Qualitative data also play an important role in identifying marketing problems and opportunities. The in-depth information enhances the researcher’s ability to understand consumer behavior. Finally, many qualitative researchers have backgrounds in the social sciences, such as sociology, anthropology, or psychology, and thus bring knowledge of theories from their discipline to enhance their interpretation of data. For example, a study of grooming behavior
of young adults conducted by an anthropologist described grooming behavior as ‘‘ritual
magic.’’5 The legacy of psychology and psychiatry in developing qualitative techniques is
seen in the emphasis on subconscious motivations and the use of probing techniques that
are designed to uncover motives.