Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology

Statement 1:

“Qualitative research methods are the best!”

            Qualitative research methodology… What in the world does that even mean? Well, qualitative research is a method within the world of psychology that uses inductive logic to find insight through a detailed collection of data that will help come up with a new hypotheses (Crawford, 2019). It comes in handy for researchers when trying to answer the questions, “why?” and “how?” in non-experimental research, helping the one collecting the data in obtaining all information, through open-ended and conversational communication. When all data is collected from the individuals or groups, it is then used to help researchers gain better understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations of the participants (Qualitative Research, 2021). If you wondering to yourself, “Well, how does the researcher go about finding the participants for their studies?”, I am more than happy to inform you about the most common method of qualitative research method that is used more often than others, one-on-one interviews that are conducted over the phone or face-to-face (Qualitative Research, 2021). As with everything in life, there are of course some advantages and disadvantages that are included in the method. One-on-one interviews is great way to gain perspective on what people are thinking and what it is that motivates them, all within a time frame of a half-hour to up to two or more hours of interviewing time (Qualitative Research, 2021). But, on the downside of the method, it is known to be a bit of work and needs a bit of experience to be done effectively. Since the results cannot be measured in a mathematical way, beings that the responses are uniquely given by the participants, the researcher has to put in a lot of leg work (Crawford, 2019).

Statement 2:

“Quantitative research methods are the best!”

     Quantitative research methodology, sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? I’ll be honest, yes it does. Although, as intimidating as it my seem, it doesn’t have to be as you may tend to believe. Quantitative is a methodology within the realm of research, that is naturally, deductively generalized in the populations of interest (Crawford, 2019). Beings that it is an experimental method of research, its whole purpose is to find objectively testable hypothesis through well, thought-out studies that are commonly seen in behavioral and social sciences (“Best Data”, 2021). Dealing with the scientific method, it should be to no surprise that it is a useful tool in gathering statically, mathematically computed analyses that is collected when conducting polls, questionnaires, surveys, and even by manipulation of pre-existing data using very reliable computational techniques (Crawford, 2019). When conducting quantitative research, typically there are two methods that is employees; primary quantitative and secondary quantitative research. Commonly known for market research, primary quantitative research allows the researcher to collect informational data from the sample and is done throughout various ways, for example, survey research, correlation research, quasi experimental research, or experimental research (Quantitative Research| Voxco, 2021). What is known as “desk research,” secondary quantitative research uses the pre-existing data (a.k.a secondary data), which involves gathering informational statics from online database forums, governmental documentation, libraries, or previously conducted research findings to reconfirm the information collected from the primary quantitative research process (“Best Data,” 2021). The testing can be a bit temperamental at times, as the testing is not in a natural place setting for the candidate participating, which in return can cause the generalization of the results to be negatively affected (Quantitative Research| Voxco, 2021).

^References

^{Best Data Collection Methods for Quantitative Research. Conjointly.com. (2021). Retrieved}

       ^{5 September 2021, from https://conjointly.com/blog/data-collection-quantitative-research/.}

^{Crawford Ph.D., R. (2019). Introduction to Research: Less Fright, More Insight}

        ^{(3rd ed., pp. 69-112). Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.}

^{Qualitative Research: Definition, Methodology, Limitation, Examples. Omniconvert Ecommerce}

      ^{Growth Blog. (2021). Retrieved 5 September 2021, from}

       ^{https://www.omniconvert.com/blog/qualitative-research-definition-methodology-limitation-}

        ^examples/.

^{Quantitative Research | Voxco. Voxco. (2021). Retrieved 5 September 2021, from}

       ^{https://www.voxco.com/blog/quantitative-research-examples/.}