As a qualitative researcher, it’s essential that I be skilled in gathering and understanding all points of view on a research topic.To put this in context, I was a member of the debating club in high school. Despite not being a very good debater – no killer instinct, they told me – the experience was a formative one. The club had three rules:
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All arguments must be grounded in verifiable facts – no making stuff up
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No personal attacks
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Whatever side of the issue you’re assigned, you must debate to win – regardless of your own opinion on the topic