What aspect does a qualitative approach emphasize?

A qualitative approach emphasizes words and descriptions in evaluations, focusing on understanding the meaning of experiences, behaviors, and social phenomena. This method seeks to capture nuances and complexities of human behavior through detailed narratives, interviews, and observations. By prioritizing rich textual data, qualitative research aims to provide insights into the context and motivations behind actions, rather than just quantifying them.

In contrast, the other options center around quantitative methods, which rely on numerical data, statistical analysis, and structured surveys to derive conclusions. These methods are more focused on measurable outcomes rather than the deeper insights that qualitative approaches strive to uncover. Thus, the emphasis on words and descriptions in qualitative evaluations sets it apart from more traditional, quantitative approaches, making it a vital tool for exploring complex issues effectively.