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What exactly the difference between " quantitative vs qualitative" research methods...

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Permalink Reply by Ingo Rohlfing on October 19, 2012 at 15:11

Uh, a lot of books have been written on that topic. In short, my take is that quantitative methods produce "figures" like a correlation coefficient or estimated marginal effect that forms the basis for causal inference. Qualitative methods relies on a diverse body of evidence (interview statements, primary sources, images, etc.) that is used for causal inference. A much more complex treatment of qualitative vs. quantitative can be found in Creswell, John W. and Vicki L. Plano Clark (2011): Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications. (even if you are not primarily interested into mixed-methods research).

Permalink Reply by SEPHERINA ALLARD on October 20, 2012 at 0:09

HMM THANK U...QUANTITATIVE APPEARS TO BE MORE OBJECTIVE THAN QUALITATIVE?...QUALITATIVE IS MORE ON A INTERACTIVE BASIS?...DO THEY (METHODS) ?SUPPORT EACH OTHER......I WILL TRY TO OBTAIN THE BOOK OR READ ON THE NET....GOD BLESS...

Permalink Reply by Ingo Rohlfing on October 20, 2012 at 11:36

It all depends on whom you ask or what you read. Don't expect a clear answer to what "qualitative" and "quantitative" mean. The best thing you can hope for is to understand why some people take one perspective or the other in the qualitative-quantitative debate. You could also read

Prakash, Deepa and Audie Klotz (2007): Should We Discard the "Qualitative" Versus "Quantitative" Distinction? International Studies Review 9 (4): 753-770.

Permalink Reply by SEPHERINA ALLARD on October 20, 2012 at 18:50

THANK U FOR YOUR TIME....MUCH APPRECIATED....

Permalink Reply by Dr Mike Lambert on October 22, 2012 at 11:53

Sepherina, I feel it is more useful to talk about quantitative/qualitative data, rather than quantitative/qualitative methods.  This is because any one method can produce both kinds of data – it depends on the nature of the data and how they are analysed. 

 

Here is a very basic explanation:

 

‘Methods produce two kinds of data:

  • Quantitative: This kind is usually numerical, for instance: How many respondents disagreed with the statement: Mathematics is the most important subject in the curriculum?  Answer: 15.
  • Qualitative: These data consist of words (or visual images), for instance:
  • A respondent wrote: ‘I find teaching mixed-ability classes very difficult’.
  • A participant said: “The lesson went largely to plan”.
  • Your record of an observation: ‘Teacher praised child for correct answer’ (but if you were counting the number of times this happened, you would then have quantitative data).

 

Quantitative data are usually associated with a positive paradigm; qualitative data with an interpretivist paradigm.  Quantitative data can be collected from many respondents; qualitative data usually come from fewer people but allow more in-depth consideration of ideas.‘

 

This is taken from A Beginner’s Guide to Doing Your Education Research Project.  See http://bit.ly/IrLHvD and on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/QsLY2Q

 

Good luck with your research!

 

Permalink Reply by SEPHERINA ALLARD on October 23, 2012 at 3:21

Dr. mike thank u very much..much clearer.....u can be a teacher/instructor...

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ingo Rohlfing on October 23, 2012 at 8:41

We cannot open this debate here, but I oppose tying qualitative data to a particular paradigm/philosophy of science. Qualitative data is non-comparable data (images, interview statements etc.) as opposed to quantitative data that is comparable (Collier, David, Henry E. Brady and Jason Seawright (2004): Sources of Leverage in Causal Inference: Toward an Alternative View of Methodology. Brady, Henry E. and David Collier (eds.): Rethinking Social Inquiry. Diverse Tools, Shared Standards. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield: 229-266). Qualitative data is just data, an observation. How you analyze your qualitative data and on the basis of what paradigm is a separate matter. 

Permalink Reply by Dr Mike Lambert on October 27, 2012 at 10:08

These are sophisticated and interesting ideas, Ingo, and few would disagree.  However, it is still true to say that ‘quantitative data are usually associated with a positive paradigm; qualitative data with an interpretivist paradigm’.  Yes?

Permalink Reply by SEPHERINA ALLARD on October 27, 2012 at 15:35

comprendo...senor...i understand,,,,wow!!

Permalink Reply by Ingo Rohlfing on October 28, 2012 at 12:55

On the quantitative data and positive paradigm, I agree, on qualitative data and interpretivism, I do not know. I think we have some differences between US and Europe (and other continents), but what is needed is a throrough review of the literature.

Permalink Reply by SEPHERINA ALLARD on October 28, 2012 at 14:45

HMM HMM

Permalink Reply by David Morgan on October 30, 2012 at 21:41

I agree with Mike that quantitative data and qualitative data are often "associated" with particular paradigms, but I think this is mostly a product of how we have been trained to discuss the big issues in Methodology, rather than how we actually do research in the field..

   In actual practice, I agree with with I think is Ingo's position -- that paradigm issues do not necessarily need to exercise a major influence on how we collect and analyze data.

==>David

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