An Examination of Online Qualitative Research Methods

This paper is meant as an exploration into possible approaches to answering the following research question: how are educators in the Commonwealth of Virginia integrating the Virginia Technology Standards of Learning into the day-to-day classroom learning environment and curriculum as a whole? Traditional qualitative research methods and online and technology-based qualitative methods will be explored to determine possible techniques and best approaches. Weaknesses and strengths will be outlined. Finally, the placement of these two methodological approaches – traditional and online – will be placed into the continuum of accepted research paradigms.