Final answer:
Conducting a focus group predominantly gathers qualitative data because it aims to uncover participants' thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. This type of data is descriptive, subjective, and not readily quantifiable, as opposed to the numerical nature of quantitative data.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you were conducting a focus group, you would likely be obtaining qualitative data, not quantitative. This is because focus groups tend to involve discussions, in-depth interviews, and content analysis which are sources of qualitative data. The data collected through a focus group is generally descriptive and subjective, often expressed in words rather than numbers. Focus groups are designed to delve deep into participants' attitudes, feelings, and perceptions, producing nuanced information that is harder to quantify statistically.
Quantitative data, on the other hand, refers to information that can be measured and expressed numerically, enabling statistical analysis. It often comes from closed-ended questions in surveys or questionnaires, which yield data that can be counted, such as the frequency of yes-or-no responses or the number of participants who select a particular option from a set of multiple-choice answers.
Surveys can collect both quantitative and qualitative data, but the element of personal, subjective experience captured in focus groups leans towards qualitative. Moreover, participants in focus groups are usually more willing to share personal and honest responses, particularly if anonymity is assured, knowing that their individual responses contribute to a richer, more complex group discussion.
The subject of qualitative research is wide-ranging and includes internal thought processes, motivations, and feelings, which are challenging to measure but provide invaluable insight into human behavior and social phenomena.