The religious affiliations of college students. A) Qualitative B) Quantitative

When we look at the religious affiliations of college students, the qualitative approach dives into the personal experiences and narratives of students regarding their faith. It captures how their beliefs shape their identities, friendships, and experiences in a college environment. Interviews, focus groups, and open-ended surveys can reveal profound insights into how students navigate their faith in diverse and often secular institutions. On the other hand, the quantitative approach provides a statistical overview, using surveys with fixed responses to record data on religious affiliations. This method can unveil trends, such as the percentage of students identifying as religious, spiritual, or non-religious. By analyzing large datasets, researchers can compare how religious affiliations change over time and how they vary across different demographics and campuses.