Identify one disadvantage of using a qualitative method to investigate criminal behaviour and explain how you would deal with this in your investigation.

Qualitative methods like unstructured interviews and participant observation are favoured by interpretivists for producing valid, in-depth data. However, they are often criticised by positivists for being unreliable and subjective. Researcher bias is a key concern, as the researcher's personal values can influence the research process, from the questions asked to the interpretation of data. Triangulation is a technique used to improve the validity and reliability of research. Researcher triangulation involves using multiple researchers to collect or analyse data, reducing the impact of any single individual's bias.