QUALITATIVE AND

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
DEFINITIONS:
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

A type of educational research in which the

researcher decides what to study, asks specific,
narrow questions, collect numeric (numbered)
data from participants, analyzes these numbers
using statistics, and conducts the inquiry in an
unbiased, objective manner.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

A type of educational research in which the

researcher relies on the views of participants,
asks broad, general questions, collects data
consisting largely of words (or text) from
participants, describes and analyzes these
words for themes, and conducts the inquiry in a
subjective, biased manner.
CHARACTERISTICS:
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Ask specific narrow Qs.

Collects data from participants.
Analyzes numbers using statistics.
Conducts the inquiry in unbiased, objective
manner.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Ask broad, general Qs.

Collecting data consisting largely of words (text)
or image (picture).
Descriptions and analysis of words for themes.
Conducts inquiry in subjective, biased manner.