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Quantitative Vs Qualitative

The document outlines the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, highlighting that qualitative research focuses on subjective experiences through non-numerical data, while quantitative research emphasizes objective measurement using numerical data. It discusses various data collection methods for both types of research, their respective benefits and limitations, and approaches to analyzing the data. Additionally, it encourages individuals interested in research to consider pursuing a qualitative or quantitative doctoral degree.

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14 views3 pages

Quantitative Vs Qualitative

The document outlines the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, highlighting that qualitative research focuses on subjective experiences through non-numerical data, while quantitative research emphasizes objective measurement using numerical data. It discusses various data collection methods for both types of research, their respective benefits and limitations, and approaches to analyzing the data. Additionally, it encourages individuals interested in research to consider pursuing a qualitative or quantitative doctoral degree.

Uploaded by

Sabersage
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Qualitative research explores subjective experiences and insights through non-

numerical data, such as interviews or observations, while quantitative research


focuses on objective measurement and analysis using numerical data, such as surveys
or experiments. The key difference is that qualitative research seeks to understand
meanings, while quantitative research aims to quantify variables. Because
qualitative and quantitative studies collect different types of data, their data
collection methods differ considerably.

Qualitative Research: Data Collection for Your Doctorate Degree


Qualitative research methods include gathering and interpreting non-numerical data.
The following are some sources of qualitative data1:

Interviews
Focus groups
Documents
Personal accounts or papers
Cultural records
Observation
In the course of a qualitative study, the researcher may conduct interviews or
focus groups to collect data that is not available in existing documents or
records. To allow freedom for varied or unexpected answers, interviews and focus
groups may be unstructured or semi-structured.

An unstructured or semi-structured format allows the researcher to pose open-ended


questions and follow wherever the responses lead. The responses provide a
comprehensive perspective on each individual’s experiences, which are then compared
with those of other participants in the study.

Quantitative Research: Data Collection for Your Doctorate Degree


Quantitative studies, in contrast, require different data collection methods. These
methods include compiling numerical data to test causal relationships among
variables. Some forms of data collection for this type of study include1:

Experiments
Questionnaires
Surveys
Database reports
The above collection methods yield data that lends itself to numerical analysis.
Questionnaires in this case have a multiple-choice format to generate countable
answers, such as “yes” or “no,” which can be turned into quantifiable data.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Outcomes


One of the factors distinguishing qualitative from quantitative studies is the
nature of the intended outcome. Qualitative researchers seek to learn from details
of the testimonies of those they are studying. Over the course of a study,
conclusions are drawn by compiling, comparing and evaluating the participants’
feedback and input. Qualitative research is often focused on answering the “why”
behind a phenomenon, correlation or behavior.

In contrast, quantitative data are analyzed numerically to develop a statistical


picture of a trend or connection. Such statistical results may shed light on cause-
and-effect relationships, and they may either confirm or disprove the study’s
original hypothesis. Whether positive or negative, the outcome can enrich
understanding of a subject and spark action. Quantitative research is often focused
on answering the questions of “what” or “how” in regards to a phenomenon,
correlation or behavior.

Benefits and Limitations of Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research


Another difference between qualitative and quantitative research lies in their
advantages and limitations. Each form of research has benefits and shortcomings.
Researchers must consider their hypotheses and what forms of data collection and
analysis are likely to produce the most relevant findings.

Benefits of Qualitative Research


There are some significant benefits of qualitative research that should be
considered when evaluating the difference between qualitative and quantitative
research. The qualitative method allows for creativity, varied interpretations and
flexibility. The scope of the research project can change as more information is
gathered.

Limitations of Qualitative Research


Qualitative studies are more subjective in their results and interpretation than
are quantitative studies. The expertise and perspective of the researcher may
strongly influence the interpretation of results and the conclusions reached,
because personal bias can be hard to manage. In addition, qualitative studies often
test a smaller sample size due to the costs and efforts associated with qualitative
data collection methods.1

Benefits of Quantitative Research


The similarities of qualitative and quantitative research do not encompass their
respective benefits, because each approach has unique advantages. For example,
unlike qualitative studies, quantitative studies produce objective data, and their
results can be clearly communicated through statistics and numbers. Quantitative
studies can be quickly analyzed with the benefit of data computing software.

Limitations of Quantitative Research


Yet, although objectivity is a benefit of the quantitative method, this approach
can be viewed as a more restrictive form of study. Participants cannot tailor their
responses or add context. Furthermore, statistical analysis requires a large data
sample, which calls for a large pool of participants.1

How To Analyze Qualitative vs. Quantitative Data


Another of the similarities of qualitative and quantitative research is that both
look for patterns in the data they collect that point to a relationship between
elements. Both qualitative and quantitative data are instrumental in supporting
existing theories and developing new ones. Ultimately, the researcher must
determine which kind of research best serves the goals of their study.

Analyzing Qualitative Data


Because qualitative data doesn’t allow for numerical data analysis, any analytical
approach must be developed with care and caution. Here are a few different methods
of qualitative data analysis, as follows:

Content analysis: Groups together similar concepts, themes and words that emerge
from the data in order to understand interrelationships
Discourse analysis: Evaluates the way in which people often express themselves in
various contexts through the lens of cultural and power dynamics
Thematic analysis: Seeks to understand the true meaning behind subjects’ words by
uncovering recurrent themes in the data
Analyzing Quantitative Data
The question of how to analyze quantitative data is slightly more straightforward
compared to the various approaches for qualitative data. When working with
quantitative data, doctoral researchers will generally review the collected data
and organize it into visual elements, such as charts and graphs.

The data can be evaluated using either descriptive or inferential statistics.


Descriptive statistics provide an avenue for describing the population or data set.
Inferential statistics can be used to generalize results, as well as to project
future trends or predictions about a larger dataset or population.

Become a Qualitative or Quantitative Researcher


Some researchers choose to adhere to and hone a single methodological approach
throughout their time as doctoral learners — or in their profession. Research
skills are critical in a variety of careers.

If you have a desire to conduct research, a qualitative or quantitative doctoral


degree can support your initiative. Throughout your program, you will learn methods
for constructing a qualitative or quantitative study and producing written research
findings.

Interested in starting your doctoral journey? Grand Canyon University has a wide
variety of qualitative and quantitative programs and resources to help you. Fill
out the form on this page to get started.

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