Qualitative And Quantitative Research Method

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
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QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
Sociologists engage in social research to increase their understanding of the social world
and answer basic questions about the social environment .Research methods are therefore
methods used by sociologist to examine social problems or interesting patterns about the social
world. In order to achieve this objective, sociologists use qualitative and quantitative methods or
research. Qualitative research methods entail the collection and use of non-numerical data while
quantitative research involves the use of numerical data to interpret meaning about social life.
The primary focus of this essay will be the establishing a distinction between qualitative and
quantitative research methods.
The use of quantitative research methods becomes much more appropriate when a
researcher requires factual data to answer a research question. In other words the method
becomes more appropriate when the problem under investigation is alertly known clearly and
without ambiguity (Hammarberg, Kirkman & de Lacey, 2016). Secondly it is also used when a
researcher seeks to find out probability or general information about peoples beliefs or
preferences, views, attitudes or opinions. Thirdly, it is also more appropriate in situations where
variables can be separated and defined. In other words, the primary goal of using quantitative
methods is to establish the relationship between independent and dependent variables existing
within population (Babbie, 2015).
Through the use of quantitative methods researchers are able to find out important
aspects such as the number or percentage of individuals within a population who support a
particular concept. Additionally, it can also help it can also help in the identification of important
aspects of the population such as support of the concept by percentage, residential area, marital
status and age distribution (Hammarberg, Kirkman & de Lacey, 2016). Quantitative studies

entails the numerical, mathematical, statistical and objective measurements of data collected by
way of surveys, polls or questionnaires (Babbie, 2015). Quantitative analysis may also involve
the manipulation of existing numerical data thorough the use of computational data techniques.
On the other hand, qualitative methods are more appropriate when the researcher is
interested in uncovering trends in opinions and thoughts in a given population. Secondly, it may
also be useful when the researcher is focused on digging deeper into a social problem. It helps to
answer questions such as why, where, when and how about certain social aspects. Qualitative
methods are more applicable in the exploration of processes, designs, ideas which do not require
statistically correct feedback or concrete hypothesis (Allwood, 2012).
In addition, qualitative methods can point out the processes that inform statistical
correlation, assist in the development of intervention to identified problems and demonstrate the
working of the adopted interventions to produce outcomes (Taylor, Bogdan & DeVault, 2015).
Some of the techniques used in qualitative research include focus group discussions, interviews,
direct participation or observation.
A number of ethical issues are involved are involved in both qualitative and quantitative
research. Ethical issues in research refer to situations that necessitate the choice of two
alternatives evaluated as either right or wrong. Social researchers are therefore mandated to act
ethically when dealing with human or animal subjects in research. To start with researchers are
responsible for ensuring that research participants are not harmed by their involvement in the
research. Secondly, research are also required to seek informed from research participants
(Aluwihare-Samaranayake, 2012). This principle mandates the researcher to ensure that the
involvement of individuals in research is voluntary without coercion. It also mandates the
researcher to reveal any relevant information including potential consequences to participants