What characterizes qualitative analysis?

• A. Typically completed using informal checklists
• B. A quantitative measure of morphemes
• C. A standardized, norm-referenced test
• D. Measuring reaction time

Answer: (A)

Qualitative analysis centers on descriptive, contextual information about language use, gathered through careful observation rather than numeric scoring. In practice, clinicians observe how someone communicates in real-life contexts and record patterns, strategies, and functional communication with informal checklists. These checklists capture whether certain behaviors are present and describe how language is used in conversation, including quality of interaction, pragmatics, and the influence of context. The aim is to understand the person’s communication in everyday settings, not to assign numerical scores or compare to a norm. That experiential, descriptive approach is what makes informal checklists a hallmark of qualitative analysis.