Name : Ahmad Ramli

Matric number: 2131623060

Assignment 4

“Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, and discuss the
advantages and disadvantages of the two methods”

1. Definitions of Quantitative and Qualitatative Analysis Methods

a. Quantitative Analysis Method

In general, the type of research is based on the perspective of research ethics and the
mindset that underlies a conceptual model. Research itself is a way to get the truth of data on
natural phenomena, society, or humanity. With a goal, through a way that can get something
that is expected. The analysis method of process is actually divided into two ways which are
quantitative and qualitative.
This type of quantitative research is a method that is carried out based on the positivism
paradigm with the final result in the form of generalizations. (Yilmaz, K., 2013) stated that
quantitative analysis method can be defined as a research that explains phenomena according
to numerical data which are analysed by means of mathematically based methods, especially
statistics. From a broader perspective, it can be defined as a type of empirical research into a
social phenomenon or human problems, testing a theory consisting of variables which are
measured with numbers and analysed with statistics in order to determine if the theory
explains or predicts phenomena of interest.
This type of quantitative research has a specific study, detailed, and static. The flow of
quantitative research itself has been planned from the beginning and usually cannot be
changed anymore. (Pole, 2007) Data gathered through quantitative methods has sometimes
been described as more objective and accurate because it is collected using standardized
methods, can be replicated, and analysed using statistical procedures.
The quantitative method is divided into two statistical methods which are descriptive and
inferential. Descriptive statistics describe a sample. That’s pretty straightforward. You simply
take a group that you’re interested in, record data about the group members, and then use
summary statistics and graphs to present the group properties. With descriptive statistics,
there is no uncertainty because you are describing only the people or items that you actually
measure. You’re not trying to infer properties about a larger population (van Elst, 2013). The
process involves taking a potentially large number of data points in the sample and reducing
them down to a few meaningful summary values and graphs. This procedure allows us to
gain more insights and visualize the data than simply pouring through row upon row of raw
numbers.
The common statistical analysis used for descriptive method are stated below:
 Central tendency: Use the mean or the median to locate the centre of the dataset. This
measure tells you where most values fall.
 Dispersion: How far out from the centre do the data extend? You can use the range or
standard deviation to measure the dispersion. A low dispersion indicates that the
values cluster more tightly around the centre. Higher dispersion signifies that data
points fall further away from the centre. We can also graph the frequency distribution.
 Skewness: The measure tells you whether the distribution of values is symmetric or
skewed.
We can present this summary information using both numbers and graphs. These are the
standard descriptive statistics, but there are other descriptive analyses you can perform, such
as assessing the relationships of paired data using correlation and scatterplots.

In the other way, Inferential statistics takes data from a sample and makes inferences
about the larger population from which the sample was drawn. Because the goal of inferential
statistics is to draw conclusions from a sample and generalize them to a population, we need
to have confidence that our sample accurately reflects the population. This requirement
affects our process. At a broad level, we must do the following:
 Define the population we are studying.
 Draw a representative sample from that population.
 Use analyses that incorporate the sampling error.
We don’t get to pick a convenient group. Instead, random sampling allows us to have
confidence that the sample represents the population. This process is a primary method for
obtaining samples that mirrors the population on average. Random sampling produces
statistics, such as the mean, that do not tend to be too high or too low. Using a random
sample, we can generalize from the sample to the broader population. Unfortunately,
gathering a truly random sample can be a complicated process. The analysis method that can
be used for inferential method are as the following:
  Hypothesis tests
Hypothesis tests use sample data answer questions like the following:
1. Is the population mean greater than or less than a particular value?
2. Are the means of two or more populations different from each other?
 Confidence intervals (CIs)
In inferential statistics, a primary goal is to estimate population parameters. These
parameters are the unknown values for the entire population, such as the population mean and
standard deviation. These parameter values are not only unknown but almost always
unknowable. Typically, it’s impossible to measure an entire population. The sampling error I
mentioned earlier produces uncertainty, or a margin of error, around our estimates.
 Regression analysis
Regression analysis describes the relationship between a set of independent variables and
a dependent variable. This analysis incorporates hypothesis tests that help determine whether
the relationships observed in the sample data actually exist in the population.

