What type of data is common to all qualitative methods?

In qualitative research methods, textual data is the predominant form of information collected and analyzed. This type of data encompasses a wide range of sources, including written narratives, interview transcripts, open-ended survey responses, and field notes. The focus in qualitative research is on understanding meanings, experiences, and social phenomena from the perspective of participants, which inherently involves the analysis of textual information. This provides rich, detailed insights and a deep understanding of the context.

In contrast, numerical data, experimental data, and statistical data are primarily associated with quantitative research methods. Quantitative research emphasizes measurement and statistical analysis, which does not align with the core objectives of qualitative methodology that seeks to explore, describe, and interpret social realities rather than quantify them. Thus, the prominence of textual data in qualitative methods makes it the correct choice.