Longitudinal qualitative research in practice: Advantages, problems and solutions

Abstract

The paper deals with several most significant issues concerning advantages and problems of applying longitudinal qualitative research in practice. Following the introductory part that presents basic features and particularities of longitudinal qualitative research, there are three sections presenting research dilemmas and solutions related to research design, research implementation, and analysis and interpretation of findings. Discussion refers to recent methodological literature, as well as the author’s own research practice of doing longitudinal qualitative research in four waves from 1993 to 2014. The topics that are highlighted include: flexibility of research design, adaptation of concepts and interpretation to changes during the research, research ethics and respondents’ and researcher’s reflexivity, analyzing and interpreting change within social biography approach. The concluding discussion summarizes heuristic and methodological advantages of longitudinal qualitative research for social biography approach, such as contextualization and biographization of findings, but also its limits and possibilities of overcoming them based on the author’s research experience.