Quantitative Research

Quantitative research involves quantitative and numerical data. It is most commonly used in physical and natural science. It emphasizes on objectivity and precision, in the sense that it uses only specific and relevant variables for studying the problem rather than looking at it in the broader perspective. Therefore, it is sometimes said that quantitative research gives us shallow knowledge about the problem of interest. But if we want to study the problem more thoroughly, then we should use qualitative research. Quantitative research usually uses lager and randomized samples. So, its results can be generalized for the entire population of interest. Quantitative research uses structured instruments for data collection. Data collected through these instruments are then analyzed using various mathematical or statistical tools and methods. Quantitative research is best suited for answering those research questions which start with ‘how many’, ‘how much’, ‘how often’ and ‘to what extent’ question words. More specifically, it answers those questions which seeks its answers in numerical values. But if we want to  use  quantitative research for qualitative data, we can do so, in some cases, by assigning numerical values to qualitative data in our research instruments. Quantitative research designs are easy to replicate, and the work of earlier researcher can be repeated without any error by later researchers. No matter, how many times they repeat it, it will produce the same results. Quantitative research may either be descriptive or experimental, in either case, quantitative data is used for the study.

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Qualitative Research

Qualitative research deals with qualitative data i.e. data that represent various behaviors, feelings, beliefs, opinions or experiences of peoples. Since these things are abstract which can’t be precisely measured with any standard unit of measurement, so we can’t convert them in quantitative data. And therefore, we can’t use quantitative research for them. Qualitative Research generally answers those research questions which start with the question words like ‘how’, ‘why’ and ‘in what manner’ rather than how much, how many or how often. It studys people or group of people in their natural settings. Its methodology is different from that of quantitative or experimental research in a sense that it doesn’t need manipulation of variables or situation. Therefore, it is more elastic than quantitative research which needs controlled experimental environment. Qualitative research is holistic in nature, because it studies its subjects from various perspectives rather than on the basis of some simplified variables of interest. It is mainly used in the field of social sciences, sciences which deals with the human behaviors or actions in daily life. The process of data collection in this type of research is very laborious and time consuming as it collects data through direct interviews or observation of the subjects. Since human behaviors are interpretive and not learned responses to outside stimuli, therefore it is very difficult for the qualitative researcher to draw 100% accurate conclusion from them. Some people also criticize qualitative research for its small sample size and way of sampling. They say that since it uses small samples for data collection therefore, its results can’t be generalized for the entire population. But I think, this criticism is not applicable on qualitative research, because qualitative research collects data from specific persons or group of persons present in the population, therefore, its findings need not generalization for the whole population.

You might also be interested in:
Basic Research
Applied Research
Action Research
Quantitative Research
Descriptive Research
Experimental Research
Ethnographic Research
Historical Research
 

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