Qualitative research emphasizes what kind of data?

• A. Descriptive, detailed data about thoughts and feelings.
• B. Numerical, statistical data.
• C. Historical archival data.
• D. Forecasting models.

Answer: (A)

Qualitative research aims to understand experiences, meanings, and perspectives in depth. It collects descriptive, detailed data about thoughts, feelings, and interpretations, often through interviews, open-ended questions, and observations. The focus is on exploring why people think or behave a certain way and what those experiences feel like, rather than measuring quantity or frequency. This is why the data described are rich, contextual, and non-numeric.

In contrast, numerical, statistical data belong to quantitative research, which measures amount, frequency, or relationships using numbers. Historical archival data are records from the past used to examine events or trends, often with a historical angle. Forecasting models rely on quantitative data and statistical methods to predict future outcomes.