TABLE OF CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION................................................................................................3 CHAPTER.I. DEFINITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH     1.1.Historical development of both research approaches......................................6 1.2.Sampling techniques in qualitative and quantitative research..........................14 CHAPTER.II.COMPARISON OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS     2.1.Strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research.............................................21 2.2.Integration of qualitative and quantitative methods     (mixed-method approach)......................................................................................28 CHAPTER.III.THE ROLE OF COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN ENHANCING LANGUAGE COMPETENCIES     3.1.Examples of studies using qualitative methods...............................................33 3.2.Analysis of which method is more suitable for specific research problems..................................................................................................41 CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................59 REFERENCES.....................................................................................................61