Qualitative research methods are used,in particular,to investigate

A) a topic or issue once it is understood sufficiently well as a result of quantitative analyses
B) basic issues in psychology, as opposed to more applied issues
C) topics or issues that are more validly examined in a lab setting, as opposed to a field setting
D) the meaning that people attach to a problem or issue

Qualitative research methods are used to explore the meaning that people attach to a problem, issue, or phenomenon. It is concerned with understanding the subjective experiences and perspectives of individuals, which cannot be quantified. Qualitative research is often conducted in natural or real-world settings, rather than in a laboratory or controlled environment. It can be used to investigate basic or applied issues in psychology, as long as the focus is on understanding the subjective experiences of individuals. Quantitative research methods may be used to investigate a topic or issue once it has been explored qualitatively, but qualitative research is necessary to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomena being studied.