ABSTRACT
Qualitative research topics often, though not always, come from personal interest or experience of the researcher. A study should be framed, grounded or at least backgrounded in previous research. This includes defining relevant concepts with the help of the literature and reviewing previous research in order to ask questions that will shed new light on previously studied topics or on topics not yet studied. Qualitative research questions are broad and flexible, focusing the research but allowing room for the unexpected. They may begin with "How?" "What are the characteristics of...?" "What norms and values underlie...?"
