Final answer:
It is false that statistical analysis cannot be conducted with qualitative data. There are specific methods for analyzing qualitative data, such as content and thematic analysis. Qualitative data offers in-depth insights that are crucial for certain types of research.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is false that it is nearly impossible to use any statistical analysis if you have collected qualitative data. While it is true that qualitative data is more subjective and can be more complex to organize and analyze than quantitative data, there are various statistical methods and approaches specifically designed for qualitative analysis. These can include content analysis, thematic analysis, and the use of coding to quantify themes or patterns within the data.
Qualitative research often yields rich, in-depth information that quantitative data cannot capture, especially when exploring topics around internal thought processes, beliefs, or opinions. However, it is critical to ensure anonymity and comfort for participants to obtain honest and valuable qualitative data—data that can indeed be statistically analyzed, albeit differently from quantitative data.
Various research methods value both qualitative and quantitative data, depending on the nature of the inquiry and the questions being asked. For some studies, qualitative data is invaluable, providing insights that numbers alone cannot offer.