Question

Qualitative sociology can be defined as:

A) The study of numerical data in sociological research.
B) Focusing on observable social patterns.
C) Utilizing statistical methods for sociological analysis.
D) Emphasizing subjective meanings and experiences.

Answer 1

Qualitative sociology emphasizes subjective meanings and experiences, using methods such as in-depth interviews and content analysis to understand human behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

Qualitative sociology can be best defined as D) Emphasizing subjective meanings and experiences. Unlike quantitative sociology, which entails using statistical methods and numerical data to uncover patterns of human behavior, qualitative sociology aims to understand human behavior through methods that include in-depth interviews, focus groups, and the analysis of content sources such as books, magazines, journals, and popular media.

These methods allow researchers to gather rich, detailed data that comprise information that is subjective and often based on observations in natural settings, thereby adding depth to the understanding of social phenomena.