In Knowledgebase, William Trochim argues that ôall research is quantitative because anything can be counted, and all research is qualitative because answers to numeric questions may conceal a variety of meaningsö (List 2004, 1). The main difference between qualitative and quantitative research pertains to the researcherÆs approach. Both quantitative and qualitative research are systematic in their approach, but there are substantial differences between the two methods. For the most part, quantitative research uses numerical data to discover information about reality. Quantitative research is objective, deductive, generalizable, and deals with numerical data. Major categories of quantitative research include descriptive, quasi-experimental, and experimental. Surveys, questionnaires, and other methods of data collection are associated with quantitative research that looks for a cause and effect relationship.
In contrast to quantitative research, qualitative research posits a framework that asserts there is no single reality. Reality is based on perceptions that change from one individual to the next over time. Qualitative research is subjective, inductive, not generalizable, and deals with words. Major types of qualitative research approaches include ethnography, grounded theory, and phenomenology. Interview, observation, and records are typical methods of data collection in qualitative research. Data is not numerical and often involves feelings, perceptions, and attitudes. The eventual research approach taken by the researcher will typically depend on the objectives of the research and the kinds of relationships or answers being sought.
List, D. (Fen 24, 2004). Qualitative or quantitative research? Viewed on Jul 29, 2004: http://www.audiencedialogue.org/ qualiquant.html, 1-3.
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