What is the main purpose of anecdotal evidence?

The main purpose of anecdotal evidence is to raise possible research questions for further study. Anecdotal evidence consists of personal stories or individual experiences that may highlight trends or patterns, sparking curiosity and prompting researchers to investigate these instances more rigorously. Such evidence can often illustrate phenomena in a way that is relatable and can suggest areas of inquiry that merit more detailed exploration, but it does not provide the comprehensive conclusions or definitive proof necessary for established findings. In contrast to comprehensive research conclusions, definitive proof of a theory, or a summarization of past research findings, anecdotal evidence serves primarily as a catalyst for further research, helping to guide and shape the questions that researchers might choose to explore in more depth.