What type of research focuses on understanding participants’ viewpoints?

Qualitative research is specifically designed to delve into and understand the perspectives and experiences of participants. It seeks to capture the richness of human experience, often through methods such as interviews, focus groups, and open-ended surveys. This type of research emphasizes depth over breadth, aiming to explore the meanings and interpretations that individuals ascribe to their experiences.

In qualitative research, the goal is to gain insights into how participants think, feel, and perceive their reality, which can inform the understanding of complex social phenomena. The flexibility of qualitative methods allows researchers to adapt their inquiries based on the responses of participants, leading to a more nuanced understanding of their viewpoints.

In contrast, other types of research like quantitative, exploratory, and descriptive research do not focus primarily on individuals’ personal perspectives. Quantitative research typically emphasizes numerical data and statistical analysis to establish patterns or test hypotheses. Exploratory research is often used to investigate a new area where not much information exists, and while it may include qualitative components, its primary goal is to generate hypotheses rather than explore participant viewpoints deeply. Descriptive research focuses on providing a detailed account of a phenomenon without necessarily understanding the subjective experiences behind it.