Question

Compare and Contrast Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods. Include the terms objective data analysis and subjective exploration in your answer.

Answer 1

Compare and contrast between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods are as follow:-

1)Qualitative Research Method believe that the world is not stable ,coherent and uniform whereas Quantitative Research methods believe that we have inhabit a relatively stable,uniform and coherent world what we can measure, understand and generalise.

2)Approach to Inquiry in Qualitative research methods is Inductive , value laden(Subjective), holistic and process oriented whereas In Quantitative research methods it is deductive , value free( objective), focused and outcome oriented.

3)Hypotheses in Qualitative Research method is Tentative, evolving and based on particular study whereas in Quantitative Research method Hypotheses is specific , testable and stated prior to particular study.

4)Review of Related Literature in Qualitative is limited and doesn't significantly affect particular study whereas in Quantitative Review of literature is Extensive and does significantly affect particular study.

5)Sampling in Qualitative Research Method is Purposive:Intent to select small not necessarily representative,sample in order to acquire in depth understanding whereas in Quantitative Research methods sampling is Random; intent to select large , representative sample in order to generalize results to a population.

6) Measurement in Qualitative Research Method is non- standardized, narrative and ongoing whereas in Quantitative Research Method measurement is standardized, numerical and at the end.

7)Design and method in Qualitative Research is Flexible,specified only in general terms in advance of study whereas in Quantitative Research design & method is Structured, inflexible and specified in detail in advance of study.

8)Data collection in Qualitative Research method is through document, observation(participant,non- participant), interviews/Focus groups or administration of questionnaires(open ended) whereas in Quantitative Research Method data collection is through Observation(non-participant), interview and Focus groups and administration of tests and questionnaires.

9)Raw Data are in words in Qualitative Research whereas Raw data are numbers in Quantitative Research methods.

10) In Qualitative Research Method data interpretation is tentative, reviewed on an ongoing basis and generalizations are speculative or nonexistent whereas in Quantitative Research Conclusions and generalizations formulated at the end of study .