Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Research uQuantitative Research uA type of educational research in which the researcher decides what to study. uQualitative Research uA type of educational research in which the researcher relies on the views of the participants. u Qualitative and Quantitative Research uQuantitative Research uQuantitative research looks at patterns in numeric data. uQuantitative research gathers data in numerical form which can be put into categories or measured in units of measurement. u This type of data can be used to construct graphs and tables. u uQualitative Research uQualitative research gathers information that is not in numerical form. uQualitative data is typically descriptive data. uWhen you think of qualitative data, Think of the word 'quality' – because in qualitative analysis we are taking a deep quality look at a phenomenon. u uQuantitative Research Examples uApplication forms uClosed ended Questionnaires u IQ Tests uMeasurements u uQualitative Research u Examples uDiary accounts uDocument review uOpen ended Questionnaires u Unstructured interviews uUnstructured observations Qualitative and Quantitative Research Qualitative versus Quantitative u uPurpose u uQuali: To understand & interpret social interactions. u uQuanti: To test hypotheses, look at cause & effect, & make predictions. Qualitative versus Quantitative u uGroup Studied u uQuali: Smaller & not randomly selected. u uQuanti: Larger & randomly selected. Qualitative versus Quantitative u uVariables u uQuali: Study of the whole, not variables. u uQuanti: Specific variables studied. Qualitative versus Quantitative u uType of Data Collected u uQuali: Words, images, or objects. u uQuanti: Numbers and statistics. Qualitative versus Quantitative u uForms of Data Collected u uQuali: Qualitative data such as open - ended responses, interviews, participant observations, field notes, & reflections. u uQuanti: Quantitative data based on precise measurements using structured & validated data-collection instruments. Qualitative versus Quantitative u uRole of the Researcher u uQuali: Researcher & their biases may be known to participants in the study, & participant characteristics may be known to the researcher. u uQuanti: Researcher & their biases are not known to participants in the study, & participant characteristics are deliberately hidden from the researcher (double blind studies). Qualitative versus Quantitative u uResults u uQuali: Particular or specialized findings that is less generalizable. u uQuanti: Generalizable findings that can be applied to other populations. Qualitative versus Quantitative u uFinal Report u uQuali: Narrative report with contextual description & direct quotations from research participants. u uQuanti: Statistical report with correlations, comparisons of means, & statistical significance of findings. Qualitative versus Quantitative u uWhat is to be observed? u uQuali: ¤ Qualities ¤ Behavior ¤ Complexities u uQuanti: ¤ Quantities ¤ Scales ¤ Trends Qualitative versus Quantitative u uWhat are the type of questions asked? u uQuali: ¤ Why? ¤ How? u uQuanti: ¤ How many? ¤ What? Qualitative versus Quantitative u uHow are the questions are put (methods)? u uQuali: ¤ Document review ¤ Participant observations ¤ Interviews ¤ Focus group ¤ Workshops u uQuanti: ¤ Application forms ¤ Questionnaires ¤ IQ Tests ¤ Measurements Qualitative versus Quantitative u uHow the results are interpreted (analysis)? u uQuali: ¤ Explore, explain, understand ¤ Narrative ¤ Particular ¤ Mainly inductive reasoning: conclusions can be drawn from the evidence no matter how incomplete u uQuanti: ¤ Describe, measure, predict ¤ Statistical tables and chart ¤ Universal ¤ Mainly deductive reasoning: everything is known before conclusions can be drawn What are the characteristics of each? uQuantitative Research uAsk specific narrow Qs. uCollects data from participants generally in numerical form. uAnalyzes numbers using statistics. uConducts the inquiry in unbiased, objective manner. uQualitative Research uAsk broad, general Qs. uCollects data consisting largely of words (text) or image (picture). uDescriptions and analysis of words for themes. uConducts inquiry in subjective, biased manner. What are the differences between the two in Various Research steps? Identifying a research problem. uQuantitative Research uDescription of trends or an explanation of variables’ relationships. uQualitative Research uAn exploration in which little is known about the problem. uA detailed understanding of a central phenomenon. u Reviewing the literature uQuantitative Research uMajor role through suggesting the RQ to be asked. uJustifying the R problem and the need for the direction of the study. uQualitative Research uMinor role in suggesting SRQ to be asked. u uJustify the importance of studying the research problem. Specifying a purpose for the research uQuantitative Research uBe specific and narrow. uSeek measurable, observable data on variables. uQualitative Research uBe general and broad. uSeek to understand the participants’ experiences. Collecting data uQuantitative Research uCollecting data using instruments with preset Qs and Res. uCollecting info from a large number of individuals. uQualitative Research uCollecting data using forms with general, emerging Qs to permit the participant to generate responses. uGathering word(text) or image(picture) data. uCollecting info from a small number of individuals or sites. u Analyzing and Interpreting data uQuantitative Research uData analysis tends to consist of statistical analysis. uDescribing trends, comparing group differences, relating variables. uInterpretation tends to consist of comparing results with prior predictions and past research. uQualitative Research uText analysis. uA description of themes. uStating the larger meaning of findings. Reporting and Evaluating research uQuantitative Research uTend to use standard fixed structure and evaluation criteria. uTake an objective and unbiased approach. uQualitative Research uA flexible, emerging structure and evaluative criteria. uTake a subjective and biased approach. Thank you for the attention