Qualitative And Data Collection Methods

Introduction

To respond to this question the author concurs that qualitative and quantitative research are different in many fundamental ways (Abowitz & Toole, 2010) ranging from properties, collection and use of data collections methods, ways to analyse data to advantages and disadvantages (Zawawi, 2007; Saunders et al., 2009). The paper will analyse differences along philosophical lines taking into account some of the ongoing philosophical debates in social sciences (Weber, 2004) through to data collection and possibly data analysis (Smith et al., 91; Crotty, 98; Onwuegbeu et al, 2006).

However, the author disagrees with the statement that the two methods can never be used in the same research concurs with many researchers that the two

Philosophical choices reflect the researcher’s view of what is reality, development and nature of acceptable knowledge (Crotty, 98), the role of the researcher’s values but also dictate how research will be conducted, how data will be collected and how data will be analysed (Green and Caracelli, 1997; Saunders et al.,

While research choices maybe informed by philosophical assumptions (Saunders et al., 2009), phenomena being studied or even context (Johns, 2006; Rousseau and Fried, 2001; Saunders et al., 2009), the researcher’s ability to articulate and defend such choices against possible alternatives is of critical importance (Johnson and Clarke,