Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of qualitative research?

Qualitative research is characterized by its focus on understanding the meanings and lived experiences of participants. This type of research emphasizes depth over breadth, seeking to explore complex phenomena through rich, descriptive data.

The use of interviews and focus groups is a common method of data collection in qualitative research, as these approaches allow researchers to gather detailed insights and personal narratives that reveal participants' thoughts, feelings, and interpretations of their experiences. Additionally, qualitative research often aims to capture the unique perspectives and viewpoints of participants, making it an exploratory and subjective approach to gathering information.

On the other hand, the analysis of numerical trends over time is not a characteristic of qualitative research; it is more aligned with quantitative research. Quantitative research typically uses statistical methods to analyze numerical data, looking for patterns and trends that can be generalized to larger populations. Therefore, the focus on numerical analysis distinguishes qualitative research from quantitative methods.