What type of research method is typically used to collect qualitative data?

The focus group is a qualitative research method that facilitates the collection of in-depth insights and perspectives from participants on a particular topic or issue. This method involves a small, diverse group of individuals who engage in guided discussions, allowing the researcher to explore their thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

Focus groups are particularly effective in qualitative research because they generate rich, descriptive data that can reveal themes and patterns in human behavior and opinion. This interactive setting encourages participants to express their views openly, often leading to uncovering nuanced information that may not emerge through quantitative methods. The dynamic exchange of ideas among group members can also stimulate new thoughts and perspectives that enhance the findings.

In contrast, the other research methods listed focus on quantitative data or structured approaches. Experiments and clinical trials are designed to test hypotheses through systematic observation and measurement, and rating scales involve assessing responses along a pre-defined continuum. These methods do not capture the complexity of human experiences and perceptions in the same way as focus groups do.