Final answer:
Qualitative data are descriptive attributes of a population, expressed in words, and are essential for detailed understanding in research. They can be used to support or disprove hypotheses and are gleaned from interviews, observations, and case studies, providing a narrative and subjective analysis compared to quantitative data.
Step-by-step explanation:
Qualitative data can be acquired in the detailed examination of personal interviews or observations. This type of data is characterized by categorizing or describing attributes of a population and is often expressed in words rather than numbers. Examples include hair color, blood type, or ethnic group. Unlike quantitative data, which are always associated with numbers and allow for statistical analysis, qualitative data are more subjective and can provide a rich, detailed understanding of a research subject.
Qualitative research often utilizes open-ended questions that enable a more personal and detailed response, providing insights into a person's thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. This data can be used to support or disprove hypotheses through a more narrative analysis. While it may be harder to organize and tabulate, qualitative data are invaluable in areas where numerical data cannot provide the whole picture, such as in case studies or research involving internal thought processes and personal experiences.