When conducting interviews for qualitative research, the data collected is typically what type?

In qualitative research, the primary goal is to gather in-depth insights and understand the meanings that individuals assign to their experiences and social contexts. Interviews are a common method used to collect this type of information.

The data obtained from interviews is typically qualitative as it encompasses non-numerical information that reflects people's thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behaviors. This type of data is rich in detail and context, allowing researchers to explore complex phenomena and understand the nuances of participant responses. Through interviews, researchers can capture themes, patterns, and narratives that quantitative data cannot adequately represent.

The other types of data mentioned—nominal, quantitative, and discrete—do not reflect the nature of the data collected through interviews. Nominal data refers to categorical data without a meaningful order, which can be a component of qualitative data but does not encompass the entirety of what is gathered in interviews. Quantitative data is numerical and focuses on measurable variables, while discrete data consists of distinct, separate values, both of which are not suitable for the holistic and narrative-driven focus of qualitative interviews.