Question 23 Which of the following is associated with qualitative research? a. Description b. Prediction c. Theory building d. Theory testing e. Forecasting

The answer is **(c) Theory building**. Here's why:* **Qualitative research** focuses on understanding the nuances, meanings, and experiences of individuals within a particular context. It uses methods like interviews, observations, and focus groups to gather rich, descriptive data.* **Theory building** is the process of developing new theories or refining existing ones based on the insights gained from qualitative research. Qualitative data helps researchers identify patterns, themes, and relationships that can lead to new theoretical frameworks.Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:* **(a) Description:** While qualitative research is descriptive, it's not its primary goal. The goal is to go beyond simple descriptions and uncover deeper meanings.* **(b) Prediction:** Prediction is more closely associated with quantitative research, which uses statistical methods to make predictions about future outcomes.* **(d) Theory testing:** Theory testing is also more aligned with quantitative research, where researchers use data to test hypotheses derived from existing theories.* **(e) Forecasting:** Forecasting is a specific type of prediction, again more closely related to quantitative methods. **In summary:** Qualitative research is excellent for exploring complex phenomena, generating new insights, and building theories based on those insights.