Quantitative and Qualitative
Research Design
Difference Between Quantitative and
Qualitative Approaches to Research
Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
1. Focuses on identifying 1. Focuses on understanding
cause-and effect relationships how people experience and
interpret events in their lives
among variables
Difference Between Quantitative and
Qualitative Approaches to Research
Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
2. The variables to be studied 2. The variables to be studied
and Methods to be used are and methods to be used emerge
from the research’s experiences
defined in advance by theories in the research context and are
and hypotheses derived from modified as the research
theories and remain unchanged situation changes.
throughout the study.
3. To promote objectivity, the 3. The researcher is inseparable
researcher keeps a psychological part of the research process; the
researcher’s experiences not only
and emotional Distance from the those of the research situation
research. changes.
Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
4. Frequently studies behavior is 4. Studies behavior in its natural
divorced from its natural context and studies the
Interrelationship of behavior
context (such as in laboratory and context
research
5. Frequently studies behavior 5. Studies behavior as it
by Manipulating it (as in naturally occurs
experiments)
6. Data are numerical- 6. Data are open-ended-
frequencies, description of behavior,
Means, and so forth
narrative responses to interview
question, and so forth
Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
7. Tries to maximize internal validity 7. Tries to maximize ecological
validity
8. Focuses on the average behavior 8. Focuses on both the similarities
of people in a population and differences in individual
experiences and both the similarities
and differences in ways in which
people interpret their experiences
Types of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Design
Types of Quantitative Research Types of Qualitative Research
Descriptive Methods • Interpretative Phenomenological
• Observation Analysis
• Correlation
• Survey/ Cross Sectional Research • Grounded Theory
Experimental Methods • Narrative Psychology
• Independent Group Design • Conversation Analysis
• Repeated Measure Designs • Discourse Analysis
• Complex Designs
• Single Case Research Design • Focus Group
• Quasi Experimental Research • Thematic Analysis
Design