Difference between Qualitative and Quantitive research
QUESTION
- Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative research.
- Explain the pros and cons of each.
- Research material cannot be more than five years old.
ANSWER
Difference between Qualitative and Quantitive research
Introduction
Research plays an essential role in the validation of facts and conclusions. However, there are two methods by which research may be conducted: qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative research is used in objective data, which means it is numerical and can be evaluated based on the fact that there is a sense of measurability (Ryser, 2021). Qualitative research is used in subjective data that best helps establish validity in complex data on human behavior, feelings, emotions, or perspectives.
Qualitative Research
Pros
Qualitative research ensures data collection richness since it details perspectives, experiences, and participant feelings. On the other hand, the collected subjective data is effectively interpreted using qualitative research methods such as the phenomenological evaluation method (Queirós et al., 2017). There is more flexibility compared to quantitative research, and it allows a researcher to have the freedom to explore different aspects of their research subjects.
Cons
It is an expensive method that consumes much time. The entire process also needs to provide statistically proven data. Instead, it is based on subjective data. Besides, researchers may find the research method quite tiring as it is labor intensive. There may be research bias on participants in data collection, for instance, when conducting interviews.
Quantitative research
Pros
Since this quantitative research is based on objective data, the level of testing using statistical methods (Ryser, 2021) also contributes to straightforward results and conclusions. On the other hand, data collection is simple and saves time.
Cons
Although the data is measurable, there is a limitation in collecting detailed data compared to qualitative research. The focus on numerical data ignores subjective data, contributing to validating the research conclusion (Queirós et al., 2017). Analysis of collected data is complex and cumbersome, mainly due to the use of statistical methods and where there are numerous data.
In conclusion, qualitative research focuses on subjective data, which provides profound details. Quantitative data, on the other hand, uses objective data to draw validity on the tested and collected hypothesis.
References
Queirós, A., Faria, D., & Almeida, F. (2017). Strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative research methods. European Journal of Education Studies. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejes/article/view/1017
Ryser, G. R. (2021, September 9). Qualitative and quantitative approaches to assessment: 2 : V3: Ident. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003235682-2/qualitative-quantitative-approaches-assessment-gail-ryser