The paper intends to distinguish the qualitative research methods from the quantitative research methods. Qualitative research methodologies generate thorough descriptions that portray in narrative and creative forms. The researcher has an interactive role while conducting research using qualitative research approach as the researcher’s participation may be included in the study. The qualitative study has no hypothesis as the study initiates with the concept with unknown outcomes (Salkind 14). It facilitates the researcher with flexibility in the design that assists in adopting changes based on the progress of the study. On considering the data collection tool, the researcher plays the main role in conducting interviews, taking observations and taking the assistance of the documents, artifacts, and the relevant studies related to the topic. Since the generated data is in bulk, the sample size needs to be small. Besides, the extensive spending of time is required for collecting and analyzing the data (Salkind 1126). Both the subjective and objective means are used in determining the findings. Hence, the results are precise with contextual details.
On the other hand, quantitative research methodologies yield mathematical expressions based on the theories, models, and hypotheses along with the neutral role of the researcher throughout the study. It is intended to eliminate the aspects of bias opinions regarding the research outcomes. Before carrying out the research, the researcher has clear insights of the research problem that reflect in the stated hypothesis. Therefore, the research design is well-structured and remains intact having no flexibility throughout the completion of the study. The tools for collecting numerical data are designed by the researcher in the form of assessments, various scales, questionnaires, surveys, and other provided datasets through impartial stance. Since the results are on the basis of the numerical data, the sample size is taken largely to generate maximum insights (Salkind 1123). By using proficient methods of analyzing the mathematical data, the data analysis takes less time as compared to the qualitative methodologies. However, only objective means are used to determine the data analysis based on the use of mathematical expressions. Consequently, the findings of the research tend to be generalizable that are presented in relative mathematical terms having a smaller amount contextual detail (Salkind 1125).
As far as the questions addressed by the above-mentioned research methodologies are concerned, there is a clear demarcation in association with the nature of the study. The quantitative approach deals in determining the aspects of what is happening or has happened, about the scope of the study, along with the forthcoming statistical chances of something to happen in future. The quantitative methodologies do not cater the how, and why of the research problem and the relevance of the specific problem with any other possible factors is also missing (Salkind 15). However, these deficiencies are catered by the qualitative research methodologies that facilitate the research problem in fulfilling the aspects of how and why of a particular phenomenon. Besides, the research entails future implications that go beyond the quantitative elements of determining the extent of the particular experiment (Salkind 16). Furthermore, it involves the investigation of scholarly studies, documents, artifacts, and personal observations based on the participants’ responses that assist in determining the findings providing the insights of how and why of the particular phenomenon. Consequently, both the methods have their particular significance about the nature of the study.
Works Cited
Salkind, J. N. Encyclopedia of Research Design. London: Sage, 2010.
—. Exploring Research. Harlow: Pearson, 2012.
