Qualitative versus Quantitative research methods

THE BERKSHIRE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SUSTAINABILITY: MEASUREMENTS, INDICATORS, AND RESEARCH METHODS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, 2012

In general terms, quantitative research methods involve measurements while qualitative methods address questions of how and why. Both methods have strengths and weaknesses, and different disciplines prefer one to the other. As rigorous mixed-methods studies become increasingly valuable in sustainability research—where facts often are uncertain, values are in dispute, stakes are high, and decisions are urgent—scholars must be trained to develop an acute awareness of the possibilities and limitations of qualitative and quantitative methods.

As outlined in the previous chapter, the AIMS/SEEP approach to impact assessment by and for practitioners combines quantitative and qualitative techniques. The Impact Survey and Client Exit Survey are categorized as quantitative tools because they collect standardized information by asking exactly the same questions to clients and organizing their answers into quantifiable response categories. The individual Loan Use Strategies Over Time and Client Empowerment interviews and the Client Satisfaction focus group discussions are qualitative instruments that gather more detailed information through a more flexible, in-depth dialogue with clients. AIMS believes that these two categories of tools are complementary, each providing different types of information that enable evaluators to gain a more complete, richer picture of impact than would be possible with only one.

Quantitative research methods are research methods dealing with numbers and anything that is measurable in a systematic way of investigation of phenomena and their relationships . It is used to answer questions on relationships within measurable variables with an intention to explain, predict and control a phenomena (Leedy 1993).

Indian journal of …, 2000

Quantitative methods have been widely used because of the fact that things that can be measured or counted gain scientific credibility over the unmeasurable. But the extent of biological abnormality, severity, consequences and the impact of illness cannot be satisfactorily captured and answered by the quantitative research alone. In such situations qualitative methods take a holistic perspective preserving the complexities of human behavior by addressing the "why" and "how" questions. In this paper an attempt has been made to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of both the methods and also that a balanced mix of both qualitative as well as quantitative methods yield the most valid and reliable results.

Qualitative Methods provides a fitting occasion to reflect on this branch of methodology.1 Given that the other APSA organized section concerned with methodology2 is centrally fo-cused on quantitative methods, the additional issue arises of the relationship between the qualitative and quantitative traditions. Adopting a pragmatic approach to choices about concepts (Collier and Adcock 1999), we believe that the task here is not to seek the "true" meaning of the qualitative-quantitative distinction. Rather, the challenge is to use this distinction to focus on similarities and contrasts in research practices that pro

Quantitative research is a more consistent, coherent and data-resulted means of arriving in measuring of what people think from a statistical point of view. Quantitative research can gather prominent amount of data can easily be arranged and controlled into reports for analysis. In quantitative research, numerical data are gathered and mathematical based methods are used for analysis Quantitative research is basically about gathering numerical data to explicate a development especially that needs prompt answers using quantitative methods. It is used to measure mental outlook, beliefs, demeanors, and other defined variables that can be used to generalized results from prominent sample populations Quantitative research pertains to taxonomical of practical thorough check of social developments by the way of statistical, mathematical or computational proficiencies. Quantitative research data are gathered by surveys, audits, purchase points and so on. Quantitative research is quantifiable data to develop the truth or facts and reveal practices in research