Which best describes the type of research question used in qualitative research?

• A. Probing, Global
• B. Non-Exploratory, Narrow
• C. Hypothesis-Driven, Confirmatory
• D. Experimental, Causal

Answer: (A)

Qualitative research questions are probing and global because the goal is to explore a phenomenon in depth and capture the meanings, experiences, and contexts from the participants’ perspectives. These questions are open-ended and flexible, allowing data to unfold and reveal themes you might not anticipate, rather than aiming to measure predefined variables. This approach supports methods like interviews, focus groups, and observations, where the emphasis is on understanding how and why things happen, not on testing a specific prediction. In contrast, non-exploratory, narrow questions limit the scope and depth of insight; hypothesis-driven, confirmatory questions focus on testing predefined ideas; and experimental, causal designs are about manipulating variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships—approaches more aligned with quantitative research than with qualitative inquiry.