Which of these best describes a limitation of qualitative data analysis?

Qualitative data analysis is characterized by its focus on understanding experiences, thoughts, and feelings in-depth. A significant limitation of this approach is the potential for subjective interpretation. It relies heavily on the researcher's perspective, and different researchers may draw varied conclusions from the same data due to personal biases, backgrounds, or interpretations. This subjectivity can lead to inconsistencies in the results and makes it challenging to ensure reliability and validity across different studies or inferences drawn from the same qualitative data.

In contrast, options such as high levels of generalizability and structured results are typically associated with quantitative data analysis rather than qualitative. Qualitative data often lacks the uniformity and replicability that come with structured methodologies, leading to diverse interpretations that cannot easily be generalized across larger populations. Additionally, while eliminating bias is an ideal goal in research, it is particularly difficult in qualitative analysis due to the inherent subjectivity involved in interpreting narratives and personal accounts. Thus, the significance of subjective interpretation stands out clearly as a limitation in qualitative data analysis.