The differences between quantitative and qualitative research:

Difference with respect to: Qualitative research Quantitative researchPhilosophy Rationalism EmpiricismApproach inquiry Structured, predetermined

methodologyUnstructured, flexible, open methodology

Main purpose To quantify something To describe somethingVariables measurement Emphasis on some form of

either measurement or classification of variables

Emphasis on description variables

Sample size Greater sample size Fewer casesFocus of inquiry Narrow focus, great numer of

respondents assemble to require the information

Multiple issues from fewer respondents

Dominant research value Reliability and objectivity Authenticity but does not claim to be value free

Dominant research topic Explain prevelance, incidence, extent, nature of issues, opinions and attitude, dicovers regularities and formulates theories

Explore experiences, meanings, perceptions and feelings

Analysis of data Subjects variables to frequency distributions, cross-tabulations or other statistical properties

Subjects responses, narratives or observation data to identification of themes and describe these

Communication of findings Organisation more analytical in nature, drawing inferences and conclusions, and testing magnitude and strength of a relatationship

Organisation more descriptive and narrative in nature

The Research

Process: A Quick

Glance

Introduction of an 8-step model

Stage I: Deciding What

Details Research Process

3. Constructing an instrument

for data collection

1. Formulating a research problem

5. Writing a research proposal

Qualitative

Quantitative

2. Conseptualising

a research design

4. Selecting a sample

7. Processing the data

6. Collecting data

8. Writing a report

Stage II: Planning

HowStage III: Actually Doing

What

Construct an instrument

for data

collection

Formulating

a resear

ch proble

m

Writing

a research proposal

Conseptualize

a researc

h design

Selecting a

sample

Processing data

Collectdata

Writing a report

How Conducting the Study

The Research Process

Literature

Review

Study desig

ns

Research design: fuction

Validity and

reliability of the

research tool

Contents of research proposal

Principles of scientific

writing

Variables and hypotheses:

definition and typolog

y

8-steps model

Considerations and steps in

formulating a research problem

Methods and tools of

data collection

Sampling theories and

design

Methods of data

processing; use of

computers and

statistics

Field tests

of the

research tool

Data

editing Devel

oping a code book

Coding

Operational steps

Required theoritical knowledge

Required

intermediary

knowledge