Which of the following best defines qualitative research?

Qualitative research is best defined as a method aimed at uncovering underlying meanings and experiences. It seeks to explore complex phenomena through understanding people's perceptions, emotions, and social contexts. This approach is typically characterized by a focus on in-depth insights rather than quantifiable measurements.

In qualitative research, the data collected may include interviews, open-ended surveys, and observations, which allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding of participants’ viewpoints and the meanings they attach to their experiences. Unlike approaches that prioritize statistical validity, qualitative methods do not rely on numerical data or structured experimental designs; instead, they value narrative and context, making it possible to discover richer insights that might be lost in quantitative analysis.

The emphasis on experiences and meanings is crucial because it helps capture the nuances of human behavior and social interactions, which are often too complex for purely statistical analysis to fully capture. This makes qualitative research a vital component in fields such as social sciences, psychology, and anthropology.