Which of the following is a qualitative data collection technique?

Focus group discussions are a qualitative data collection technique because they involve gathering insights and understanding from a small group of participants through open-ended conversations. This method allows researchers to explore participants’ thoughts, feelings, and perceptions in depth, leading to rich, descriptive data that cannot be quantified easily.

Qualitative data collection techniques like focus groups facilitate a deeper exploration of topics, as they encourage participants to express themselves in their own words, engage with one another, and provide context to their responses. This nuanced information is particularly valuable for understanding complex behaviors, motivations, and cultural contexts.

While the other methods listed, such as Likert scale surveys, pretests, and posttests, tend to produce quantitative data due to their structured and standardized format, focus group discussions stand out by prioritizing the collection of comprehensive verbal feedback and insights, making them distinctly qualitative. Formal interviews also qualify as qualitative techniques, given their focus on in-depth discussion without predetermined response options. However, in this context, focus group discussions specifically exemplify this method in a group setting.