Qualitative assessment collects data that is best described as

• A. Numerical data for statistics
• B. Collects data that does not lend itself to quantitative methods but rather to interpretive criteria (focus groups, interviews, observations)
• C. Attendance rates
• D. Test scores and GPA

Answer: (B)

Qualitative assessment collects data that is descriptive, non-numeric, and interpretive, aimed at understanding meanings, experiences, and contexts rather than quantities. This type of data comes from methods that explore how people think and behave in real settings—interviews, focus groups, and systematic observations—yielding rich narratives, themes, and patterns that researchers interpret to explain phenomena. In contrast, numerical data such as attendance rates or test scores and GPA are quantitative, designed for statistics and measurement of how much or how often, enabling numerical comparisons. So, when the question seeks data best described by interpretive criteria rather than numerical analysis, qualitative methods like interviews, focus groups, and observations fit this description.