Qualitative vs.

Quantitative
QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

Hypothesis: All beans Question: What is a

are alike. bean? What does it
NULL: No beans are mean to be a bean?
different. Method: Examine
Method: Count the beanness in the
beans. field.
 Variety of qualitative methods
Case study (of 1 or more individuals)
Ethnography (study of cultural groups)
Phenomenology (individual point of view)
Grounded theory (link data to theory)
Action research
Historical analysis
Distinguishing Characteristics of
Quantitative and Qualitative
Research
 Purpose
QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

to explain and predict to describe and explain

to test, confirm, and to explore and
validate theory interpret
to build theory
 Research Process
QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE
focused holistic approach
deals with known unknown variables
variables flexible guidelines
uses established emergent design;
guidelines context-bound;
static designs; context- subjective
free; objective
 Form of Reasoning
QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

deductive analysis inductive analysis

from general case from specific

(theory) to specific situation to general
situations. case.
 Description of findings
QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

Numerical data Narrative description

Statistics Words, quotes

Formal and scientific Personal voice;

literary style
Which approach to educational
research should you use?
 Do you believe that...
There is an objective There are multiple,
reality that can be constructed realities
measured? that defy easy
measurement or
If so, use Quantitative categorization?
research.
If so, use Qualitative
research?
 Is your research question...
Confirmatory or Exploratory or
predictive in nature? interpretive in nature?

If so, use Quantitative If so, use Qualitative

research. research.
 Is the available research
literature...
Relatively large? Limited or non-
existent?

If so, use Quantitative If so, use Qualitative

research. research.
 Do you have skills in...
Statistics and Inductive reasoning,
deductive reasoning, attentiveness to detail,
and able to write in a and able to write in a
technical and scientific more literary, narrative
style? style?

If so, use Quantitative If so, use Qualitative

research. research.
Choosing the right method
Different research methods are
appropriate for different research
questions. No single approach is best
for all the questions that can be asked
regarding any particular behavioral
phenomenon.
 What leads some students to be more
successful readers than other students?
Can I predict who is likely to have reading
difficulties? (Correlation/regression)
What is the best method of teaching reading?
(Experiment)
What are the norms for a population for the
development of reading skill? (Descriptive)
What are the conditions of reading instruction
and learning in todays classrooms?
(Qualitative)