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Compare and contrast Qualitative vs Quantitative methods in research
Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research methods
Compare and contrast Qualitative vs Quantitative methods in research
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Qualitative and quantitative methods allow researchers to investigate, explore and inquire the nature of the phenomenon being studied. It is important that the researcher develops a clear understanding of the problem and design a plan to investigate it (Cresswell, 1998, para. 1). There are a variety of research methods; nevertheless, it is important to consider which research method is appropriate for the study. Qualitative research focuses on human experiences while quantitative research relies on numbers, measurements, and testing. Nevertheless, qualitative and quantitative methods use similar approaches to conduct research and collect data. For example, observations and interviews are approaches used in both research designs; however, the approaches are used and viewed otherwise. This will be discussed later in the paper. Controversy between qualitative and quantitative research designs The two research methods, qualitative and quantitative, are dissimilar and according to Brewer (1999) controversy between the research methods have been about for decades regarding which research design delivers a more thorough and objective data (p. 245). Nevertheless, according to the literature reviewed, mix methods appear to be an appropriate solution to this subject matter. Mix methods combine qualitative and quantitative approaches and according to Abusabha and Woelfel (2003), combining both research designs has its advantages: First, all data have both an objective and a subjective component. Numbers can be easily assigned to all qualitative data (such as open-ended questions in surveys), and any number obtained by a quantitative study is interpreted using a subjective or qualitative judgment. Second, using differen... ... middle of paper ... ... objective in nature, thus producing accurate data. Nevertheless, Allington and McGill-Frazon established that “reduction of a complex phenomenon to a few quantifiable variables can lead to over simplification of the phenomenon” (p.445). In other words, for observations to be complete, a combination of qualitative and quantitative data is necessitated in order to explain the totality of the phenomenon. An advantage of pre-test and post-tests designs is that it can be conducted with a single group or a control group. In the projected research topic, a pre-test and post-test was used with a group to maximize the internal validity. Neverthess, in the projected research topic, the experimental design is used to illustrate a cause and effect between two variables. The disadvantage is that external elements pose a threat to accuracy (Leedy & Ormrod, 2010, p.230).
The most popular method of quantitative research is an experiment, which gives casual information and hard numbers (Guts, 2014). Experiments are easy to understand, and provide accessible information that helps predict human behavior (Guts, 2014). In experiments, researchers manipulate variables using experiment and control groups. (Guts, 2014). An experiment includes independent and dependent variables. An independen...
Qualitative and Quantitative are two differentiated paradigms of research, which operate under the assumption that measured outcomes, must be proven valid and reliable. However, the distinguishing element between each paradigm resolves to the role of the researcher. Although they can be explicated by the source of the data collected, qualitative being a semantic text and quantitative being in numerical form, in the qualitative paradigm, the role of the researcher is to be an active participant within the study, lending the subjectivity of interpretation to the final measured outcome (Denzien & Lincoln, 2000). However, the quantitative approach finds the role of the researcher as an outside, objective observer, where the possibility for researcher bias is reduced, and the final measured outcome is not subject to researcher interpretations (Patton, 1996).
Internal validity is threatened whenever there exists the possibility that alternative causes, other than the independent variable, are responsible for the effect. There are a number of possible threats to internal validity, the seven most commonly referenced threats include history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, mortality, regression, and selection. History refers to specific events, in addition to the treatment, that occur between the first and second measurement. The longer the interval between the pretest and posttest, the more viable this threat becomes. Maturation pertains to changes in physical, intellectual, or emotional characteristics, that occur naturally over time, that influence the results of a research study. For example, in longitudinal studies, individuals grow older and become more sophisticated. Testing, refers to the effects of taking a test upon performance on a second testing. Exposure to the pretest may influence performance on a posttest. The shorter the interval between the pretest and posttest, the more viable this threat becomes. Instrumentation is concerned with changes in the way a test or other measuring instrument is calibrated that could account for results of a research study. This threat is most likely to occur from an unreliable measuring instrument (Creswell, 2009).
The aspect of discerning quantitative and qualitative research enables a researcher with the ability to present a phenomenon to the academic community in an appropriate manner (Venkatesh, Brown, & Bala, 2013). The researcher chooses the best method to present the study to an audience based on items such as the type of study to be conducted, the type of data needed for the study, and the amount of resources needed to complete the study. The resources include money, personnel, and arguably the most important resource of time. Additionally, the researcher becomes astute at reviewing other articles in similar methodology, which are either of a quantitative, qualitative, or a mixed method research design. In this article, the author will focus on five select qualitative articles. During this focus, the author will provide a summarization of a topic followed by presenting the problem, purpose, design, and findings of the research article. Moreover, Venkatesh, et al. (2013) stated qualitative research assists in providing the reader a better understanding of a phenomenon by articulating a narrative description of the study to the audience.
