Final answer:
Qualitative research is the method that focuses on collecting nonnumerical data such as personal experiences and feelings, and it is best suited for studying 'lived experiences' like those felt during Hurricane Katrina.
Step-by-step explanation:
When referring to "lived experiences" such as exhilaration, hope, love, and personal narratives like one's feelings during Hurricane Katrina, the research approach that best categorizes this is qualitative research. Qualitative research involves collecting nonnumerical data like language, feelings, and impressions, often through methods such as interviews, observations, and open-ended questionnaires. This type of research seeks to understand individuals' subjective experiences and perceptions, and it relies on rich, descriptive narratives to provide depth and context.
In academic research, qualitative data is crucial for exploring complex issues like family relationships and the impacts of natural disasters on communities. Community psychology, for instance, employs phenomenological methods as part of qualitative research to uncover the essence of lived experiences through the perspectives of those directly affected by the phenomena of interest.