Name: JACOB KENNEDY A.

LIPURA Score: _____________

Year & Section: 9-RUBY Date: September 05, 2019
quanlitative and quantitative research designs
Qualitative Research Design:
Qualitative research is implemented in cases where a relationship between collected data
and observation is established on the basis of mathematical calculations. Theories related to a
naturally existing phenomenon can be proved or disproved using mathematical calculations.
Researchers rely on qualitative research design where they are expected to conclude “why” a
particular theory exists along with “what” respondents have to say about it.

Quantitative Research Design:

Quantitative research is implemented in cases where it is important for a researcher to
have statistical conclusions to collect actionable insights. Numbers provide a better perspective
to make important business decisions. Quantitative research design is important for the growth
of any organization because any conclusion drawn on the basis of numbers and analysis will
only prove to be effective for the business.

Qualitative Research Design

Qualitative research design varies depending upon the method used; participant observations,
in-depth interviews (face-to-face or on the telephone), and focus groups are all examples of
methodologies which may be considered during qualitative research design. Although there is
diversity in the various qualitative methodologies, there are also commonalities between them.

The underlying reason for carrying out any qualitative research is to gain a richly detailed
understanding of a particular topic, issue, or meaning based on first-hand experience. This is
achieved by having a relatively small but focused sample base because collecting the data can
be rather time consuming; qualitative data is concerned with depth as opposed to quantity of
findings. A qualitative research design is concerned with establishing answers to the whys and
hows of the phenomenon in question (unlike quantitative).

Due to this, qualitative research is often defined as being subjective (not objective), and
findings are gathered in a written format as opposed to numerical. This means that the data
collected from a piece of qualitative research cannot usually be analysed in a quantifiable way
using statistical techniques because there may not be commonalities between the various
collected findings. However, a process of coding can be implemented if common categories can
be identified during analysis.

Although the questions/observations in qualitative research are not managed to gain a particular
response the ability to code findings occurs more often than you may originally think. This is
because the researcher ‘steers’ the research in a particular direction whilst encouraging the
respondent to expand, and go into greater detail on certain points raised (in an interview/ focus
group), or actions carried out (participant observation).

Qualitative research design should also not only account for what is said or done, but also the
manner in which something is spoken or carried out by a participant. Sometimes these
mannerisms can hold answers to questions in themselves and body language and the tone of
voice used by respondents are key considerations.

Quantitative Research Design

Quantitative research design relates to the design of a research project which uses quantitative
research methods. The design varies depending on the method used, which could be telephone
interviews, face-to-face interviews, online surveys, or surveys by post for instance. Other
methodologies include SMS / Test Message surveys, or physical counts.

Quantitative research design is aimed at discovering how many people think, act or feel in a
specific way. Quantitative projects involve large sample sizes, concentrating on the quantity of
responses, as opposed to gaining the more focused or emotional insight that is the aim of
qualitative research. The standard format in quantitative research design is for each respondent
to be asked the same questions, which ensures that the entire data sample can be analysed fairly.
The data is supplied in a numerical format, and can be analysed in a quantifiable way using
statistical methods. Surveys can, however, be tailored to branch off if the respondent answers in
a certain way - for instance people who are satisfied or dissatisfied with a service may be asked
different questions subsequently.

Quantitative research design tends to favour closed-ended questions. Providing respondents

with a set list of answers, they will not normally be able to give lengthy open-ended responses.
This design ensures that the process of quantitative research is far more efficient than it would
be if qualitative-style open ended questions were employed. It is more efficient because it is
then not necessary to carry out the time-consuming process of coding vast quantities of open-
ended responses. However, quantitative research design does often allow the inclusion of an
‘Other’ category in the list of possible responses to questions, where appropriate. This allows
those respondents who do not fit directly into the main categories to still get their precise
responses recorded and used in the analysis of the research project results.

Qualitative Research Design

Qualitative research design is a research method used extensively by scientists and researchers
studying human behaviour, opinions, themes and motivations.

Qualitative research methods are probably the oldest of all scientific techniques, with the
ancient Greek philosophers qualitatively observing the world around them and trying to
understand and explain what they saw.

While qualitative methods are sometimes assumed to be “easier” or less rigorous than
quantitative ones, the fact is that information of this kind can provide a depth of understanding
about phenomena that cannot be achieved in other ways.

Quantitative Research Design

Quantitative research design is the standard experimental method of most scientific disciplines.

These experiments are sometimes referred to as true science, and use traditional mathematical
and statistical means to measure results conclusively.

They are most commonly used by physical scientists, although social sciences, education and
economics have been known to use this type of research. It is the opposite of qualitative
research.

Quantitative experiments all use a standard format, with a few minor inter-disciplinary
differences, of generating a hypothesis to be proved or disproved. This hypothesis must be
provable by mathematical and statistical means, and is the basis around which the whole
experiment is designed.
Randomization of any study groups is essential, and a control group should be included,
wherever possible. A sound quantitative design should only manipulate one variable at a time,
or statistical analysis becomes cumbersome and open to question.

Ideally, the research should be constructed in a manner that allows others to repeat the
experiment and obtain similar results.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

Below are the three key elements that define a qualitative research study and the applied forms
each take in the investigation of a research problem.

