Which of the following is NOT a potential pitfall of qualitative research?

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Prepare for the UCF GEB4522 Data Driven Decision Making Final Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions to study. Familiarize yourself with key concepts and methodologies to excel on the test!

Qualitative research primarily focuses on understanding and interpreting complex human behaviors, thoughts, and experiences rather than quantifying them. One of the key aspects of qualitative research is its capacity to provide deep, contextual insights, which are considered more exploratory and less definitive.

The option indicating that insights are frequently only directional is indeed aligned with the nature of qualitative research. This type of research is designed to explore ideas, generate hypotheses, and provide a narrative understanding rather than produce conclusive data that can be generalized. Therefore, the notion that insights are often directional accurately reflects the limitations and the intent of qualitative research.

In contrast, the other options point to genuine pitfalls associated with qualitative research methods, such as potential sample bias, lack of replicability, and the influence of researcher biases on results. These factors can compromise the validity and generalizability of the findings in qualitative studies, making them critical considerations for researchers employing this methodology.