kvalitativa

Kvalitativa is the plural form of the Swedish adjective kvalitativ, used to describe qualitative aspects, data, or research. It is commonly seen in phrases such as kvalitativa data, kvalitativ forskning, and kvalitativa metoder, and it contrasts with kvantitativa, the qualitative opposite is often spelled quantitatively as quantitative in English contexts.

In research, qualitative approaches aim to understand meanings, experiences, and contexts rather than count measurements. Qualitative data are non-numerical and can include interview transcripts, field notes, images, and textual material. Common methods include semi-structured interviews, participant observation, ethnography, case studies, and discursive or content analysis. Analytic approaches such as tematisk analys (thematic analysis), innehållsanalys (content analysis), and grundad teori (grounded theory) are used to identify patterns and interpret meanings.

Qualitative research is typically characterized by smaller, purposive samples and reflexivity, acknowledging how the researcher’s perspective can influence the study. Results are often presented as themes, rich descriptions, and contextual interpretations rather than generalizable statistics. Qualitative and quantitative approaches are frequently used together to provide complementary insights.

Outside academia, kvalitativa can describe qualitative aspects of products, services, or experiences, such as usability, aesthetics, durability, or user satisfaction. The form kvalitativa is used with plural nouns (for example, kvalitativa data); the singular forms are kvalitativ (en kvalitativ studie) or kvalitativt (ett kvalitativt material). The term reflects a focus on descriptive attributes rather than numerical counts.