Which of the following steps is NOT part of the qualitative research process?

Contextual analysis is not considered a formal step in the qualitative research process, even though understanding the context is crucial in qualitative studies. The qualitative research process generally includes steps such as data collection, which involves gathering information through methods like interviews or observations; sample selection, which refers to how participants are chosen in a way that captures diverse perspectives; and findings, where the results of the study are presented and interpreted.

While analyzing context can be part of understanding your findings or may inform the study approach, it does not stand alone as a defined step within the academic framework of qualitative research processes. Instead, the focus tends to be more on how data is collected and analyzed in relation to the specific research questions. Context is often interwoven throughout the qualitative study but is not formally labeled as a distinct step.