Qualitative vs Quantitative Research Methods PDF

# University of Education ## BBA (Hons) ### Session 2012-2016 (Morning) | Name | Roll no. | |---|---| | Mohammad Hassan Butt | 28 | | Irfan Raza | 14 | | Saqib Shehzad | 12 | | Gohar Rehman | 41 | # Business Research ## Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods # Qualitative and Quantitative...

# University of Education ## BBA (Hons) ### Session 2012-2016 (Morning) | Name | Roll no. | |---|---| | Mohammad Hassan Butt | 28 | | Irfan Raza | 14 | | Saqib Shehzad | 12 | | Gohar Rehman | 41 | # Business Research ## Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods # Qualitative and Quantitative Research ## Quantitative Research - A type of educational research in which the researcher decides what to study. - Quantitative research looks at patterns in numeric data. - Quantitative research gathers data in numerical form which can be put into categories or measured in units of measurement. - This type of data can be used to construct graphs and tables. ## Qualitative Research - A type of educational research in which the researcher relies on the views of the participants. - Qualitative research gathers information that is not in numerical form. - Qualitative data is typically descriptive data. - When you think of qualitative data, think of the word 'quality' - because in qualitative analysis we are taking deep quality look at a phenomenon. # Qualitative and Quantitative Research ## Quantitative Research Examples - Application forms - Closed ended questionnaires - IQ Tests - Measurements ## Qualitative Research Examples - Diary accounts - Document review - Open ended questionnaires - Unstructured interviews - Unstructured observations # Qualitative versus Quantitative ## Purpose - **Quali:** To understand and interpret social interactions. - **Quanti:** To test hypotheses, look at cause and effect, and make predictions. ## Group Studied - **Quali:** Smaller and not randomly selected. - **Quanti:** Larger and randomly selected. ## Variables - **Quali:** Study of the whole, not variables. - **Quanti:** Specific variables studied. ## Type of Data Collected - **Quali:** Words, images, or objects. - **Quanti:** Numbers and statistics. ## Forms of Data Collected - **Quali:** Qualitative data such as open ended responses, interviews, participant observations, field notes, and reflections. - **Quanti:** Quantitative data based on precise measurements using structured and validated data-collection instruments. ## Role of the Researcher - **Quali:** Researcher and their biases may be known to participants in the study, and participant characteristics may be known to the researcher. - **Quanti:** Researcher and their biases are not known to participants in the study, and participant characteristics are deliberately hidden from the researcher (double blind studies). ## Results - **Quali:** Particular or specialized findings that is less generalizable. - **Quanti:** Generalizable findings that can be applied to other populations. ## Final Report - **Quali:** Narrative report with contextual description and direct quotations from research participants. - **Quanti:** Statistical report with correlations, comparisons of means, and statistical significance of findings. ## What is to be observed? - **Quali:** Qualities, behavior, and complexities. - **Quanti:** Quantities, scales, and trends. ## What are the type of questions asked? - **Quali:** Why? How? - **Quanti:** How many? What? ## How are the questions are put (methods)? - **Quali:** Document review, participant observations, interviews, focus group workshops. - **Quanti:** Application forms, questionnaires, IQ tests, measurements. ## How the results are interpreted (analysis)? - **Quali:** Explore, explain, understand, narrative, particular, mainly inductive reasoning: conclusions can be drawn from the evidence no matter how incomplete. - **Quanti:** Describe, measure, predict, statistical tables and chart, universal, mainly deductive reasoning: everything is known before conclusions can be drawn. # What are the characteristics of each? ## Quantitative Research - Ask specific narrow questions. - Collects data from participants generally in numerical form. - Analyzes numbers using statistics. - Conducts the inquiry in unbiased, objective manner. ## Qualitative Research - Ask broad, general questions. - Collects data consisting largely of words (text) or image (picture). - Descriptions and analysis of words for themes. - Conducts inquiry in subjective, biased manner. # What are the differences between the two in Various Research steps? ## Identifying a research problem - **Quantitative Research:** Description of trends or an explanation of variables' relationships. - **Qualitative Research:** An exploration in which little is known about the problem. A detailed understanding of a central phenomenon. ## Reviewing the literature - **Quantitative Research:** Major role through suggesting the RQ to be asked. Justifying the R problem and the need for the direction of the study. - **Qualitative Research:** Minor role in suggesting SRQ to be asked. Justify the importance of studying the research problem. ## Specifying a purpose for the research - **Quantitative Research:** Be specific and narrow. Seek measurable, observable data, and variables. - **Qualitative Research:** Be general and broad. Seek to understand the participants' experiences. ## Collecting data - **Quantitative Research:** Collecting data using instruments with preset questions and responses. Collecting info from a large number of individuals. - **Qualitative Research:** Collecting data using forms with general, emerging questions to permit the participant to generate responses. Gathering word (text) or image (picture) data. Collecting info from a small number of individuals or sites. ## Analyzing and Interpreting data - **Quantitative Research:** Data analysis tends to consist of statistical analysis. Describing trends, comparing group differences, relating variables. Interpretation tends to consist of comparing results with prior predictions and past research. - **Qualitative Research:** Text analysis. A description of themes. Stating the larger meaning of findings. ## Reporting and Evaluating research - **Quantitative Research:** Tend to use standard fixed structure and evaluation criteria. Take an objective and unbiased approach. - **Qualitative Research:** A flexible, emerging structure and evaluative criteria. Take a subjective and biased approach.