Qualitative and quantitative research differ primarily in their approach, methods, and the types of data they collect.
- Qualitative Research:
- Focus: Explores concepts, experiences, and meanings.
- Data: Non-numeric, such as words, images, or observations.
- Methods: In-depth interviews, focus groups, case studies, ethnography, and participant observation.
- Goal: To understand the “why” and “how” behind a phenomenon or behavior.
- Nature: Subjective, interpretive, and exploratory.
- Analysis: Data is analyzed through themes or patterns, often requiring detailed coding or narrative analysis.
- Example: A researcher interviewing people about their experiences with mental health issues.
- Quantitative Research:
- Focus: Measures variables and examines relationships between them.
- Data: Numeric, such as surveys, questionnaires, and statistical data.
- Methods: Experiments, surveys, and statistical modeling.
- Goal: To quantify data and generalize results to a larger population.
- Nature: Objective, structured, and often hypothesis-driven.
- Analysis: Data is analyzed using statistical tools to identify trends, correlations, and patterns.
- Example: A researcher using surveys to measure the relationship between exercise and stress levels.