Defining the objectives and subsequent methods to elicit the desired information for qualitative research is an early phase in this type of research. Understanding the desired results (predictive behaviors of a group or supporting existing behavior patterns for example) of the project prior to planning and implementing the research will help ensure the best means of data collection are used, improving the chances of garnering the information desired.
Collecting qualitative research data, using any one of several accepted methods, is the next phase in the development of qualitative analysis. As the data is often unstructured, it is generally arrived at by interactions with test subjects or groups. This interaction, or data collection, can take the form of surveys, interviews (both individual and group), feedback forms, observations (either known or unknown) as well as review of prior qualitative research studies.
Research inevitably entails the recording, collation and dissemination of information, and the subsequent theories or explanations, that are derived from this analysis. Assuming that the earlier phases of the qualitative research were completed thoughtfully, analysis of the data at this point should produce results. Results, as they relate to this type of analysis, come in the form of hypothesis based on the culmination of data received and the interpretation of the information.
Conducting qualitative research within the social sciences is where much of qualitative research standards arose. Within this particular genre, there are four phases of qualitative research: preparation, discovery, interpretation and explanation. Similar to the processes used for any qualitative research study, the strong ties to societal complexities further define these sections for sociological studies. Preparation includes a study facilitator introducing themselves into the group being studied, while the discovery phase incorporates structure to the research project. Interpretation and explanation entail the data analysis and subsequent findings of the researcher or research team.