Which paradigm emphasizes qualitative methods and understanding from subjective experiences?

• A. Positivism
• B. Realism
• C. Interpretivist
• D. Pragmatism

Answer: (C)

Understanding subjective experiences through qualitative methods is central to the interpretivist paradigm. This view treats social reality as something people construct through meanings, interactions, and context. Researchers aim to grasp how individuals interpret events, actions, and social meanings, often using in-depth interviews, observations, and thematic analysis to explore those inner perspectives. The goal is rich, context-specific understanding rather than universal generalizations.

This fit is ideal here because the emphasis is on qualitative methods and on making sense of people’s lived experiences from their own viewpoints. In contrast, positivism seeks objective, measurable facts and often relies on quantitative data; realism acknowledges an external reality but can employ quantitative approaches to understand underlying mechanisms; pragmatism prioritizes practical outcomes and may blend methods, but it’s not defined by a focus on subjective experience as its core.