Essay on Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

Introduction The qualitative and quantitative research methods are typically applied in the field of social research. There has been a lot of debate on the relative advantages between the two designs among researchers almost more than on any other issue of methodology. The quantitative research design encompasses methods which focus on numbers, that is, quantities. The data collected in this design is usually in numbers which are then analyzed using statistical and mechanical methods. This design is highly associated with the field of science such as in practical done in a laboratory (Gall et al 2003). On the other hand, qualitative design normally uses words to explain wider concepts that cannot be captured mathematically such as†¦show more content†¦This research method seeks to experiment on certain issues upon which it seeks to come up with universal generalizations (Timmons 2005). Qualitative Method Unlike in the previous method, this research method involves collecting, interpreting and analyzing information by observing and listening to people. This method normally looks for meanings of concepts. It attempts to seek description and characteristic of things including feelings, attitudes, symbols and signs (Schostac 2006). This method is generally subjective and normally employs purposeful sampling where specific respondents are targeted. The questions in this method are generally open and the respondent is not limited to the kind of information that he can give. To obtain relevant information, in depth interviews are normally conducted. The information obtained in this method is assumed to reflect a reality on the ground since the method usually expresses results based on the actual response generated by respondents. Differences One common difference between the two is that quantitative method is objective while qualitative is subjective. This implies that the quantitative method attempts to come up with specific conclusions based on their data finding. For instance, a study on abuse of drugs among 16 year olds in the US may be concluded to say that 2 out of every 5 under 16’s are exposed tom alcohol before they join high school (Timmons, 2005). On the other hand,Show MoreRelatedQualitative Quantitative Research Methods1047 Words   |  5 PagesQualitative amp; Quantitative Research Methods PSY 326 Dr. Willow Aureala March 29, 2011 Qualitative amp; Quantitative Research Methods There are two types of research methods: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research methods are complex meaningful analyses characterized by processes and meanings that are not measured in terms of mathematical measurements. 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