possible with quantitative research as compared to qualitative research. Qualitative research is more based on descriptive categorization of data as compared to prescriptive.