Why is qualitative data difficult to compare in interviews?

Qualitative data from interviews is often difficult to compare because the answers provided by participants may not adhere to a fixed format. Unlike quantitative data, which is typically structured and can be measured against standard metrics, qualitative data allows for open-ended responses. This means that participants can share their thoughts and experiences in their own words, leading to a wide variety of answers for the same question.

This variability makes it challenging to analyze data systematically across different participants, as each response may capture unique insights, nuances, and perspectives that differ vastly from one another. Such diversity in responses can lead to difficulties when trying to derive common themes or trends, as the richness of the qualitative data lies in its subjectivity and contextual detail rather than in standardized measurements.