Qualitative research explores subjective experiences and insights through non-numerical data, such as interviews or observations, while quantitative research focuses on objective measurement and analysis using numerical data, such as surveys or experiments. The key difference is that qualitative research seeks to understand meanings, while quantitative research aims to quantify variables. Because qualitative and quantitative studies collect different types of data, their data collection methods differ considerably.
Qualitative Research: Data Collection for Your Doctorate Degree
Qualitative research methods include gathering and interpreting non-numerical data. The following are some sources of qualitative data1:
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Documents
- Personal accounts or papers
- Cultural records
- Observation
In the course of a qualitative study, the researcher may conduct interviews or focus groups to collect data that is not available in existing documents or records. To allow freedom for varied or unexpected answers, interviews and focus groups may be unstructured or semi-structured.
An unstructured or semi-structured format allows the researcher to pose open-ended questions and follow wherever the responses lead. The responses provide a comprehensive perspective on each individual’s experiences, which are then compared with those of other participants in the study.
Quantitative Research: Data Collection for Your Doctorate Degree
Quantitative studies, in contrast, require different data collection methods. These methods include compiling numerical data to test causal relationships among variables. Some forms of data collection for this type of study include1:
- Experiments
- Questionnaires
- Surveys
- Database reports
The above collection methods yield data that lends itself to numerical analysis. Questionnaires in this case have a multiple-choice format to generate countable answers, such as “yes” or “no,” which can be turned into quantifiable data.