Features of Qualitative & Quantitative Research |
Qualitative
|
Quantitative
|
"All
research ultimately has
a qualitative grounding" - Donald Campbell |
"There's
no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is either 1 or 0"
- Fred Kerlinger |
The
aim is a complete, detailed description.
|
The
aim is to classify features, count them, and construct statistical models in
an attempt to explain what is observed.
|
Researcher
may only know roughly in advance what he/she is looking for.
|
Researcher
knows clearly in advance what he/she is looking for.
|
Recommended
during earlier phases of research projects.
|
Recommended
during latter phases of research projects.
|
The
design emerges as the study unfolds.
|
All
aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.
|
Researcher
is the data gathering instrument.
|
Researcher
uses tools, such as questionnaires or equipment to collect numerical data.
|
Data
is in the form of words, pictures or objects.
|
Data
is in the form of numbers and statistics.
|
Subjective
- individuals’ interpretation of events is important ,e.g., uses participant
observation, in-depth interviews etc.
|
Objective
– seeks precise measurement & analysis of target concepts, e.g., uses
surveys, questionnaires etc.
|
Qualitative
data is more 'rich', time consuming, and less able to be generalized.
|
Quantitative
data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, but may miss contextual
detail.
|
Researcher
tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject matter.
|
Researcher
tends to remain objectively separated from the subject matter.
|
Another classification is presented below:
Quantitative Mode
|
Qualitative mode
|
Assumptions
|
Assumptions
|
Purpose
|
Purpose
|
Approach
|
Approach
|
Researcher Role
|
Researcher Role
|
Glesne, C., & Peshkin, A.
(1992). Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction. White Plains, NY:
Longman.
Main Points:
·
Qualitative
research
involves analysis of data such as words (e.g., from interviews), pictures
(e.g., video), or objects (e.g., an artifact).
·
Quantitative
research involves
analysis of numerical data.
·
The
strengths and weaknesses
of qualitative and quantitative research are a perennial, hot debate,
especially in the social sciences. The issues invoke classic 'paradigm
war'.
·
The
personality / thinking style
of the researcher and/or the culture of the organization is under-recognized as
a key factor in preferred choice of methods.
·
Overly
focusing on the debate
of "qualitative versus quantitative" frames the methods in
opposition. It is important to focus also on how the techniques can be
integrated, such as in mixed methods research. More good can come of
social science researchers developing skills in both realms than debating which
method is superior.
- A study which the researcher carefully designs all aspects of the study before actually collects any data.
- You know in advance what you are looking for.
- The design emerges as the study unfolds.
- How do teachers in special education classes react to distance learning?
- What is the relationship between time spent on the simulator and operator error rate?
- The researcher deals with data in the form of words.
- The researcher deals with data in the form of numbers and statistics.
- The investigator is the data gathering instrument.
- Research methods involve the comparison of pre-test and post-test data.
- Data collection and data analysis take place simultaneously.
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