Abstract: Qualitative research as a movement has an extensive and profound influence on other social sciences. In the past 20 years, qualitative research has spread to the field of psychology, which has attracted wide public concern. Qualitative orientation is increasingly integrated into the mainstream and has become what Kuhn called "normative science". Based on previous researches, this paper examines the development of psychological research from different perspectives, including the history of psychology, different orientations, the common basis, approaches of qualitative analysis and its contribution to the development of psychology.

Key words: qualitative research, history of psychology, common basis, orientation differences