ABSTRACT
There is a long tradition in the social sciences of observing, studying and recording what it is that people do and how they live. Qualitative research is rooted firmly in this tradition drawing from the various social science disciplines, such as those of anthropology, education, history, linguistics, psychology, sociology and the practices of business, management and politics, with which to inform its own brand of study. This is why qualitative research has been described as both art and science, informed through an approach that consists of being naturalistic, humanistic, holistic and speculative (Mariampolski, 2001, p. 7-9), represented and interpreted by many, such as those of academics, filmmakers, essayists, writers and social critics (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005, p. 4). Humans are subject to received wisdom as they are to infinite thirst for knowledge and imaginary leaps of faith, so qualitative researchers are unbounded by conventional wisdom in seeking new interpretations and challenges to advance knowledge in the human race.
