Differences Between

Quantitative and
Qualitative Research
Learning objectives:

 recognize qualitative research from quantitative research;

 differentiate quantitative from qualitative research;
 detect different researches in various areas of interest; and
 work with flexibility to attain the objectives of this self-
learning module
Clues:
 a. Measurable variables
 b. Come to a conclusion
 c. Mostly inductive reasoning to look for themes and patterns, then deductive reasoning to support
hypothesis
 d. Qualities that cannot easily be quantified
 e. Formulate research question
 f. Hypothesis and parameters set before research begins
 g. Researcher becomes immersed in the research, and reacts subjectively to data
 h. Hypothesis and parameters can emerge in reaction to data as it is collected - not needed to begin
researh
 i. Inductive reasoning only before research begins, then wholly deductive reasoning used to support or
refute hypothesis
 j. Collect Data
Answers:

Qualitative –c,d,h, g
Quantative-a,f, i.
Similarities –b, e, j
 Directions: Read and understand each statement then determine whether
the given data belong to Qualitative or Quantitative type of research. Write
QL if it is Qualitative and QT if Quantitative. Use separate sheet of paper
in answering this activity.
 1. Number of bicycles sold in one year by a large sporting goods store
 2. Colors of baseball caps in a store
 3. Time to cut a lawn
 4. Classification of children in a day-care center (infant, toddler, preschool)
 5. Weights of fish caught in the red sea
 6. Marital status of faculty members in a large university
 Directions: Tell whether the following examples is a Qualitative or a Quantitative type of
research. Write QL if it is Qualitative and QT if Quantitative. Use separate sheet of paper
in asnwering this activity.
 _________ 1. Application Forms
 _________ 2. Closed ended questionnaires
 _________ 3. Diary Accounts
 _________ 4. IQ Tests
 _________ 5. Document Review
 _________ 6. Unstructured interviews
 _________ 7. Measurements
 _________ 8. Unstructured observations
 _________ 9. Open ended questionnaires
 _________ 10. Field notes
 DEFINITION OF QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
 Quantitative research is a type of educational research in which
the researcher decides what to study; asks specific, narrow
questions; collects quantifiable data from participants; analyzes
these numbers using statistics; and conducts the inquiry in an
unbiased, objective manner.
Qualitative research is a type of educational
research in which the researcher relies on the
views of participants; asks broad, general
questions; collects data consisting largely
words (text) from participants; describes and
analyzes these words for themes; and
conducts the inquiry in a subjective, biased
manner.
 Similarities of Quantitative and
Qualitative Research
 You have examined and compared qualitative and quantitative
categories of research. Further, Bechman (2009) identifies the
following commonalities:
 1. Empirical research is aimed at creating new knowledge.
 2. Research creates knowledge by observing phenomena.
3. All the entities of interest like attitudes, motives, and
learning can be inferred from observing what people do or
say in a given setting.
4. All researchers are concerned about the universality of
ideas or expressing an idea in a general statement; that is,
they desire to find meaning for the research results beyond
a particular study.
Directions: Detect whether the following
researches belong to arts, humanities, sports,
science, business, agriculture and fisheries,
information and communication technology,
and social inquiry. Write the correct field of
these researches before the number. Use
separate sheet of paper in doing this activity.
 _________ 1. Promoting Inclusion in a Fitness Center through Non-
Impaired Staff: Creating a Multi-Narrative Environment
 _________ 2. Guest editorial to international conference on advances
in accounting- based valuation
 _________ 3. Farmers' perceptions of yield losses due to insect pests
and methods for assessment in pearl millet -_________ 4.
Broadcasting, Scalability, and Reconfigurability Aspects in an All-
Optical Network Architecture
 _________ 5. An Investigation of how a group of social workers
respond to the cultural needs of black, minority ethnic looked after
children
 _________ 6. ‘Back to the future’: the impact of political ideology on the
design and implementation of geography in the National Curriculum
 _________ 7. Using arts to enhance mental healthcare environments:
Findings from qualitative research
 _________8. Parallels of Lived Experiences in Learning: A Scientist
Learning Qualitative Research and Nurses Learning Science
 _________
9. Profiling an Open Source Project Ecology and Its
Programmers
 _________ 10. Strepsiptera parasites- novel biocontrol tools for oil palm
integrated pest management in Papua New Guinea
 _________ 1. Promoting Inclusion in a Fitness Center through Non-
Impaired Staff: Creating a Multi-Narrative Environment - Sports
 _________ 2. Guest editorial to international conference on advances
in accounting- based valuation - Business
 _________3. Farmers' perceptions of yield losses due to insect pests
and methods for assessment in pearl millet -Agriculture & Fisheries
 _________ 4. Broadcasting, Scalability, and Reconfigurability
Aspects in an All- Optical Network Architecture –ICT
 _________ 5. An Investigation of how a group of social workers
respond to the cultural needs of black, minority ethnic looked after
children – Social Inquiry
 _________ 6. ‘Back to the future’: the impact of political ideology on the
design and implementation of geography in the National Curriculum -
humanities
 _________ 7. Using arts to enhance mental healthcare environments:
Findings from qualitative research –arts
 _________8. Parallels of Lived Experiences in Learning: A Scientist
Learning Qualitative Research and Nurses Learning Science –science
 _________
9. Profiling an Open Source Project Ecology and Its
Programmers –Business
 _________ 10. Strepsiptera parasites- novel biocontrol tools for oil palm
integrated pest management in Papua New Guinea –Agriculture
 1. Sports
 2. Business
 3. Agriculture & Fisheries
 4. ICT
 5. Social Inquiry
 6. Humanities
 7. Arts
 8. Science
 9. Business
 10. Agriculture & Fisheries