Methods for Digital Qualitative Research

Which method fits your research question?

Contextual qualitative research can take many forms: ongoing or focused on specific moments, individual or group-based, openly exploratory or clearly structured. Digital diaries, mobile ethnography, insight communities and qualitative surveys provide different ways to approach your research question.
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METHOD OVERVIEW

Four methods compared.

Depending on the research question, these methods can be used individually, combined with each other or complemented by interviews, pre-tasks and other research modules.

Digital diary

Particularly suitable for: Routines, processes, product usage and change over time
Typical added value: Document experiences repeatedly and through multiple media over an extended period
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Mobile ethnography

Particularly suitable for: Specific situations, environments, touchpoints and decision-making moments
Typical added value: Capture experiences and usage situations where they happen.
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Insight community

Particularly suitable for: Complex topics, development processes, co-creation and recurring research questions
Typical added value: Combine different methodological approaches and explore topics in depth over a longer period
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Qualitative survey

Particularly suitable for: Structured exploration, concept tests and comparisons between subgroups or variants
Typical added value: Combine qualitative depth with systematic comparability
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ACROSS METHODS

Flexible research, whatever the method.

Whatever methodological approach you choose, KERNWERT helps you stay close to situations and experiences and adapt your study design as the project progresses.

Close to situations and experiences

Experiences can be documented where they happen or shortly afterwards.

Document through multiple media

Text, photos, video and audio offer different ways to explore experiences and situations.

Research flexibly over time

Participants complete tasks within a suitable time frame; researchers can manage projects in parallel.

Explore further during fieldwork

Follow-up questions, new tasks and deeper exploration can be added during fieldwork.

Manage complex designs

Workflows, filters and roles support the implementation of multi-stage research designs.

Use AI directly in the workflow

AI-assisted transcription, translation, quality assurance and analysis are integrated directly into the study workflow.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

KERNWERT supports digital diaries, mobile ethnography, insight communities and qualitative surveys. Live text chats, video meetings, pre-tasks, surveys, creative tasks and other formats can also be integrated into the research design.

Yes. Depending on the research question, different methods and formats can be combined - for example, a digital diary with surveys, community discussions, creative tasks or live sessions. Participant profiles, communication and results remain connected within one project.

Depending on the task, participants can respond through text, photos, audio or video, as well as scales, rankings, sorting tasks, collages, mapping and other open-ended or closed-ended formats.

KERNWERT is particularly strong in asynchronous research. Participants complete tasks at a suitable moment or within a defined time frame. Live text chats and video meetings can be added when synchronous interaction is useful for the research design.

CONSULTING

Still unsure which method is right for you?

We turn your research question into a workable digital study design - pragmatic, methodologically sound and suited to your resources and budget.
Ruth Wakenhut
+49 (0)30 53012360