Which statement best describes qualitative research?

• A. It relies on statistical analysis to test hypotheses.
• B. It focuses on standardized measurements and experiments.
• C. It uses in-depth interviews and non-numerical interpretation.
• D. It only uses archival data with no observations.

Answer: (C)

Qualitative research aims to understand meaning, experience, and context through non-numerical data. It relies on methods like in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus groups, and analysis of documents or artifacts to gather rich, detailed descriptions. The goal is to interpret how people make sense of their world, exploring processes and perspectives rather than measuring variables with numbers or testing predefined hypotheses. Data are typically words, images, or other qualitative materials that researchers code to identify themes and patterns. This hands-on, interpretive approach is what in-depth interviews and non-numerical interpretation capture, making it the best description of qualitative research.