Research Approaches:
Qualitative vs Quantitative
*Quantitative research is 'explaining phenomenon by collection numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically
based methods (in particular statistics)' (Aliaga and Gunderson,as cited in Muijs, 2004).
*Quantitative research is controlled, obstructive, objective and product oriented which aims at quantifying the variation of
certain situation, issue, even or phenomenon.
*The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and /or hypothesis pertaining
to phenomena. Leedy (1993) utters:
*Quantitative research method deals with numbers and anything that is measurable in a systematic way of investigation
of phenomenon and their relationships.
* It is used to answer questions on relationships within measurable variables with an intention to explain, predict and control
phenomena.
*The quantitative research aims to determine the relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another
(a dependent or outcome variable) in a population.
*It is an approach for testing objective theories by examining the relationship among va riables.
*These variables, in turn, can be measured, typically on instruments, so that numbered data can be analyzed using
statistical procedures and /or hypothesis pertaining to phenomena.
*The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between
empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.
*In it, researcher analyzes the data with the help of statistics. Some examples of quantitative research are: Experimental
designs, Non-experimental designs.
*Qualitative research collects, analyzes, and interprets data by observing what people do and say.
*Qualitative research is naturalistic, interpretative approach concerned with understanding the meanings which people
attach to phenomena (actions, decisions, beliefs,values etc.) within their social worlds (Denzin & Lincoln, 2005).
Berg (2007) states it refers to meanings, concepts, definitions and characteristics, metaphors, symbols and descriptions of
things.
*Qualitative research is subjective and uses different methods of collecting information, including individual, in-depth
interviews and focus groups discussion.
*The nature of this type of research is exploratory and open-ended.
*Qualitative research can provide insight which is not possible to elucidate with purely quantitative data.
*It is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to social or human problems, and
attitudes human behavior and social world. Qualitative research helps us to understand the world in which we live and why
things are the way they are.
*The goal of qualitative research is the development of concepts which help us to understand social phenomena in
natural settings, giving due emphasis to the meanings, experiences and views of all the participants.
*Some examples of qualitative research are: Narrative research, Phenomenology, Grounded theory, Ethnographies, Case study.
*Qualitative research answer questions on: Why people behave the way they do? How opinions and attitudes are
formed? How people are affected by the events that go on around them? How and why cultures have developed?
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
*Qualitative research describes how people feel or what they think about a particular subject,situation, phenomenon, or event
but quantitative research aims at quantifying those things in terms of number and statistics.
*The distinction between qualitative and quantitative research is neither watertight nor they are not mutually exclusive;
they differ in the treatment of the data but not in theory (Pathak, 2011).
*Basically, they differ in the purpose of the study, measuring variables and analyzing the information.
*The fundamental distinction between qualitative and quantitative research will make the sense more clear.
*In general, quantitative research tests hypotheses to understand the causal
or correlational link between variables, whereas qualitative research uses
*interviews and observation to understand a phenomenon in its real-world setting.
*Both research approaches have merit, albeit some study topics are more suited to
one than the other.
*The researchers will be able to conduct an informed critique and analysis of any articles they read, however, because they will
be aware of the various benefits, drawbacks, and influencing factors for each approach if they are aware of the distinctions
between qualitative and quantitative research.
