Comparative Study of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

This report provides a comparative analysis of qualitative and quantitative research methods. It highlights the key differences between these approaches, including their philosophical underpinnings, data collection techniques, and analysis methods. The report discusses the use of deductive and inductive approaches, and the application of quantitative research in descriptive, comparative, quasi-experimental, and experimental designs. The qualitative research is explored with its use of grounded theory, phenomenological and ethnographic design. The report also mentions the use of numbers to generalize the findings. The report references several studies and articles to support its arguments and provide a comprehensive overview of the two research methodologies. This document is available on Desklib, a platform that provides AI-based study tools and past assignments for students.

Running head: COMPERATIVE STUDY
Comparative Study Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research
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Author Note

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COMPERATIVE STUDY
Evidence based research environment is mainly focused on the quantitative research
designs. Quantitative research design is regarded as a hard form of explanatory science that
has certain objectives along with reductionist focus. Quantitative research mainly follows
logical reasoning structure as followed in deductive research approach (Serafini, Lake &
Long, 2015). While citing deductive approach, it makes use of the instrumentation to test
theory in order to describe the phenomenon of interest while explaining the relationships
between the variables and predicting the cause of effect. One of the striking approach of
quantitative research is it makes use of numbers to generalize the findings. Quantitative
research design includes descriptive style design, comparative design, quasi-experimental
design, experimental design or co-relational design (Prion & Adamson, 2013; Brannen,
2017).
Qualitative research is considered to be soft science that has a boarder perspective
along with interpretative focus. Qualitative research generally flows via citing inductive
research approach. The main basic of qualitative research is not numeral, it uses observation
and communication in order to discover the meaning and to develop the research theory as
well as interpret the phenomenon. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research makes
use of the words to interpret the findings and is not generalized in nature. Qualitative research
makes use of a variety of research approach like grounded theory, phenomenological and
ethnographic design. Here phenomenology uses lived experience and grounded theory
generates theory based on the phenomenon of interest. Ethnography bestows a proper study
of culture while addressing the change (Prion & Adamson, 2014; Brannen, 2017).

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COMPERATIVE STUDY
References
Brannen, J. (Ed.). (2017). Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Prion, S., & Adamson, K. A. (2013). Making sense of methods and measurement: Levels of
measurement for quantitative research. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 9(1), e35–e36.
Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2012.10.001.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876139912003441)
Prion, S., & Adamson, K. A. (2014). Making sense of methods and measurement: Rigor in
qualitative research. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 10(2), e107–e108. Retrieved
from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2013.05.003.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876139913001072)
Serafini, E. J., Lake, J. B., & Long, M. H. (2015). Needs analysis for specialized learner
populations: Essential methodological improvements. English for Specific
Purposes, 40, 11-26.