What type of data is primarily collected through self-reporting?

Self-reporting is a method where individuals provide information about their thoughts, feelings, experiences, or behaviors, typically through surveys, interviews, or questionnaires. The data gathered from these self-reports is primarily qualitative because it often captures subjective insight, personal opinions, and emotional contexts that are not easily quantifiable. This type of data is focused on understanding the meaning and description behind individual experiences, which is characteristic of qualitative research.

In contrast, quantitative data refers to numerical values that can be measured and analyzed statistically, which self-reporting does not primarily focus on. Observational data involves collecting information through direct observation rather than self-reported accounts, and experimental data arises from controlled experiments rather than personal feedback. Therefore, qualitative data gathered through self-reporting provides rich, detailed insights that quantitative approaches may miss, making it the most suitable classification for this type of data collection.