What is an example of a qualitative research question?

The selected example of a qualitative research question focuses on exploring subjective experiences and personal perceptions, which is the core of qualitative research. The inquiry into the "lived experience of adult children caring for a parent who experienced a stroke within the last 6 months" seeks to understand the nuanced feelings, challenges, and meanings associated with that caregiving role. Qualitative research aims to gather in-depth insights and rich descriptions, often using methods such as interviews or open-ended surveys to capture the complexity of human behavior and experiences.

In contrast, the other options center around measurable quantities, causal relationships, or statistical analyses, which are characteristic of quantitative research. For instance, inquiries about how many adults cope with chronic illness, whether stress affects adult health, or the statistics on stroke recovery focus on quantifiable data rather than personal experiences or perspectives. Such questions invite numerical validation or statistical comparisons rather than deep, narrative exploration, aligning them more closely with quantitative methodologies.