Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
There are generally two kinds of research: qualitative and quantitative. For any research project the researcher needs to be clear about which type of research will provide the information required. The role of qualitative research is to tell you why; quantitative research tells you how many. The methods are quite different.
Definition of Quantitative research?
"There 's no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is either 1 or 0"- Fred Kerlinger
Different researchers and educators have given different definitions to “quantitative research.” Below are a few of them:
Quantitative research refers to the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomena that those observations reflect. It is used in a wide variety of natural and social sciences, including physics, biology, psychology, sociology and geology (Wikipedia Encyclopedia, 2005).
According to Cohen (1980), quantitative research is defined as social research that employs empirical methods and empirical statements. He states that an empirical statement is defined as a descriptive statement about what “is” the case in the “real world” rather than what “ought” to be the case.
Creswell (1994) on the other hand, has given a very concise definition of quantitative research as a type of research that explains phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics). In studying this definition step by step, the first element to consider is explaining the phenomena. This is a key element of all research, be it quantitative or qualitative. When we set out to do some research, we are always looking to explain something. In education this could be questions, for example, `Does motivation affect work productivity in the public institutions in Gambia? ', or `What factors influence the high rates of unemployed graduates
There are generally two kinds of research: qualitative and quantitative. For any research project the researcher needs to be clear about which type of research will provide the information required. The role of qualitative research is to tell you why; quantitative research tells you how many. The methods are quite different.
Definition of Quantitative research?
"There 's no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is either 1 or 0"- Fred Kerlinger
Different researchers and educators have given different definitions to “quantitative research.” Below are a few of them:
Quantitative research refers to the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomena that those observations reflect. It is used in a wide variety of natural and social sciences, including physics, biology, psychology, sociology and geology (Wikipedia Encyclopedia, 2005).
According to Cohen (1980), quantitative research is defined as social research that employs empirical methods and empirical statements. He states that an empirical statement is defined as a descriptive statement about what “is” the case in the “real world” rather than what “ought” to be the case.
Creswell (1994) on the other hand, has given a very concise definition of quantitative research as a type of research that explains phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics). In studying this definition step by step, the first element to consider is explaining the phenomena. This is a key element of all research, be it quantitative or qualitative. When we set out to do some research, we are always looking to explain something. In education this could be questions, for example, `Does motivation affect work productivity in the public institutions in Gambia? ', or `What factors influence the high rates of unemployed graduates
References: Creswell, J.W., Research Design: Qualitative & Quantitative Approaches, London: SAGE Publications, 1994. Cohen, L. and Manion, L., Research Methods in Education, London: Groom Helm Ltd., 1980. Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2000). Handbook of qualitative research (2nd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Denzin, N DeWalt, K. M. & DeWalt, B. R. (2002). Participant observation. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press. Diriwächter, R Elizabeth Wilson and Dorothy Bedford (2009) Study skills for part- time students, Pearson Education Limited, ISBN 978-0-273-71935-9 Fischer, C.T Flyvbjerg, B. (2006). "Five Misunderstandings about Case Study Research." Qualitative Inquiry, vol. 12, no. 2, April 2006, pp. 219–245. Flyvbjerg, B Franklin, M. I. (2012), "Understanding Research: Coping with the Quantitative-Qualitative Divide". London/New York. Routledge. Gay, L. R. (1996). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and application. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill. Given, Lisa M. (2008). The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods. Los Angeles, Calif.: Sage Publications. ISBN 1-4129-4163-6. Gay, L.R. and Airasian, (2003), Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, Merrill Prentice Hall, 201, 205, 368, 369, 593 Miles MB and Huberman AM, An Expanded Sourcebook Qualitative Data Analysis - 2nd Edition. 1994 Wasson, John, (2003), Casual-Comparative Research, Minnesota State University, Ed 603, Lesson 12, http://www.mnstate.edu/wasson/ed603/ed603lesson12.html Wilson Elizabeth and Dorothy Bedford (2009) study skills for part-time students, Pearson Education limited, ISNB: 978-0-273-71935-9