The Design
 Naturalistic -- refers to studying real-world situations as they unfold naturally;
nonmanipulative and noncontrolling; the researcher is open to whatever emerges [i.e.,
there is a lack of predetermined constraints on findings].
 Emergent -- acceptance of adapting inquiry as understanding deepens and/or situations
change; the researcher avoids rigid designs that eliminate responding to opportunities to
pursue new paths of discovery as they emerge.
 Purposeful -- cases for study [e.g., people, organizations, communities, cultures, events,
critical incidences] are selected because they are “information rich” and illuminative.
That is, they offer useful manifestations of the phenomenon of interest; sampling is aimed
at insight about the phenomenon, not empirical generalization derived from a sample and
applied to a population.
The Collection of Data
 Data -- observations yield a detailed, "thick description" [in-depth understanding];
interviews capture direct quotations about people’s personal perspectives and lived
experiences; often derived from carefully conducted case studies and review of material
culture.
 Personal experience and engagement -- researcher has direct contact with and gets
close to the people, situation, and phenomenon under investigation; the researcher’s
personal experiences and insights are an important part of the inquiry and critical to
understanding the phenomenon.
 Empathic neutrality -- an empathic stance in working with study responents seeks
vicarious understanding without judgment [neutrality] by showing openness, sensitivity,
respect, awareness, and responsiveness; in observation, it means being fully present
[mindfulness].
 Dynamic systems -- there is attention to process; assumes change is ongoing, whether
the focus is on an individual, an organization, a community, or an entire culture,
therefore, the researcher is mindful of and attentive to system and situationational
dynamics.
The Analysis
 Unique case orientation -- assumes that each case is special and unique; the first level of
analysis is being true to, respecting, and capturing the details of the individual cases
being studied; cross-case analysis follows from and depends upon the quality of
individual case studies.
 Inductive analysis -- immersion in the details and specifics of the data to discover
important patterns, themes, and inter-relationships; begins by exploring, then confirming
findings, guided by analytical principles rather than rules.
 Holistic perspective -- the whole phenomenon under study is understood as a complex
system that is more than the sum of its parts; the focus is on complex interdependencies
 and system dynamics that cannot be reduced in any meaningful way to linear, cause and
effect relationships and/or a few discrete variables.
 Context sensitive -- places findings in a social, historical, and temporal context;
researcher is careful about [even dubious of] the possibility or meaningfulness of
generalizations across time and space; emphasizes careful comparative case analyses and
extrapolating patterns for possible transferability and adaptation in new settings.
 Voice, perspective, and reflexivity -- the qualitative methodologist owns and is
reflective about her or his own voice and perspective; a credible voice conveys
authenticity and trustworthiness; complete objectivity being impossible and pure
subjectivity undermining credibility, the researcher's focus reflects a balance between
understanding and depicting the world authentically in all its complexity and of being
self-analytical, politically aware, and reflexive in consciousness
Characteristics of Quantitative Research
Your goal in conducting quantitative research study is to determine the relationship
between one thing [an independent variable] and another [a dependent or outcome
variable] within a population. Quantitative research designs are
either descriptive [subjects usually measured once] or experimental [subjects measured
before and after a treatment]. A descriptive study establishes only associations between
variables; an experimental study establishes causality.
Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic, and an objective stance. Quantitative
research focuses on numberic and unchanging data and detailed, convergent reasoning
rather than divergent reasoning [i.e., the generation of a variety of ideas about a research
problem in a spontaneous, free-flowing manner].
Its main characteristics are:
 The data is usually gathered using structured research instruments.
 The results are based on larger sample sizes that are representative of the population.
 The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given its high reliability.
 Researcher has a clearly defined research question to which objective answers are sought.
 All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.
 Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged in tables, charts, figures, or
other non-textual forms.
 Project can be used to generalize concepts more widely, predict future results, or
investigate causal relationships.
 Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or computer software, to collect numerical
data.
The overarching aim of a quantitative research study is to classify features, count them,
and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed.

 Things to keep in mind when reporting the results of a study using quantiative
methods:
1. Explain the data collected and their statistical treatment as well as all relevant results in
relation to the research problem you are investigating. Interpretation of results is not
appropriate in this section.
2. Report unanticipated events that occurred during your data collection. Explain how the
actual analysis differs from the planned analysis. Explain your handling of missing data
and why any missing data does not undermine the validity of your analysis.
3. Explain the techniques you used to "clean" your data set.
4. Choose a minimally sufficient statistical procedure; provide a rationale for its use and
a reference for it. Specify any computer programs used.
5. Describe the assumptions for each procedure and the steps you took to ensure that they
were not violated.
6. When using inferential statistics, provide the descriptive statistics, confidence intervals,
and sample sizes for each variable as well as the value of the test statistic, its direction,
the degrees of freedom, and the significance level [report the actual p value].
7. Avoid inferring causality, particularly in nonrandomized designs or without further
experimentation.
8. Use tables to provide exact values; use figures to convey global effects. Keep figures
small in size; include graphic representations of confidence intervals whenever possible.
9. Always tell the reader what to look for in tables and figures.

Comparison of qualitative & quantitative research

 
  Qualitative Quantitative
Definitions a systematic a formal, objective,
subjective approach systematic process for
used to describe life obtaining information
experiences and give about the world. A
them meaning method used to
describe, test
relationships, and
examine cause and
effect relationships.
Goals To gain insight; To test relationships,
explore the depth, describe, examine
richness, and cause and effect
complexity inherent relations
in the phenomenon.
Characteristics  Soft science  Hard science
 Focus: complex &  Focus: concise &
broad narrow
 Holistic  Reductionistic
 Subjective  Objective
 Dialectic, inductive  Logistic, deductive
reasoning reasoning
 Basis of knowing:  Basis of knowing:
meaning & cause & effect,
discovery relationships
 Tests theory
 Develops theory
 Control
 Shared interpretation
 Instruments
 Communication &  Basic element of
observation analysis: numbers
 Basic element of  Statistical analysis
analysis: words  Generalization
 Individual
interpretation
 Uniqueness