Comparison between qualitative and quantitative research

1. Qualitative MethodsQuantitative MethodsMethods include focus groups, in-depth interviews, and reviews of documents for types of themesSurveys, structured interviews & observations, and reviews of records or documents for numeric informationPrimarily inductive process used to formulate theory or hypothesesPrimarily deductive process used to test pre-specified concepts, constructs, and hypotheses that make up a theoryMore subjective: describes a problem or condition from the point of view of those experiencing itMore objective: provides observed effects (interpreted by researchers) of a program on a problem or conditionText-basedNumber-basedMore in-depth information on a few casesLess in-depth but more breadth of information across a large number of casesUnstructured or semi-structured response optionsFixed response optionsNo statistical testsStatistical tests are used for analysisCan be valid and reliable: largely depends on skill and rigor of the researcherCan be valid and reliable: largely depends on the measurement device or instrument usedTime expenditure lighter on the planning end and heavier during the analysis phaseTime expenditure heavier on the planning phase and lighter on the analysis phaseLess generalizableMore generalizable<br />Comparison Between Quantitative and Qualitative Nursing Research<br />**Source: Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods. Retrieved from http://www.orau.gov, as of October 11, 2010.<br />