Psychology

There are two major types of research methods that a researcher can employ. These are the quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative approach to the exploration for answers to our many questions will lead us to a hypothesis-testing research, while qualitative approach to gaining new knowledge and insights leads to a hypothesis-generating research. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are imperative in the development of knowledge and theories in all aspects of endeavors. These two types of research are usually overlapping and are often used as complementary methods in order for researchers to gain a much clearer view of certain phenomena that they want to work on. Though researchers can use these two approaches in their fields of study, both of these research types have its own predominant characteristics that require different procedures, skills and methods. Several criteria were used to clearly differentiate quantitative and qualitative research. These are underlying philosophical assumptions, sampling approaches, data collection strategies, data analysis procedures, and conclusions from data. These criteria are fundamental in spelling-out the conditions under which quantitative and qualitative research designs are appropriate research strategies.

Common notion of quantitative research design speaks about research that deals with numbers while qualitative research design primarily involves words to describe certain phenomena. However, there definitions are too simplistic, brief and cannot capture the essence of the two types of research. In reality, quantitative and qualitative research designs are based on varying assumptions and differ about the purpose of the research itself. They also have varying methods that researchers utilize, different role for researchers, different possible degree for drawing out conclusions.

For the purpose of generating a clear understanding about the two designs, quantitative and qualitative researches are defined by Payne and Payne (2004), as follows
Quantitative research is a method that seeks regularities in human lives, by separating the social world into empirical components called variables which can be represented numerically as frequencies orate, whose associations with each other can be explored by statistical techniques, and assessed through researcher-introduced stimuli and systematic measurement (p. 80).

In other words, quantitative research according to postmodernist researchers is a traditional type of research that covers wide range of researches that treats actions and phenomena as variables that can be measures, altered and represented by numbers through the injection of stimuli along the process of collecting data.

Qualitative research on the other hand gives detailed descriptions on actions that that cannot be depicted in statistical variables. Rather, qualitative research seeks to interpret the meanings that people associate to their actions. Actions, in the context of qualitative research are happenings or phenomena that are part of the whole social process and not just something that is isolated or independent on us. In other words, qualitative research gives importance to peoples daily experiences and events in their lives. To put it simply, Payne and Payne (2004) defined qualitative research as researches that
produce detailed and non-quantitative accounts of small groups, seeking to interpret the meanings people make of their lives in natural settings, on the assumption that social interactions form an integral set of relationships best understood by inductive procedures (p. 175).

Underlying Philosophical Assumptions
There are major distinguishable differences between quantitative and qualitative researches. One of which is the underlying philosophical assumptions that says something about the foundational belief system of the two types of researches. These philosophical assumptions are sometimes referred to as paradigms or worldviews that form the basis to the approaches being employed by the two researches. According to Fraenkel and Wallen (2007), philosophical assumptions are set of beliefs that guide the way researchers approach their investigation. These assumptions are related to the views they hold concerning nature of reality, the relationship of the researcher to that which he or she is studying, the role of values in a study, and the process of the research itself (p. 431).

Four major differences were explained by Kerlinger and Lee (2000) with regards to the philosophical baseline of quantitative and qualitative research. For one, quantitative research has its roots on post-positivist traditions whose premise constitutes physical objects and processes, while qualitative research emanates from aspects of phenomenological nature that puts emphasis on internal events, mental processes and natural circumstances as the basic unit of existence. Second, quantitative research emphasized on the assumption that knowledge can come from the observations done in the physical world while qualitative research argues that knowledge can be constructed actively through the examination of peoples internal constructs. Kerlinger and Lee (2000) added further explained the third and fourth difference stating as follows

Third, quantitative researchers makes inferences based on direct observations or derivatives of the direct observations, while qualitative researchers relies on outside observational schemes and tries to keep intact the participants perspectives. And fourth, the goal of quantitative research is to describe cause and effect while qualitative research attempts to describe the ways that people assign meaning to behavior (p. 590).

Sampling Approaches
Both quantitative and qualitative researches need sample of people to be the subject or partners for the research. The main difference between the two in sampling approaches is seen on the manner by which data are used or needed. Quantitative researches often use less detail compared to that of qualitative research. In other words, accurate counts are already being determined at the beginning of the research process as this would be the basis for generalized explanation. Qualitative research on the other hand uses highly detailed, sophisticated descriptions and interpretive data for study. For qualitative research, sample size is not crucial.

Data Collection Strategies
Quantitative research put emphasis on the need for numerical data as these can be counted, measured and separated into variables. Collection of numerical data is usually systematic, repeated and controlled. Babbie (2001) explained that numerical data is integral in the conduct of a quantitative research as it concerns itself of counting how frequent certain phenomenon happens. These numerical data can be obtained by employing surveys, sampling methods, and hypothesis and then summarized in tables and graphs.

Qualitative research on the other hand needs data that are not derived from statistical methods and measurements. Strauss and Corbin (2001) explained that qualitative research is about the lived reality of the peoples, daily experiences, emotions, social interactions and social movements among other. Thus, it is not defined by numbers and statistics. Given the nature of qualitative research, it would employ flexible, detailed and naturalistic data derived from grounded theory, community studies and immersions, ethnography, field work and documentaries.

Data Analysis Procedures.  Both types of researches require interpretation of data. Distinction between the analysis is based on the data gathered which is either numerical or descriptive. Neuman (2006) explained the difference between data analysis procedure of quantitative and qualitative researches, stating that

Quantitative data analysis typically involves manipulating the data or numbers using computer software to create many charts, tables, graphs and statistics that provides the researcher with a condensed picture of the data. The researcher then has to give meaning or interpret the data. By looking at the analyzed data, using background knowledge on the research topic and question, and drawing on theory, a researcher answers the original research question (p. 14).

Neuman (2004) added that qualitative research on the other hand, involves a highly self-aware acknowledgement of social self, or of the researchers position on the society. The qualitative researcher is likely to collect, analyze and interpret data simultaneously, going back and forth between these steps (p. 15).

CONCLUSIONS FROM DATA
Both quantitative and qualitative researches will always end up with a conclusion. Quantitative researches stress the process of undergoing a deductive logic to arrive at or come up with a conclusion. In quantitative research, knowledge is derived through an emphasis on detachment of the researcher to the research subject. This is known as the principle of objectivity. There is also an absence of bias or in other words, researchers values and opinions are not incorporated or considered in the conclusion. Often, components of quantitative designs include standard measurement of variables, controlled situations and complex analysis of statistical data to come up with conclusions. Qualitative researches conclusions on the other hand, are often and admittedly subjective, detailed and specific. It uses inductive reasoning or logic to arrive at conclusions. A qualitative researcher does not test hypothesis, rather, he or she produces hypothesis as new data are collected and analyzed.

Qualitative research design seeks to arrive at conclusions that would express human experiences from the perspectives of those who experience such realities and circumstances.