In today’s lesson we are going to identify and understand the differences between the Quantitative and Qualitative

research designs. It is important for a student-researcher like you to know which of these approaches is the most
appropriate for your study by learning the fundamental characteristics of each design.

To come up with good research, a good research design is needed. The type of research would depend on the
purpose of writing the research.

There are two broad categories of research methodology: QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH.
The research method determines the approach the researcher takes in identifying relevant data for the research and
collecting and analyzing the information gathered in the research.

Choosing either a quantitative or qualitative approach will affect the components of the research. For instance, a
researcher may choose to undertake scientific research. If he or she takes a qualitative approach, the goal of the
study will be to discuss and analyze the underlying concepts and theories related to the research topic. If the
researcher chooses a quantitative approach, he or she will use statistical data to provide an explanation of the
phenomenon. Now, let us understand the two main categories of research design.

Polit and Beck (2004) define quantitative research as “the traditional positivist scientific method which
refers to a general set of orderly, disciplined procedures to acquire information.” In their book, Nursing Research
Principles and Methods, they explain that the research method utilizes deductive reasoning to generate predictions
that are tested in the real world. It is systematic since the researcher progresses logically through a series of steps,
according to a pre specified plan of action.

 Quantitative research is “explaining phenomenon by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using
mathematically based methods (in particular statistics).” (Aliaga and Gunderson, 2005; Skills
YouNeed.com, 2017) This design is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or
data that can be transformed into usable statistics. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors and
other defined variables – and generalize results from a larger sample population.
 In addition, quantitative approach uses measurable data to formulate facts and uncover patterns in research.
The quantitative data collection methods are much more structured than qualitative data collection
methods. Quantitative data collection methods include various forms of surveys – online surveys, paper
surveys, mobile surveys and kiosk surveys, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, longitudinal
studies, website interceptors, online polls and systematic observations. (Wyse, 2011) However, this design
has its disadvantages as well.

 Quantitative is considered to be limiting when it comes to studying the complex and diverse minds of
human beings. This is because this approach can only explain a small fraction of the human experience
(e.g., behavioral impulses and varying personal preferences). In quantitative research, these human
complexities are usually controlled or removed entirely instead of being analyzed. The inflexible and
narrow vision of quantitative research tends to present the human experience in a restricted manner.