What type of data is typically characterized by narrative forms and is difficult to measure numerically?

Qualitative data is characterized by narrative forms, capturing detailed and descriptive information about people's thoughts, experiences, and behaviors. This type of data is often gathered through methods such as interviews, open-ended survey questions, focus groups, and observations. It provides insight into underlying motivations, feelings, and the context surrounding specific phenomena, making it invaluable in fields like social sciences, healthcare, and education.

Because qualitative data is not structured numerically, it poses challenges in terms of measurement and statistical analysis. Researchers often have to analyze it through thematic coding or content analysis to identify patterns and trends, but these processes do not yield precise numbers like quantitative research does. Hence, qualitative data is vital for understanding complex issues in depth, but it is inherently less quantifiable compared to other forms of data.

In contrast, quantitative data is oriented towards numbers and statistical analysis, whereas statistical data refers specifically to data that has been processed and organized for analysis. Descriptive data could be seen as a subset of qualitative data, but it doesn’t exclusively refer to narrative forms. Therefore, qualitative data stands out as the best-fitting answer to the question posed.