How does qualitative research differ from quantitative research?

Qualitative research is primarily concerned with understanding human experiences, behaviors, and the meanings individuals assign to them. It delves into the subjective aspects of research, seeking to gather in-depth insights about people's thoughts, feelings, and experiences in their own words. This approach typically employs methods such as interviews, focus groups, and open-ended surveys, allowing researchers to explore complex topics and capture the richness of participants' perspectives.

In contrast, quantitative research emphasizes numerical data and statistical analysis to test hypotheses and draw conclusions. It often uses structured tools like closed-ended surveys or experiments that yield quantifiable results. The focus on measurable data is fundamentally different from the exploratory nature of qualitative research, which seeks a comprehensive understanding rather than numerical validation.

The other options reflect misunderstandings about qualitative research. While qualitative research does provide deep insights into experiences, it does not involve numerical data analysis, nor does it typically employ structured surveys in the same way quantitative research does. Moreover, qualitative research can often be more time-consuming due to the process of gathering and analyzing rich, detailed data.