Final answer:
The classification of qualitative research procedures as direct or indirect is false. Qualitative research includes methods like participant observation, tailored to understand the perceptions and social interactions of individuals within their natural settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that qualitative research procedures are classified as either direct or indirect is false. Qualitative research involves diverse methods of data collection and analysis that are not simply categorized as direct or indirect. Instead, it is characterized by techniques that allow for in-depth exploration of complex phenomena, typically involving methods such as interviews, focus groups, observation, and content analysis. Qualitative research aims to understand how individuals and groups perceive and make sense of their social realities.
For example, a symbolic interactionist, who studies how people interact and give meanings to symbols in society, is most likely to use participant observation as a research technique. This method enables the researcher to immerse themselves in the social environment and observe the interactions and behaviors of individuals within their natural context, facilitating rich qualitative data.
A qualitative description entails a non-numerical character of a phenomenon, such as 'Gold metal is yellow', which is a qualitative description, whereas 'A ream of paper has 500 sheets in it' is a quantitative description because it involves numbers and measurements.