How does qualitative research contribute to program evaluation?

Qualitative research significantly enhances program evaluation by offering rich, detailed insights that capture the complexities of participants' experiences and the context in which a program operates. This method emphasizes understanding the "how" and "why" of phenomena, providing depth to findings that quantitative approaches, which focus on numerical data, cannot achieve.

In program evaluation, these insights can reveal underlying themes, participant motivations, and the unique challenges they face, while also informing stakeholders about the practical implications of the program's implementation. For example, interviews and focus groups can uncover nuances in participant feedback, which can be crucial for improving program design and efficacy. This qualitative data can complement quantitative results, leading to a more comprehensive evaluation that appreciates both statistical significance and human experiences.