Qualitative analysis in counseling research is best described as which of the following?

• A. A quantitative synthesis across studies
• B. A narrative examination of trends across studies, clients, and contexts
• C. An experimental manipulation
• D. A meta-regression analysis

Answer: (B)

Qualitative analysis in counseling research centers on interpreting non-numerical data to understand people's experiences, meanings, and the ways context shapes outcomes. When researchers synthesize qualitative findings across multiple studies, they typically present a narrative account that weaves together themes, patterns, and variations across different clients, settings, and cultures. This emphasis on meaning and context distinguishes qualitative synthesis from purely numerical summaries. The other options describe quantitative approaches or experimental methods: combining statistics across studies, using controlled manipulation, or applying a statistical technique to explain variability with study characteristics.