Certified Prevention Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

Which type of data is used to understand reasons, opinions, and motivations?

1. Quantitative Data

2. Qualitative Data

3. Statistical Data

4. Empirical Data

The correct answer is: Qualitative Data

Qualitative data is essential for understanding reasons, opinions, and motivations because it provides rich, detailed insights that reflect human experiences and perspectives. This type of data is often gathered through methods such as interviews, focus groups, or open-ended surveys, where participants can express their thoughts and feelings in their own words. The emphasis is on capturing the complexity of social phenomena, allowing researchers to explore not just what people think, but why they think that way and how their beliefs are shaped. In contrast, quantitative data focuses on numerical measurements and statistical analyses, which can effectively show patterns or trends but may overlook the underlying motivations or sentiments behind those numbers. Statistical data is a subset of quantitative information that deals with numerical data and its interpretation, which is not primarily concerned with subjective experiences. Empirical data refers to information acquired through observation or experimentation, and while it can include both quantitative and qualitative data, it does not inherently emphasize understanding human motivations or experiences.