In qualitative research guided by interpretivism, which data collection method is most typical?

• A. Large-scale randomized trial
• B. Structured survey with Likert scales
• C. In-depth interviews or participant observation
• D. Meta-analysis

Answer: (C)

In interpretivist qualitative research, the goal is to understand how people experience and interpret their world within specific social contexts. This is best achieved through flexible, open-ended data collection that lets participants express their perspectives in their own terms. In-depth interviews and participant observation provide rich, contextual data about beliefs, meanings, and social interactions as they unfold, allowing researchers to interpret how people construct reality in real life settings. Large-scale randomized trials and structured surveys with Likert scales emphasize predefined measures, control, and generalizability, aligning more with quantitative approaches and positivist aims. Meta-analysis, meanwhile, synthesizes findings from existing studies rather than gathering new qualitative data.