The lecture emphasizes the distinctions and applications of qualitative research, focusing predominantly on realist and interpretive assumptions. In qualitative research, unlike quantitative, there is flexibility in interpreting what reality and research entail. Realist assumption asserts that reality is objective and shared, aiming to collect data that is generalizable across different units, purified of biases, and focused on objective facts independent of personal experiences. Conversely, interpretive assumption believes in a socially constructed reality, emphasizing individual perceptions, meanings, and experiences of events, and typically focuses on smaller, more detailed studies.

Different philosophical perspectives like positivism and pragmatism are touched upon, with positivism, now considered outdated, emphasizing observable phenomena to build theories and derive logical consequences, and pragmatism focusing on the utility of theories for making useful predictions rather than their absolute truth. The lecture concludes by highlighting the significance of selecting the appropriate research approach in qualitative studies, which can vary based on whether the focus is on the individuals or the events they narrate, and by noting that the mentioned approaches are crucial for anyone embarking on a career in qualitative research.

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