Research Design And Methods Questions
Qualitative and quantitative research designs are two distinct approaches used in research.
Qualitative research design focuses on understanding and interpreting social phenomena through non-numerical data. It aims to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the underlying reasons, motivations, and meanings behind human behavior. Qualitative research methods include interviews, observations, focus groups, and content analysis. The data collected is typically descriptive and narrative, allowing researchers to identify patterns, themes, and subjective interpretations.
On the other hand, quantitative research design involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to establish patterns, relationships, and statistical significance. It aims to measure and quantify social phenomena, often using surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis. Quantitative research provides objective and measurable data, allowing researchers to generalize findings to a larger population and draw statistical conclusions.
In summary, the main difference between qualitative and quantitative research designs lies in the type of data collected and the methods used for analysis. Qualitative research focuses on understanding subjective experiences and meanings, while quantitative research emphasizes numerical data and statistical analysis.