What is a key characteristic of qualitative research in health?

Qualitative research in health is centered on exploring and understanding the subjective experiences of individuals. It relies on non-numerical data, such as interviews, focus groups, and open-ended surveys, to gather rich, detailed insights into people's thoughts, feelings, and perspectives regarding health and illness. This approach allows researchers to capture the complexity of human experiences, leading to a deeper understanding of health behaviors, motivations, and social contexts.

Unlike quantitative research, which emphasizes numerical data and statistical analysis to identify patterns and generalizable trends, qualitative research seeks to uncover the nuanced meanings that people assign to their experiences. This focus on depth rather than breadth is essential in understanding phenomena that are often difficult to quantify, such as patient satisfaction, quality of life, and the impact of health interventions on individual lives. By using non-numerical data, qualitative research can provide a voice to participants, revealing insights that can inform healthcare practices and policies in a meaningful way.