DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Research is the most common method utilized to acquire new information or refresh existing understanding. Research can be conducted in two main ways: qualitatively or quantitatively. Both are commonly used in fields like business, sociology, psychology, science, technology, economics, etc.
Quantitative studies rely on logical or statistical observations, while qualitative studies rely on narrated data such as interviews or field notes. For the sake of getting a general idea, qualitative studies often use a small sample of cases that aren’t indicative of the whole.
Unlike quantitative studies, in which a suitable sample size of representative cases is used to draw conclusions and make recommendations, qualitative studies focus on a smaller subset of cases.
We will explain the distinctions between qualitative and quantitative research in this article because there is a never-ending argument about which type of research is superior.
Qualitative Research Definition
Qualitative research offers understanding and insights into the problem context. It is an exploratory, unstructured research strategy that examines extremely complicated phenomena that quantitative research cannot explain.
Nevertheless, it inspires concepts or hypotheses for the next quantitative studies. Based on observation and interpretation, qualitative research aims to achieve a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, experience, attitudes, intentions, and motives.
In this type of research, the participant’s opinions are given more weight by the researcher. The types of qualitative research include case studies, grounded theory, ethnography, history, and phenomenology.
Quantitative Research Definition
Quantitative research employs methods from the physical sciences to collect objective numerical information. It uses computational, statistical, and mathematical methods to create a link between two variables. The research is also known as empirical research due to its capacity to be evaluated fairly. The information gathered by the researcher can be categorized, ranked, or quantified in terms of measurement units. With the use of quantitative research, graphs and tables of raw data may be created, making it simpler for the researcher to analyze the findings.
Important distinctions between qualitative and quantitative research
The following reasons make it evident how qualitative and quantitative research differ from one another:
- A style of inquiry known as qualitative research seeks to comprehend the human and social sciences by discovering how people think and feel. Quantitative research is a type of scientific and empirical research that generates numerical data through the application of mathematical, logical, and statistical techniques.
- While quantitative research is particularistic, qualitative research is holistic.
- The methodology of qualitative research is subjective. The researcher is personally involved, whereas the methodology of quantitative research is objective because the researcher is disinterested and makes an effort to make precise observations and analyses on the subject to address the question.
- Qualitative research is exploratory, as opposed to conclusive quantitative research.
- Comparatively, quantitative research makes use of deductive reasoning, whereas qualitative research makes use of inductive reasoning, to synthesize data.
- Purposive sampling, which selects a small sample size intending to develop a deep grasp of the target topic, is the foundation of qualitative research. Comparatively, random sampling is used in quantitative research, when a sizable representative sample is chosen to generalize the findings to the entire population.
- In qualitative research, verbal information is gathered, while quantitative research focuses on getting numerical data.
- Inquiry in qualitative research is process-oriented, in contrast to quantitative research, which is not the case.
- Words, images, and physical objects are employed in the analysis of qualitative research, whereas numerical data is used in the analysis of quantitative research.
- Exploration and discovery of concepts employed in current processes are the goals of qualitative research, It aims to examine relationships between variables, unlike quantitative research.
- Lastly, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and other techniques are employed in qualitative research. Contrarily, formal interviews and observations are the procedures used in quantitative research.
- While quantitative research suggests a final plan of action, qualitative research creates the first insight.
Qualitative Studies: Advantages and Drawbacks
The qualitative method encourages adaptability, creativity, and multiple perspectives. The scope of a research effort can change as new information becomes available.
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The results and interpretation of qualitative investigations, however, are more arbitrary than those of quantitative studies. As personal bias can be challenging to control, the researcher’s experience and viewpoint may have a significant impact on how results are interpreted and what conclusions are drawn. Additionally, due to the expenses and difficulties involved in qualitative data collection techniques, studies that evaluate a lower sample size are frequently qualitative research.
Quantitative Studies: Advantages and Drawbacks
A qualitative study’s subjectivity is not present in the objective facts produced by a quantitative study. Statistics and figures can be used to express results clearly. Data computing software has the advantage of enabling the speedy production of quantitative studies.
The quantitative approach can be seen as a more constrained style of research, even though objectivity is one of its advantages. Participants are unable to add context or modify their responses. Additionally, statistical analysis needs a sizable data sample, which necessitates a sizable participant pool.
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Outcomes: Qualitative vs. Quantitative
The type of planned outcome is one of the characteristics that set qualitative research apart from quantitative ones. Qualitative researchers, often known as their informants, aim to acquire specifics from the accounts of persons they are investigating. Conclusions are reached through gathering, contrasting, and assessing the feedback and input from the informants throughout the course of the study. In qualitative research, the “why” behind phenomena, correlation, or behavior is frequently the main focus.
Quantitative data, in contrast, are quantitatively evaluated to create a statistical representation of a trend or connection. These statistical findings might clarify the causal connections. They might support or contradict the initial hypothesis of the study. The result, whether favorable or unfavorable, can prompt awareness and action. The “what” and “how” of phenomena, correlations, or behavior are frequently the subjects of quantitative research.
CONCLUSION
An ideal research project would combine both strategies in its execution. Even though some specific fields only call for one kind of research, this mostly depends on the data the researcher needs. Quantitative research is concrete, whereas qualitative research frequently involves interpretation.