If you are looking for a tool to brush up the stock of knowledge about a specific thing, you will have to use research at a wide scale. Now, you can use two standard ways to conduct research. These two standard ways are qualitative research and quantitative research. If your research is relying on a verbal narrative like spoken or written data, qualitative research is the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you will have to deal with logical or statistical observations, you will have to use the quantitative research method. Here, experts of dissertation writing services will discuss the difference between qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Qualitative Research:
It is an emphatically, direct or physical research method. By using this research method, you can easily understand the reasons or opinions behind the data. F2F is the most common method to gather data by using qualitative research. Here, we have to conduct interviews with the focused group. We have to spend hours gathering data from a small sample of respondents. While conducting these interviews, you should record videos. By watching these videos, you can transcribe the data in the form of tales.
Quantitative Research:
By using this research method, you will have to quantify the data. After quantifying this data, you can easily transfer it in the form of statistics. The researchers use this research method to measure behaviour and respondents of the large sample of respondents. For example, if you will have to research a multinational company, you will have to use this research method. When you will gather more data, you can draw more statistics. As a result, you can easily measure the accuracy of the data. Online questionnaires and telephone interviews are the best methods to conduct quantitative research.
Difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Research:
Theory or Research Ratio:
We have to conduct qualitative research in an inductive setting. We can easily articulate it in the context of discovery. By using different techniques, they can easily reject the formulation of theories. In some cases, they can also reject theory and research work simultaneously. While conducting quantitative research, we have to follow sequential phases. Here, we have to adopt a deductive approach for the articulation of theory. Moreover, the theory will also precede the research.
Concepts:
To gather the data by using the qualitative research method, we should try to find the character of uniqueness. In the case of quantitative research, we have to use a definitive and operative approach. Its reason is that it just relies on theory. We have to convert it from the beginning to a variable.
Studied Environment:
To gather the data by using the qualitative research method, we have to use a naturalistic approach. We can easily analyze the actions in the present time. If we want to gather the data by using the quantitative research method, we have to use an experimental approach. In some cases, the subject will not be responsive. Anyhow, this thing will not create problems for the researchers.
Researcher and Respondent Interaction:
As a researcher, if you will have to gather the data by using the qualitative research method, you will have to create this kind of interaction. Without arising empathy between two parties, you can’t get the required benefits. In the case of quantitative research, this kind of interaction is almost absent. Anyhow, the interviewers should be warm and human beings. They should not show interactions outside of the questionnaire.
Search Design:
To gather the data by using a research method, you will have to follow a search design. If you want to gather the data by using the qualitative research method, you will have to follow some unexpected options. You can easily modify the research in the process. To gather the data by using the quantitative research method, you will have to follow a closed structure. For this reason, you will have to prepare a plan in advance.
Nature of Data:
By following different research methods, you can gather two kinds of data. The nature of data gathered by following qualitative research will be soft. It means that you will have to focus on the subjectivity and integrity of the data. In the case of the quantitative research method, you can gather hard data. It means that you can gather objective and standardized data.
Type of Respondents:
No doubt, if you are researching to gather the data, you will have to use a different type of respondents. In the case of qualitative research, you will have to gather data from unique individuals. On the other hand, if you will have to gather the data by using the quantitative research method, you can select variable individuals.
Presentation of Data:
After gathering the data by using these research methods, you will have to present the data using all communication functions. In the case of the qualitative research method, you can present the data in the form of quotes and narrative style extracts. Anyhow, if you will have to gather the data by using the quantitative research method, you will have to use tables and graphs. In some cases, you can also present the information in the form of statistics.
Scope of Results:
We have to gather the data for almost all kinds of research papers. Now, a question may come to your mind that for which you can use qualitative research and for which you will have to use quantitative research. Here, you should understand that you can use the qualitative research method for a limited number of cases. On the other hand, you can easily use the quantitative research method for a significant number of cases.
Conclusion:
If you will have to investigate the information from a large group of people, you will have to use the quantitative research method. On the other hand, if you will have to gather the data from the focused group, you will have to use the qualitative research method. It is the best way to gather the behavioural details of a small group of people. That’s why it is the best research method to find the character of uniqueness. By using the qualitative research method, we have to adopt a narrative approach. In the case of the quantitative research method, we have to adopt an experimental approach. The search design of qualitative research is open. On the other hand, the research design of quantitative research is closed.
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