What is the role of a key informant in qualitative research?

In qualitative research, the role of a key informant is to offer insights based on their experiences related to the research topic. Key informants are individuals who possess specialized knowledge or expertise regarding the subject matter being studied. Their unique perspectives can provide depth to the research findings, as they share firsthand experiences, contextual information, and rich narratives that help the researcher understand the complexities of the issue at hand.

By tapping into the lived experiences and viewpoints of these informants, researchers can gather nuanced information that quantitative methods alone might overlook. This can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the social, cultural, or situational factors influencing the research topic. In qualitative studies, such insight is invaluable, as it can reveal underlying motivations, behaviors, and relationships that contribute to the overall inquiry.