Quantitative

Descriptive: Inferential :
1. Central tendency 1. Hypothesis test
2. Dispersion 2. Confident interval
3. Skewness 3. Regression

b. Qualitative Analysis Method.

In contrast to the type of quantitative research, this type of qualitative research is carried
out based on the phenomenological/natural inquiry paradigm, using qualitative methods and
qualitative analysis, with the final result in the form of a description/explanation. This
research method focuses on understanding social phenomena that occur in society.
Researchers use the perspective of the participants as an illustration in obtaining research
results. Examples of qualitative research include narrative, phenomenological, grounded,
ethnographic, and case studies methods. (Babu et al., 2013) stated that Qualitative research
focuses in understanding a research query as a humanistic or idealistic approach. Though
quantitative approach is a more reliable method as it is based upon numeric and methods that
can be made objectively and propagated by other researchers. Qualitative method is used to
understand people’s beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behavior, and interactions. It generates
non-numerical data. The integration of qualitative research into intervention studies is a
research strategy that is gaining increased attention across disciplines. Although once viewed
as philosophically incongruent with experimental research, qualitative research is now
recognized for its ability to add a new dimension to interventional studies that cannot be
obtained through measurement of variables alone.

2. The Difference Between Quantitative and Qualitative.

In order to simplify the basic different between quantitative research and qualitative,
(Ahmad et al., 2019) provided the simple table below:

Table 1. Comparison Chart

comparison Qualitative Research Quantitative Research
Meaning Qualitative research is a method of Quantitative research is a research
inquiry that develops understanding on method that is used to generate numerical
human and social sciences, to find the data and hard facts, by employing
way people think and feel. statistical, logical and mathematical
technique.
Nature Holistic Particularistic

Approach Subjective Objective

Research Exploratory Conclusive

type
Reasoning Inductive Deductive
Sampling Purposive
Data Verbal Measurable
Inquiry Process-oriented Result-oriented
Hypothesis Generated Tested
Elements Words, pictures and objects Numerical data
Objective To explore and discover ideas used in To examine cause and effect relationship
the ongoing processes. Among variables.
Methods Non-structured techniques like In- Structured techniques such as surveys,
depth interviews, group discussions questionnaires and observations.
 etc.
Result Develops initial understanding Recommends final course of action

3. Advantages and Disadvantages.

After looking at the differences between quantitative and qualitative analysis, we can
easily see what are the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods. Table below will
summarize the advantages and disanvantages of them:

Table 2. Advantages And Disadvantages of quantitative method

Advantages Disadvantages
Particular problem or topic issued Limited application of the solution
Non-bias study Little developing analysis
Measurable data Need error state
More reliable data and result Complicated tools and analysis instrument
Prepared design Limited additional search

Table 2. Advantages And Disadvantages of quantitative method

Advantages Disadvantages
general topic issued many applications of the solution
Flexible study Bias study
Simple in data collections More doubt
Post analysis available Unprepared
Finding a theory Short term theory findings

REFERENCEES

Ahmad, S., Wasim, S., Irfan, S., Gogoi, S., Srivastava, A., & Farheen, Z. (2019). Qualitative
v/s. Quantitative Research- A Summarized Review. Journal of Evidence Based
 Medicine and Healthcare, 6(43), 2828–2832. https://doi.org/10.18410/jebmh/2019/587

Babu, A., Maiya, A., Shah, P., & Veluswamy, S. (2013). Clinical trial registration in
physiotherapy research. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 4(3), 191.
https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-3485.115387

Pole, K. (2007). Mixed method designs: A review of strategies for blending quantitative and
qualitative methodologies. Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 20(4), 35–38.

van Elst, H. (2013). Foundations of Descriptive and Inferential Statistics. September.

https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.2112.3044

Yilmaz, K. (2013). Comparison of quantitative and qualitative research traditions:

{Epistemological}, theoretical, and methodological differences. European Journal of
Education, 48(2), 311–325.