How far the qualitative and quantitative approaches are different? This presentation makes it very clear.

1. Dr. Kanagaraj Easwaran
Associate Professor and Head
Department of Social Work
School of Social Sciences
Mizoram University009/15/15 1

2. Structure of Discussion
 What is social science research?
 What is qualitative approach?
 What is quantitative approach?
 How are they different?
 Choice of paradigm
 Is it possible to combine them?
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3. What is Social Science Research?
Perennial human quest for knowledge
Various ways of knowing
Scientific systematic enquiry or search
Human social phenomena
Description, understanding, explaining,
prediction, control
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4. Paradigms, Approaches, or Strategies
Choice of topic
Not merely methods but paradigm or
approach
A worldview, a framework of beliefs,
values and methods
Quantitative and Qualitative09/15/15 4

5. Paradigm
A paradigm is essentially a worldview, a
whole framework of beliefs, values and
methods within which research takes place.
It is this world view within which
researchers work

6. What is Qualitative Research
Cresswell (1994) “Qualitative research is an inquiry
process of understanding based on distinct
methodological traditions of inquiry that explore a
social or human problem. The researcher builds a
complex, holistic picture, analyses words, reports
detailed views of informants, and conducts the study
in a natural setting”.09/15/15 6

7. Qualitative research
Qualitative research involves the studied use and
collection of a variety of empirical materials case study,
personal experience, introspective, life story interview,
observational, historical, interactional, and visual texts-
that describe routine and problematic moments and
meaning in individuals' lives (Denzin and Lincoln ,
1994).

8. Characteristics of Qualitative Research
 An exploratory and descriptive focus
 Emergent design
 Data collection in the natural setting
 Emphasis on ‘human-as-instrument’
 Qualitative methods of data collection
 Early and On-going inductive analysis
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9. Qualitative Methods of Data Collection
 People’s words and actions
 Rich data
 Observation
 In-depth interviews
 Group Interviews(FGDs)
 Relevant Documents
 Photographs and Video Tapes
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10. Qualitative Approaches
 Many not One
 Biography,
 Phenomenology,
 Grounded Theory,
 Ethnography
 Case Study
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11. Quantitative Research
Cresswell (1994) “a quantitative study, consistent with
the quantitative paradigm, is an inquiry into a social or
human problem, based on testing a theory composed of
variables, measured with numbers, and analysed with
statistical procedures, in order to determine whether the
predictive generalizations of the theory hold true"
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12. Characteristics of Quantitative Research
 Goal: Verify the predictions of a theory
 Quantification of concepts into variables
 Quantification the association between them.
 Use of formal structured instruments in data
collection
 Application of statistical theory & techniques
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13. Quantitative Method
 Quantitative Method not Methods
 Data - numbers
 Human Behaviour, Cognition, Social Interaction,
 Tools of Data Collection
 Observations: Non Participant - Structured
 Experiments: True Vs Quasi
 Social Surveys
 Questionnaires or Interview Schedules
 Online Surveys
 Computer Aided Data Collection
 Cross-sectional and Longitudinal
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14. Qualitative vs Quantitative
Philosophical Differences
Assumptions underlying the approaches
Ontological
Epistemological
Axiological
Methodological
Rhetorical
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15. Paradigms: Assumptions
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Assumption Question Quantitative Qualitative
Ontological Nature of
reality
Single,
tangible,
fragmentable,
Objective
Multiple,
constructed,
holistic
Subjective
Epistemological Relationship
of knower
to the known
Independent Interactive,
Inseparable.
Axiological Role of
Values
Value-free Value Laden

16. Paradigms: Methodological Assumptions
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Question Quantitative Qualitative
Research process Deductive Inductive
Causal Linkages Real causes Impossible to
distinguish
causes from effects.
Nature of Design Static Design Emerging Design
Generalization Time- and
context-free
Nomothetic
prediction,
explanation
Only time-and
context-bound
working hypotheses
idiographic

17. Paradigms: Rhetorical Assumptions
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Question Quantitative Qualitative
Language of
research
Formal,
Based on set
definitions,
Impersonal
voice,
Use of
accepted
quantitative
words
Informal
Evolving decisions
Personal voice,
Accepted qualitative words

18. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Questions
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Research with Subjects
(Quantitative)
Research with Informants
(Qualitative)
What do I know about a problem that
will allow me to formulate and test a
hypothesis?
What do my informants know about
their culture that I can discover?
How can I operationally define these
concepts?
How do my informants define these
concepts?
What scientific theory can explain
the data
What folk theory do my informants
use to explain their experience?
How can I interpret the results and
report them in the language of my
colleagues?
How can I translate the cultural
knowledge of my informants into a
cultural description my colleagues
will understand?

19. Choice of Approach/Methods
Single paradigm cost effective, easy
Nature of the problem
Researchers psychological attributes
Training and experience of the researcher
Researcher’s worldview
Audience of research
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20. Compatibility and Combination
Paradigms not compatible but methods are
Any one approach suitable
Combination with one predominant approach
Breaking research problem into components
Using methods in different stages of research
Triangulation
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21. Questions Please
Thank you
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