Different Kinds of Research Approaches

There are three research approaches I have searched though some web sources
claimed that there are four. These three approaches are qualitative, quantitative, and mixed
methods.
In terms of how the first two analyzed the collected data, Creswell (2013) stated that
qualitative tends to use words while quantitative uses numbers. By qualitative tends to use
words, it means that it is more descriptive compared to quantitative which leans more into
numeric data. In other words, qualitative employs text and image analysis while statistical
analysis for quantitative. As for mixed research it uses both.
He further added that qualitative research uses open-ended questions while
quantitative research uses closed-ended questions (instrument-based questions). And for
mixed, it used both type of analyses (John W. Creswell, 2013).
In terms of strategies of inquiry employed, Creswell (2013) mentioned that case
studies and narrative are under qualitative. On the other hand, surveys and experiments are
under quantitative. Sequential, concurrent, and transformative methods are under mixed.

Reference
John W. Creswell. (2013). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approaches (4th ed.). New York: Sage Publications, Inc.