Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative research. Discuss areas of disagreement.

REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE’S RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTION AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 150 WORDS) 

Quantitative research is more scientifically done, and it is more of a controlled process. This form has been around for a long time and is typically the more trusted form of research. These are specific and standardized ways to perform survey’s, data collection, tests, interviews. This form of research involves usually only two variables. The researcher does their best to not influence the process as this will contaminate the findings. This form is used to find a relationship or correlation between 2 variables meaning, “how does more variable cause another to change.” When interviewing, surveying, or having participants take tests this process involves using closed ended questions, multiple choice and using the Likert way setting up these inquiries. The researcher in quantitative research must find many previous studies related to the subject and uses sources professional peer reviewed articles and journals. This form uses scientific method and formulas to find correlation.

Qualitative: In general, I feel that this form of research is (for myself) easier to understand. Meaning that this form uses a “real life” approach to it. It is typically in the past not known for its validity. Researchers in qualitative are very much a part of the whole process. They use self-reflection, personal experiences, and in general the role the researcher affects a large part of the design, participants, and the outcomes. Using a deductive method for understanding data, they go back and forth between findings to try and put together correlations. Researchers often in qualitative method study their own places of work or social environment by sitting and observing while taking notes. Collecting data for this type of research can involve sources like newspaper, diaries, social media, emails, and other subjective references. Participants in qualitative research are interactive with the researcher by interviewing participants with open questions to find opinions. This form of research has recently emerged in last decades. The researcher may need to have more understanding of study variables because there are not many sources of previous studies.

I think these following paragraphs from the article in the study guide help make it clearer the differences between quantitative and qualitative.

“The quantitative research methods derived from the natural sciences that emphasize objectivity, measurement, reliability and validity, have come to be increasingly inadequate especially in cross-cultural research. Attention has been devoted to a search for effective alternatives, and this leads to the revitalization of the qualitative approach which emphasizes the description of culture and meaning.”

“The distinction between quantitative and qualitative research methods in organization studies is generally perceived as being that while the quantitative approach is objective and relies heavily on statistics and figures, the qualitative approach is subjective and utilizes language and description.”

Lee, J. S. K. (1992). Quantitative versus qualitative research methods: Two approaches to organization studies. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 9(1), 87-94. Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direc t=true&db=bth&AN=16852430&site=ehost-live&scope=site