Qualitative Versus Quantitative

soft Versus numeric search There has been a large amount of interlinking discussion and argument surrounding the topic of interrogation methodology and the hypothesis of how studies should push forward. Majority of this debate has centered on the issue of qualitative versus duodecimal study. Different methods become popular at different social, political, diachronic and cultural times in our development, and, both methods stick their strengths and weaknesses. The researcher and/or the culture of the organization is a key factor in favored choice of methods. entropy can be quantitative or qualitative. three-figure data answer questions like how many? or how frequently, and be measurable/reported on a numerical scale, permitting categorization of pooled data, numerical reporting, statistical analysis and mathematical modeling. qualitative data are non-numerical. Qualitative research seeks to analyze verbal discourse through interviews, written documents, or participato ry field observations. This paper will break down both qualitative and quantitative methods individually to explain each one in depth.Also a chart will be included to empathize and see the features of each side by side. In conclusion of the paper will be an ex vitamin Ale of both methods being utilise to make how women felt round shopping at QuickStop stores and why. As researchers Ulin, Robinson, and Tolley (2006) have explained, three most special K qualitative methods are player observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups (p. 2. * Participant observation is conquer for collecting data on naturally occurring behaviors in their usual contexts. In depth interviews are optimal for collecting data on individuals ad hominem histories, perspectives, and experiences, particularly when sensitive topics are being explored. * Focus groups are in effect(p) in eliciting data on the cultural norms of a group and in generating broad overviews of issues of concern to the cultural groups or subgroups represented. Qualitative methods are typically much flexible and allow more interaction among the researcher and the study participant.For example, qualitative methods, ask mostly open-ended questions that are not necessarily worded in exactly the same way with each participant. In regards to open-ended questions, participants are free to respond in their own wrangle rather than simply yes or no. Also in qualitative methods, the relationship between the researcher and the participant is often less clod than in quantitative research. Participants have the opportunity to respond more in an elaborate way and in greater detail than is typically the case with quantitative methods.Open-ended questions have the ability to provide responses that are * Meaningful and culturally salient to the participant * Unanticipated by the researcher * Rich and explanatory in temperament The three most common take in methods in qualitative research purposive sampling, quota sam pling, and snowball sampling. Purposive sampling, one of the most common sampling strategies, groups participants according to preselected criteria relevant to a particular research question. In quota sampling, fleck designing the study how many pile with characteristics to include as participants.The criteria used is to focus on people that we think would be most credibly to experience, bop about, or have insights into the research topic. A third fiber of sampling, snowballing also known as chain referral sampling. In this method, participants with whom contact has already been made use their social networks to refer the researcher to separate people who could potentially participate in or contribute to the study. According to Carroll (2010), qualitative studies frequently use primary data (e. g. interviews), others involve analysis of media reports and other secondary data sources. For example, community attitudes about road safety exponent be explored through interviews (p rimary data) or by analyzing newspaper articles on rights of bicyclists (secondary data). (pg. 3480). Quantitative research can be defined as a representation for testing objective theories by examing the relationship among variables. The variables will then be measured, typically on instruments, so that numbered data can be analyse using statistical procedures.According to Creswell (2008), the final written report has a stage set structure consisting of introduction, literature and theory, methods, results, and discussion (p. 4). You measure variables on a ingest of subjects, which can be tissues, cells, animals, or humans. You then express the relationship between variable using effect statistics, such as correlations, relative frequencies, or differences between means. Features of Qualitative & Quantitative Research Qualitative Quantitative The aim is complete, detailed description. The aim is to classify features, count them, and construct statistical models in an attemp t to explain what is observed. researcher may only know roughly in advance what he/she is looking for. Researcher knows clear in advance what he/she is looking for. Recommended during earlier phases of research projects. Recommended during latter(prenominal) phases of research projects. The design emerges as the study unfolds. All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected. Researcher is the data fabrication instrument. Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or equipment to collect numerical data. data is in the form of words, pictures or objects. Data is in the form of metrical composition and statistics. Subjective-individuals interpretation of events is important, e. g. , uses participant observation, in-depth interviews etc. Objective seeks precise measurement & analysis of target concepts, e. g. , uses surveys, questionnaires etc. Qualitative data is more enough, time consuming, and less able to be generalized. Quantitative data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, but may miss contextual detail. Researcher tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject matter. Researcher tends to remain objectively separated from the subject matter. (the two quotes are from Miles & Huberman (1994, p. 40). Qualitative Data Analysis) An example with qualitative and quantitative research project was designed to understand how women felt about shopping at QuickStop stores and why. This research project was sinless by Chris Hawkes, a Senior Market Researcher at MarketResearch101. At some point a staff member realized that QuickStop seemed to be patronized by many more men than women.About two twelve current or potential female customers were paid to come into a research facility to discuss the use of gismo stores in general, and later on in the interviews the discussion was directed specifically to QuickStop convenience stores, in particular. Studies showed that women viewed the convenience stores to be primarily for men, with little or no consideration for women. The bathrooms were believed to be the dirtiest that could be found in the city. It was also viewed as the kind of dress for a man to buy gas, and to buy a six-pack of brasslike beer and cigarettes.Once the management group had an understanding of what issues they faced they needed to use quantitative research to get numbers. For the quantitative research they conducted 250 telephone interviews with a conclave of female respondents. Over 76% of all female QuickStop customers were women under 30 years old, without children. The good news is 64% who did not use QuickStop tell that if these stores were to update their color schemes, clean up their bathrooms and update their health and distaff products they would be willing to try QuickStop again.In general when conducting two phases of research its most often the case that the qualitative research phases is conducted first as a lead-in. Qualitative research tends to help the management team understand the underlying issues, and then the second phase (quantitative in this case) helps to understand how pervasive these feelings/attitudes are among a certain target audience. References Carroll, Linda (2010). Levels of Reconstruction as complementarity in Mixed Methods Research A Social Theory-Based conceptual Framework for Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research.International Journal of Environmental Research and general Health. (p. 3480). Creswell, John (2008). Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Research Design, Third Edition. (p. 4). Hawkes, Chris (2011). Retrieved from http//www. streetdirectory. com/travel_guide. Miles & Huberman (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis. Retrieved from http//www. gifted. uconn. edu/siegle/research/Qualitative/qualquan. htm Priscilla, Ulin. , Elizabeth, Robinson. , & Elizabeth, Tolley (2006). Qualitative Research methods A Data Collectors Field Guide. Qualitative Methods in Public Heatlh.