I was trained in the scientific method, and have come to respect the discipline and protocols of scientific inquiry. Qualitative research also has an important role in our discipline. New lines of inquiry for which there is no established theory, and other research questions requiring in-depth analysis of specific subjects or situations, are just two ways qualitative research plays an role. Such studies should never be done out of a dislike or fear of statistics, but should be done when the research questions clearly warrant this method. And, qualitative findings should be used as a theoretical basis for quantitative replication when possible to generalize findings to the population.
Ethical behavior is an important part of research.
Subjects, primarily, should be treated with the utmost respect. They are our lifeline to knowledge. Their participation should be voluntary and their time, dignity, and honesty respected. The data which subjects give us is also a matter for dignity and respect. As researchers, we must treat data with honesty and integrity and use it to further our knowledge base.