There's a place for qualitative research. Work like this could help structure bigger studies, suggest new hypotheses, and refine interview techniques. The samp

There's a place for qualitative research. Work like this could help structure bigger studies, suggest new hypotheses, and refine interview techniques. The sample size you need depends on the strength of the effect in the population. For instance you wouldn't need a sample size of thousands to conclude cyanide capsules were not a safe, effective remedy for tooth ache. Or that people don't like being bullied at work. This work wasn't statistically focussed, so it's not as crucial, but if you interview 135 people under a good sampling scheme and get very consistent responses about what matters to them it can't be dismissed as meaningless out of hand. I would expect plenty of room for change in our understanding of meaningfulness as more work is done though...