How does qualitative research typically gather data?

Qualitative research typically gathers data through methods such as interviews, focus groups, and observations. This approach focuses on understanding the meanings, experiences, and perspectives of participants in a natural setting. By using open-ended questions, researchers can explore in-depth responses that provide rich, contextual insights into the subjects of study.

The use of interviews allows for personal, detailed narratives, while focus groups facilitate discussions that can reveal group dynamics and shared perspectives. Observations enable researchers to gather information on behaviors and interactions in real-world situations. These methods are crucial for capturing the complexity and nuance of human behavior and social phenomena, which is the primary goal of qualitative research. In contrast, the other answer choices emphasize quantitative methods that rely on structured data collection formats, which do not align with the qualitative approach.