Reflections on the Use of a Smartphone to Facilitate Qualitative Research in South Africa

Authors

Sogo France Matlala, University of LimpopoFollow
Makoko Neo Matlala, University of LimpopoFollow

Abstract

This paper describes conditions that led to the use of a smartphone to collect qualitative data instead of using a digital voice recorder as the standard device for recording of interviews. Through reviewing technical documents, the paper defines a smartphone and describes its applications that are useful in the research process. It further points out possible uses of other applications of a smartphone in the research process. The paper concludes that a smartphone is a valuable device to researchers.

Keywords

Document Review, Qualitative Research, Smartphone

Author Bio(s)

Dr. Sogo France Matlala is a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the University of Limpopo. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: France.Matlala@ul.ac.za.

Mr. Makoko Neo Matlala is a computer science student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Limpopo. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: neomatlala70@gmail.com.

Publication Date

10-1-2018

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3409

Recommended APA Citation

Matlala, S. F., & Matlala, M. N. (2018). Reflections on the Use of a Smartphone to Facilitate Qualitative Research in South Africa. The Qualitative Report, 23(10), 2264-2275. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3409