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RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

The document outlines the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods, emphasizing their distinct data types and analytical approaches. Qualitative research focuses on understanding human behavior through narrative data, while quantitative research quantifies variables using numerical data. Both methods serve different purposes and applications across various fields, with qualitative research exploring deeper insights and quantitative research measuring and testing theories.

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4 views

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

The document outlines the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods, emphasizing their distinct data types and analytical approaches. Qualitative research focuses on understanding human behavior through narrative data, while quantitative research quantifies variables using numerical data. Both methods serve different purposes and applications across various fields, with qualitative research exploring deeper insights and quantitative research measuring and testing theories.

Uploaded by

michaelgyausiame
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AKENTEN-APPIAH MENKAH UNIVERSITY OF SKILLS TRAINING AND

ENTREPRENUERIAL DEVELOPMENT.

NAME: Michael Gyau Siame


INDEX NUMBER 8247420014
PROGRAMME: Master of Philosophy in Biology
COURSE: PSC 813.Morden Approaches to Research methods and proposal writing
LECTUERER: Dr. Charles Amoah

QUESTION. Identify five (5) differences between qualitative and quantitative research
Research is the careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or research
problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie,
“research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed
phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.”
Research methods are typically classified based on the type of data they collect, with the
primary distinction being between qualitative research (gathering non-numerical data like
opinions and narratives) and quantitative research (collecting numerical data that can be
statistically analyzed).
Qualitative research is very important in educational research as it addresses the “how” and
“why” research questions and enables deeper understanding of experiences, phenomena, and
context Whiles Quantitative research is also important allowing researchers to collect objective
data, analyze patterns and trends, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize
findings to a wider population. Both qualitative and quantitative research share similarities
like: aiming to answer research questions, seeking patterns in data, requiring data analysis to
interpret results, being used to support existing theory and develop new ones, and the need for
rigor and validity in the research process; however, they differ in the type of data they collect and
how they analyze it. Below are some differences.

Qualitative research focuses on understanding phenomena through detailed, narrative data. It


explores the “how” and “why” of human behavior, using methods like interviews, observations,
and content analysis. In contrast, quantitative research is numeric and objective, aiming to
quantify variables and analyze statistical relationships. It addresses the “when” and “where,”
utilizing tools like surveys, experiments, and statistical models to collect and analyze numerical
data.
Secondary, the methods used to collect data differ between qualitative and quantitative research.
Qualitative research relies on non-numerical data and is often gathered through interviews,
focus groups, open-ended surveys, and direct observations. These methods allow researchers
to collect detailed and in-depth responses from participants. In contrast, quantitative research
collects numerical data using structured surveys, experiments, questionnaires, and
statistical databases. The data is gathered in a standardized format, making it easier to analyze
and compare. For example, a healthcare study might use qualitative interviews to understand
patients' experiences with a new treatment, while a quantitative survey might collect numerical
data on recovery rates.

Thirdly, The analysis of qualitative and quantitative data also differs significantly. Qualitative
research uses thematic analysis, where responses are grouped into categories and patterns are
identified. Researchers interpret the data by looking for common themes, trends, and meanings.
In contrast, quantitative research relies on statistical analysis, such as calculating averages,
percentages, correlations, and regression models. This helps researchers draw conclusions based
on measurable evidence.
Moreover, both qualitative and quantitative research are widely used in various fields, but their
applications differ. Qualitative research is commonly used in social sciences, psychology,
anthropology, and market research, where understanding human behavior and opinions is
essential. Quantitative research is frequently applied in scientific studies, business analytics,
economics, and medical research, where numerical measurements and statistical validation are
required.
Lastly, The purpose of qualitative research is to gain deeper insights into people's thoughts,
feelings, and motivations. It answers questions like "Why does this happen?" or "How do
people perceive this issue?". This type of research is exploratory, meaning it helps researchers
develop theories and understand complex issues. On the other hand, quantitative research is
designed to measure variables, test theories, and confirm findings using numerical data. It
answers questions such as "How many?", "How much?", or "What is the correlation
between these variables?".

REFERENCES.
1. Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed
Methods Approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
2. Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods (4th ed.). Sage
Publications
3. Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches (7th ed.). Pearson.
4. Merriam-Webster. (2025). Research. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved
February 18, 2025, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/research.

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