During the whole week, my study group was exploring the qualitative and quantitative research methods. Before we started studying this topic, I had a very abstract picture of both types of approaches. In this regard, I did not even understand the difference between them. However, a detailed study of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research throughout the week helped me to find out their differences as well as learn in details the methods of data collection and analysis, the provision of data, research designs, and other aspects of research activities.
The primary source of information on qualitative and quantitative research methods during this week was the book written by Creswell (2018). In the eighth and ninth chapters of this book, I have read about the main steps in the development of both qualitative and quantitative research methods (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Each of these chapters contains a detailed description of the participants, procedures, analysis, methods, and materials of the two approaches (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). A particularly important discovery for me was the description of survey designs because the majority of online sources provided me just fragmented and unstructured information. As a result, I did not have a clear idea about the creation of design of the study.
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After a week of active study of two approaches to research, I have finally structured in my head the differences between them. Thus, the most popular qualitative methods include focus groups, in-depth interviews, observation, expert interviews, and others (Yilmaz, 2013). On the other hand, common quantitative types of research include face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, online and regular questionnaires, and many others (Yilmaz, 2013).
However, it seems to me that during this week, we have devoted not enough time to study the process of collecting information. In theory, I have realized that in quantitative research, the process of gathering information is strictly formalized and no deviations are allowed (Brannen, 2017). Interviewers have a pre-designed questionnaire, in which all questions should be asked in a strictly defined sequence (Brannen, 2017). Moreover, during the survey, it is not allowed to reformulate the questions in other words or add any explanation if they are not given in the instructions (Brannen, 2017). However, the process of the collection of information in qualitative research raises some questions. I have found out that the moderator has a certain guide or conversation script, which can be adjusted depending on the received information (for example, during the interview, new questions may arise) (Brannen, 2017). The sequence of questions may also vary according to the situation. It seems to me that such freedom of action when collecting qualitative information can be misleading for the respondents.
I have also learnt that in the qualitative and quantitative approaches, the analysis and provision of the results of survey differ significantly. As an illustration, in a quantitative research report, data are most often presented in the form of graphs, charts, and tables indicating the percentage of respondents, and statistical methods are used to analyze the data (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). On the contrary, in the report of the qualitative research, the customer will see not the percentages and numerical values, but the semantic analysis of people's opinions (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). In case of the opposing points of view of the target audience, the researchers use the terms “majority/minority/some”, “more/less” and others. In addition, in the qualitative report, the conclusions are confirmed by quotations of the research participants in contrast to the quantitative approach.
Consequently, this week brought me a lot of useful information about qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as their differences. Given the characteristics of both methods, I prefer quantitative ones, since they are more objective and representative. However, after a week of active study and structuration of information about these two types of research methods, I can practically apply both of them without fear of making a mistake.
References
Brannen, J. (2017). Mixing Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Research . Routledge.
Creswell, J., & Creswell, J. (2018). Research Design . SAGE Publishing.
Yilmaz, K. (2013). Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Traditions: epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences. European Journal of Education , 48 (2), 311-325. doi: 10.1111/ejed.12014
