Exploring an issue/problem. If you wrote a research question because there is not enough information to really nail down alternatives/levels of variables yet then qualitative/open ended methods that do not require you to define all the potential aspects/variables of the issue are likely to be more useful.
Ex: I’m wondering why students don’t do the reading in my class – asking open ended questions or having them log the “reasons” why they didn’t do the reading over a course of a couple of weeks is likely to yield more usable information than a set of responses based on what you “think” is happening.
Check out qualitative methods such as: