This document compares and contrasts quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Quantitative research focuses on identifying cause-and-effect relationships through predefined variables and hypotheses, aims for objectivity by distancing the researcher, and uses numerical data like frequencies and means. Qualitative research focuses on understanding people's experiences through emergent variables and methods, sees the researcher as integral to the process, and uses open-ended, narrative data. Some key differences are that quantitative research often divorces behavior from context and manipulates variables, while qualitative research studies behavior naturally.
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Lecture 2. Types of Research Design.
This document compares and contrasts quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Quantitative research focuses on identifying cause-and-effect relationships through predefined variables and hypotheses, aims for objectivity by distancing the researcher, and uses numerical data like frequencies and means. Qualitative research focuses on understanding people's experiences through emergent variables and methods, sees the researcher as integral to the process, and uses open-ended, narrative data. Some key differences are that quantitative research often divorces behavior from context and manipulates variables, while qualitative research studies behavior naturally.
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Quantitative and Qualitative
Research Design Difference Between Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Research
Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
1. Focuses on identifying 1. Focuses on understanding
cause-and effect relationships how people experience and interpret events in their lives among variables Difference Between Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Research Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
2. The variables to be studied 2. The variables to be studied
and Methods to be used are and methods to be used emerge from the research’s experiences defined in advance by theories in the research context and are and hypotheses derived from modified as the research theories and remain unchanged situation changes. throughout the study.
3. To promote objectivity, the 3. The researcher is inseparable
researcher keeps a psychological part of the research process; the researcher’s experiences not only and emotional Distance from the those of the research situation research. changes. Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
4. Frequently studies behavior is 4. Studies behavior in its natural
divorced from its natural context and studies the Interrelationship of behavior context (such as in laboratory and context research
5. Frequently studies behavior 5. Studies behavior as it
by Manipulating it (as in naturally occurs experiments)
6. Data are numerical- 6. Data are open-ended-
frequencies, description of behavior, Means, and so forth narrative responses to interview question, and so forth Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
7. Tries to maximize internal validity 7. Tries to maximize ecological
validity
8. Focuses on the average behavior 8. Focuses on both the similarities
of people in a population and differences in individual experiences and both the similarities and differences in ways in which people interpret their experiences Types of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Design
Types of Quantitative Research Types of Qualitative Research