The Shifting Future of Qualitative Research

Abstract

Data must be interpreted. As we connect the dots within qualitative research and in society at large, certain identifiable trends begin to emerge, tangible developments that point to a shifting future within qualitative inquiry. This article considers a number of trends that will affect the future of qualitative research. These include the development of qualitative infrastructures, the increased use of mixed methods, movement from insight to empathy, the proliferation of digital affordances, the rise of video, the arrival of big data, and a renewed focus on answering the “why.” The article also explores implications, problems, and opportunities posed by these shifts and suggests how qualitative researchers might perhaps best respond.