Compare qualitative and quantitative research approaches
What are the differences between Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research? Let’s take a look at the below table.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
|
Perspective |
Qualitative |
Quantitative |
|
Focus: |
Quality (features) |
Quantity (how much, numbers) |
|
Philosophy: |
Phenomenology |
Positivism |
|
Method: |
Ethnography/Observation |
Experiments/Correlation |
|
Goal: |
Understand, meaning |
Prediction, test hypothesis |
|
Design: |
Flexible, emerging |
Structured, predetermined |
|
Sample: |
Small, purposeful |
Large, random, representation |
|
Data collection: |
Interviews, observation documents, artefacts |
Questionnaire, scales, tests, inventories |
|
Analysis: |
Inductive (by the researcher) |
Deductive (by statistical methods) |
|
Findings: |
Comprehensive, description detailed, holistic |
Precise, numerical |
|
Researcher: |
Immersed |
Detached |
Source: Merriam, 1999; Firestone, 1987; Potter, 1996
More detailed differences between these two methods are as follows:
(a) Qualitative research focuses on the perspective of the subject or participants rather than the perspective of the researcher. This has been termed the emic or insider perspective against etic or the outsider’s perspective.
(b) In qualitative research, the researcher is the main instrument in data collection and data analysis, and not a questionnaire or tests as in the case of quantitative research. The researcher being the main instrument of data collection is more responsive to the situation and he or she is able to adapt to the changing conditions. For example, the researcher is more sensitive to the reactions of participants and the data can be immediately processed, i.e. he or she is able to take whatever action to check and confirm with the subject if there are any doubts or uncertainties.
(c) Qualitative research involves field work; that is, the researcher must himself or herself “walk the factory floor” or go into the setting where there are people, and observe or interview them in their natural setting.
Qualitative research adopts the inductive approach. Such research is conducted because of a lack of theory or existing theories are unable to explain a phenomenon convincingly. Because of this, no hypotheses are put forward to guide research. The qualitative researcher begins by observing phenomena and continues to find patterns in the form of themes, categories, concepts and typologies that emerge. Tentative hypothesis are introduced and additional information are collected to explain the phenomenon.
(d) Lastly, qualitative research focuses on process, meaning and understanding based on thick and rich descriptions. Words and pictures, not numbers, are used to explain phenomena. Also emphasised are the description of the situation, the people involved and the activities observed. Data in the form of communication by the participants themselves, extracts from documents, video and audio recordings, support the findings of the study.