What is a potential limitation of qualitative research?

Qualitative research is particularly valuable in exploring complex social phenomena, but one of its notable limitations is that findings may not be easily generalizable to larger populations. This arises because qualitative research often involves smaller, non-random samples that are selected purposefully to explore specific contexts, experiences, or perspectives. Consequently, while the insights gained can be rich and detailed, they may not reflect the broader population adequately. The depth of understanding achieved in qualitative studies is often at the expense of wider applicability, limiting the ability to draw sweeping conclusions or make broad predictions based on the results of a single study. This contrasts with quantitative research, which emphasizes statistical analysis and can achieve generalizability through larger, randomly selected samples that are more representative of the population.