Characteristics of Quantitative and Qualitative Research
QuantitativeStepsQualitative
Description & explanation-orientedIdentifying a
Research Problem
Exploratory & understanding-oriented
Major role
Justification for the research problem & specification for
the need for the study
Reviewing
Literature Minor role Justification for the research problem
Specific & narrow
Measurable, observable data
Selecting
Participants/Sample General & broad
Participants experiences
Predetermined instruments
Numbered data
Large number of individual
Collecting
Data Emerging protocols Text or image data
Small number of individuals or sites
Statistical analysis
Description of trends, comparison of groups, or relationships
among variables
A comparison of results with predictions & past studies
Analysing &
Interpreting Data Text analysis Description, analysis, &
thematic development
The larger meaning of findings
Standard & fixed
Objective & unbiased
Reporting &
Evaluating Research Flexible & emerging Reflexive &
biased
