Applying neural network technology in qualitative research for extracting learning style to improve e-learning environment

Research in social and human behavior is a very difficult and complex task in terms of collecting, analyzing and converting data into numbers. This type of researches known as qualitative research, which is a process relies on reasons behind various aspects of behavior. It investigates the why and how of decision making, as compared to what, where, and when of quantitative research. This paper describes a qualitative research to extract learning style for students. The result will be used in developing a neural network application for adaptive e-learning system to determine the most preferred learning approach for a student. As a result the paper presents how qualitative research type has direct influence and affects the accuracy result of artificial neural network application.