Quantitative and qualitative research use similar design but, they differ in terms of their epistemological, theoretical and methodological underpinnings. Quantitative research is objectivist epistemology and thus seeks to develop explanatory universal laws in social behaviors by statistically measuring what it assumes to be a static reality. The quantitative research leans towards the views of psychological and social phenomena. On the other hand, qualitative research does not rely on any knowledge from the independent knower, but however socially constructed and that reality is neither static nor fixed. Nonetheless, there are multiple realities that different cultural groups construct on the basis of their world views or value systems, there are multiple interpretations or perspectives on any event or situation (Yilmaz, K.
According to Burns and Bush (2006), “quantitative research is defined as research involving the use of structured questions in which the response options have been predetermined and a large number of respondents is involved” (p. 202). Quantitative research often uses numerical values; however, the data is always very structured in standardized form, are clear in definition, and provide an orderly process.
Introduction Qualitative and quantitative research methods are typically applied in the field of social research. There has been a lot of debate on the relative advantages between the two designs among researchers, almost more than on any other issue of methodology. Quantitative research design encompasses methods which focus on numbers, that is, quantities. The data collected in this design is usually in numbers, which are then analyzed using statistical and mechanical methods. This design is highly associated with the field of science, such as in practical work done in a laboratory (Gall et al. 2003).
In comparison to qualitative approach, quantitative data can be generalised as it can be used across a larger scale of variables, for example using larger amount of participants. It is commonly used in the human science field of research because it is replicable making it reliable. It provides numerical, ratings and statistical findings which minimises any bias outcome. On the other hand the quantitative approach is closed to interpretation and doesn’t work well in recognising new
Experimental research attempts to identify relationship by conducting controlled experiments psychological experiments; furthermore, the experimental is a quantitative approach designed to discover the effects of presumed causes (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2014). The key feature of this approach is that one thing is deliberately varied to see what happens to something else to determine the effects of presumed cause. Some individuals use exercise to see if they can lose weight,
...determine what the explicit question is, know how best to answer the question via an approach of induction or deduction and relay them accordingly to a suitable design. There should be rationale for each stage of the study. Data collection tools used must be appropriate to answer the research question or objectives. Data analysis and interpretation must be transparent. Bias should be reduced as much as possible. The researcher must address all the ethical principles. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have differential strengths and weaknesses. It is important to understand that no single paradigm will tackle all the questions. Both qualitative-based and theory-based research methods serve together to achieve better understanding of human world. Developing a research study is like doing a jigsaw. The component parts need to be viewed and then they must
Quantitative is based on empirical research, critical interpretation of data in forms of numbers. Mostly, quantitative research uses deductive approach, which begins with a theory, generalizes and tests theory or hypothesis. Quantitative is suitable for researcher aiming at answering questions, operational definitions, an experiment of time series to see how things are changed in number, casual explanation and deductive reasoning. Quantitative research data is based on questionnaires collected from descriptive information, attitude survey, explanatory survey through an interview, form filling, portal, email. (Sue, 2017; University of Surrey, 2017)
Qualitative and Quantitative study designs both can be beneficial in research design. They both provide valuable options for researchers in the field. These techniques can either be used separately in a research study or they can be combined to achieve maximum information. This paper will define the terms qualitative and quantitative; describe the similarities and differences between each; discuss how qualitative and/or quantitative research designs or techniques could be used in the evaluation of my proposed research; and discuss why linking analysis to study design is important.
The word qualitative assumes an emphasis on the qualities of object and on processes and meanings that are not experimentally examined or measured from the point of quantity, amount, depth, or periodicity. Qualitative researchers accent the socially constructed nature of actuality, the close relationship between the researcher and what is studied, and the situational imperatives that shape demands. Researchers look for answers to questions that accent how social experience is created and given meaning. In contrast, quantitative studies stress the dimension and analysis of causal relationships between variables, not processes. Qualitative forms of demand are thought-out by many social and behavioral scientists to be as much a perspective on how to approach investigating a research problem as it is a method. Denzin, Norman. K. and Yvonna S. Lincoln. Handbook of Qualitative Research. 2nd edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2000.
In conclusion, it can be said that from this study apparently quantitative and qualitative methods of research are distinct and operate in different ways from each other. The major distinction among the two is the fact that qualitative methods present data as explanations, while quantitative methods give out data as numbers. Although, it can be accounted that each of these methods work best when added with any aspect of the other.
Qualitative and quantitative researcher’s exhibited conflicting ways of approaching a research. Some researchers prefer qualitative over quantitative and vice-versa. Also, it is common for qualitative and quantitative to be used together in a research. But, both methods when carried out correctly provide good research. Plus, both methods have their own unique differences and characteristics. In this paper I will define three of these characteristics in a quantitative and qualitative research design and discuss and compare their differences. (Smith & Davis, 2010)