Can be hard if participant and researcher do not share the same first language and translation between languages can cause for meanings to be lost.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- Cognitive Processes
- Gap between experiences and language
- Language Barrier

Why Language is a major limitation of Qualitative Data

Polkinghorne, Donald. (2005). Language and Meaning: Data Collection in Qualitative Research. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 52. 137-145. 10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.137. 

Language and Meaning: Data Collection in Qualitative Research

There is a gap between experiences and language used to describe these experiences, because it is hard to explain memories that are mostly comprised of visual images. Therefore there is a need for "metaphors and narratives" to closely illustrate an experience.

Gap between experiences and language

Self-reporting requires a certain level of trust in participants capability to understand themselves and their thoughts.

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