Grayson, a graduate student, wants to better understand the lives of the unhoused population in his city. Over a period of 6 months he immersed himself with this community, conducting interviews, taking photographs, and making observations. Based on this information, what type of research is Grayson conducting?

• A. Quantitative research.
• B. Qualitative research.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the nature of the data collected by Grayson. Since he is conducting interviews, taking photographs, and making observations, the data is descriptive and non-numerical.
2. Step 2: Understand the goal of the research. Grayson aims to gain a deeper understanding of the lives and experiences of the unhoused population, which involves exploring meanings, behaviors, and social contexts.
3. Step 3: Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative research focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis, while qualitative research focuses on detailed, descriptive data to understand social phenomena.
4. Step 4: Recognize that immersive methods like interviews and observations are typical of qualitative research because they provide rich, contextual insights rather than measurable quantities.
5. Step 5: Conclude that Grayson's research is qualitative because it involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data to understand social experiences and meanings.