Qualitative research is all about finding out the 'why' through both informal and formal approaches, such as interviews, open ended surveys, feedback forms, videos, etc. Qualitative research is more than finding out statistics and numbers - it goes deeper than that by searching for a greater understanding. It focuses on many different aspects. Qualitative research seems to investigate people's emotions, thoughts, insights, views, and beliefs; why do they think a certain why, why do they act a certain way. Through stories or narratives qualitative researchers can study and analyze 'why.'
From my understanding a more in dept form of qualitative research is called narrative inquiry. Narrative inquiry is an approach to discover how people make meaning of their lives. Both qualitative researchers and narrative researchers search for a greater understanding through studying stories or narratives of people. However, narrative researchers study a wider range of stories and narratives. In a way narrative researchers try to make sense of the research by analyzing the qualitative data collected.
Both relate to our collaborative research project because they study humans. For this project we are required to interview and analyze certain people related to our topic we choose. Although I am still not yet sure who I am interviewing or why I realize I will be performing "qualitative research" by videoing, interviewing, and questioning a person. Then, I will be performing "narrative inquiry" by analyzing this person through the qualitative data I have collected. Both qualitative research and narrative inquiry seem to be a vital part of the project.