A Detailed Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

This essay provides a detailed comparison between qualitative and quantitative research methods, highlighting their distinct approaches and applications in sociological research. It begins by defining both methods: qualitative research, which uses non-numerical data to explore trends and opinions, and quantitative research, which employs numerical data for statistical analysis and establishing relationships between variables. The essay further explores the contexts in which each method is most appropriate, such as when seeking in-depth understanding versus when needing to quantify data or generalize findings. It then delves into sampling techniques, contrasting probability sampling used in quantitative research with non-probability sampling used in qualitative research, and discusses ethical considerations relevant to both methodologies. Finally, the essay examines the advantages and limitations of each method, emphasizing the importance of choosing the appropriate approach based on research objectives. The essay draws on various sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive overview of the two research methods.

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

before the research. Thirdly, respect to anonymity and privacy is also a key ethical issue in
research. This obligates the researcher to ensure conceal the identity of research participant
where need. It also advocates for the freedom of participants to share or withhold information
according to their wish and prohibits the researcher from sharing the information with
unauthorized persons. The researcher is also expected to observe honesty and integrity when
conducting social research as well as in the process of presenting the findings (Turner & Webb,
2014).
Sampling is an important process in qualitative and quantitative research. It refers to the
process through which the individuals or items used in research are selected from the wider
population or group. With the extensive nature of social research, it is literally impossible to
study an entire population. This aspect makes sampling technique to be widely used in social
research (Gentles, Charles, Ploeg & McKibbon, 2015).
Typically qualitative research entails the use of non-probability sampling technique.
Nonprobability sampling refers to a situation whereby the likelihood of an individual to be
selected as part of the research sample is not known (Gentles, Charles, Ploeg & McKibbon,
2015). In non-probability sampling a researcher may use a purpose sample where selection is
based on possession of characteristics desired by the researcher. Additionally, they may also use
quota sampling through identification of important categories for the study. Thirdly they may
also use snowball sampling technique whereby the researcher identifies two research participants
and uses them to identify the rest of the participants (Gentles, Charles, Ploeg & McKibbon,
2015).
On the other hand, researchers use probability sampling in quantitative research.
Probability sampling technique is a sampling technique in which the likelihood of being selected

as part of a study sample is already known. A wide range of techniques are used in probability
sampling. These include simple random sampling whereby the researcher prepares a sampling
frame and randomly selects elements from which data will be collected. The researcher may also
use stratified sampling technique whereby the study population is divided into subgroups and a
sample drawn from each group. Other techniques include cluster sampling and systematic
sampling. Finally convenient sampling is also widely used in both qualitative and quantitative
research. Through this technique, the researcher collets data from those that he can access
conveniently (Polit & Beck, 2010).
Qualitative and quantitative methods have both limitations and advantages. Some of the
advantages of quantitative research include the fact that it can be checked and tested. It also
provided a way of analyzing data in a straightforward manner. It can however be misleading
where people assume it to be more credible because it uses statistics. On the other hand,
qualitative methods can capture changing attitudes within the study population, is more flexible
and can explain concepts not explainable through numbers. On the negative side, it is
characterized with issues such as sample bias, self-selection bias (Choy, 2014).
The approach used by researchers may differ between qualitative and quantitative
research. For example the primary focus of quantitative research is on collection of numerical
data, simplifying it to elucidate an existing phenomena or make it easily understandable by
groups of individuals. Quantitative studies largely make use of experimental or descriptive
research designs (Babbie, 2015). Experimental research design is used where subjects are
measured before and after treatment while descriptive research design involves the measurement
of subjects only once. Therefore, while a descriptive is concerned with the relationship existing
between variables, experimental study design seeks to find out causality (Babbie, 2015).On the

other hand, qualitative research focuses on the collection of non-numerical data. In other words,
it seeks to understand social aspects about a targeted population through the analysis and
interpretation of non-numerical data. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research makes use
of case study, grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology research designs. Additionally,
qualitative researchers collect data through the use of their eyes intelligence and ears
(Grossoehme, 2014).

References
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