What type of data does qualitative research primarily focus on?

Qualitative research primarily focuses on data from personal experiences and observations because it seeks to understand human behavior, emotions, and social contexts in a detailed and nuanced way. This type of data often includes interviews, open-ended survey responses, and ethnographic field notes, which capture the subjective interpretations and meanings that individuals attribute to their experiences.

Qualitative research is grounded in exploring how individuals perceive their world, which allows for rich, contextual insights that are not accessible through numerical or statistical means. By prioritizing personal perspectives, qualitative researchers can delve into the complexities of social phenomena and examine the subtleties of human interactions.

The other types of data mentioned, such as numerical or statistical data, experimental data, and large datasets, are typically associated with quantitative research methodologies, which focus more on measurable variables and objective measurements rather than the subjective experiences emphasized in qualitative research.