How can qualitative interviews enhance evaluation findings?

Qualitative interviews enhance evaluation findings primarily by providing rich, detailed insights into participant experiences. This method allows evaluators to gather in-depth information about how individuals perceive and relate to the program or service being assessed. The open-ended nature of qualitative interviews enables participants to express their thoughts, feelings, and narratives in their own words, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the context, motivations, and impacts of the evaluated initiative.

These insights can reveal nuances that are often missed in quantitative data, such as the emotional and subjective dimensions of experiences. In turn, this detailed information can inform program improvements, highlight strengths, and identify challenges from the perspective of those directly involved, ultimately leading to more informed decision-making and more effective interventions. This emphasis on understanding individual experiences is a core strength of qualitative research methods.