What is the Difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Research?

Quantitative research (Study on measurement, Quantitative research) is a concept opposite to Qualitative research. To investigate and study the quantity of things, you must use mathematical tools to analyze the quantity of things. Also called quantitative research, it is a basic research paradigm in the field of social science, and it is also one of the important steps and methods of scientific research.

Senior researchers at DMB Research said that quantitative research refers to prescriptive scientific research to determine the quantity of certain aspects of things, that is, to express problems and phenomena in terms of quantity, and then analyze, test, and explain to gain meaning Research methods and processes. Quantitative measurement is based on digital symbols. Quantitative research measures the characteristics of the object by comparing the characteristics of the research object according to a certain standard, or finds out the change rule of the quantity between certain factors. Because its purpose is to answer the properties of things and the quantity of their movements, it is called quantitative research. Quantitative Research and

The main methods of quantitative research design are

SS Stevens divides the measurement scale of quantitative research into four types, namely nominal scale, sequential scale, interval scale and proportional scale.

The significance and characteristics of the quantitative study of the four measurement scales are as follows:

A value used in a nominal scale to indicate whether it belongs to the same person or thing. For example, number things that belong to a specific group (men and women, occupation, area, etc.).

The size of the numerical value used in the order scale corresponds to the specific order of the research objects. For example, "5,4,3,2,1" or "3,2.5,2,1.5,1" or "3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1" for the upper, middle, upper, middle, lower and lower tiers of the social class belong to this one type. It is just that the difference between the 5 representing the upper and upper layers and the 4 representing the upper and middle layers, and the difference between the 4 representing the upper and middle layers and the 3 representing the middle layers are not necessarily equal. 5, 4, 3, etc. are arbitrarily added symbols, if it is written as 100, 50, 10, it is not a problem.

The numerical value used for the pitch scale not only indicates the amount of the measurement object, but also the degree of their size, that is, the size of the interval. However, the origin in this scale can be set arbitrarily, but it does not mean that the amount of the thing is "none". For example, 0 ° C is 273 ° K absolute and 32 ° F.

The values of the nominal scale and the ordinal scale cannot be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided, but the values of the interval scale can be added and subtracted. However, since the origin is arbitrarily set, multiplication and division cannot be performed. For example, the difference between 5 ° C and 10 ° C can be said to be the same as the difference between 15 ° C and 20 ° C, both being 5 ° C. But it cannot be said that 20 ° C is 4 times higher than 5 ° C.

The meaning of the scale is absolute, that is, it has an origin of 0 meaning "nothing". Length, weight, time, etc. are all measured on a scale. The differences and ratios of the measured values on the scale are comparable. For example: the difference between 5 minutes and 10 minutes and the difference between 10 minutes and 15 minutes are 5 minutes, and 10 minutes is 5 times 2 minutes. The scale can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided.

Analyze and study things from a quantitative perspective, and use mathematical methods to study and examine the interconnections and interactions between things. Everything is a unity of quality and quantity. Qualitative research without quantitative research can only give a general understanding of things. This kind of understanding is neither precise nor comprehensive, and may even be wrong. Because there is no quantity, there is no quality. A quantitative change to a certain degree will cause a qualitative change, so the basic quantitative analysis of things is very necessary. Quantitative research is to grasp the prescriptiveness of matter through the prescriptive analysis of the amount of things. In sociological research, the most commonly used quantitative research method is social statistics. It has a complete set of methods for collecting, organizing and analyzing data. Social statistical law can not only describe a social phenomenon and reveal the relationship between social phenomena through various statistics, but can also infer the relationship between local and overall. In recent years, with the popularization and application of electronic computers, the improvement and development of measurement design and computing technology have improved the social statistical law. Therefore, the application of quantitative research in sociology is becoming more and more popular. Quantitative research is characterized by logical rigor and reliability, and the conclusions it derives are usually very accurate. However, in the specific application, it is necessary to have a correct theoretical perspective to guide the organic combination of quantitative and qualitative research, and must not subjectively cut the relationship between quantity and quality, and avoid analysis in isolation, one-sidedly, and statically. And research questions. ^[2]

Quantitative research and qualitative research are two opposing research paradigms in the social sciences. There are obvious differences in the research goals, objects, and methods of the two.

First, on the research objectives, quantitative research emphasizes predictive control and qualitative research emphasizes understanding of meaning; second, on the research object, quantitative research emphasizes the objective reality of facts, while qualitative research emphasizes the subjective intention of the object; Quantitative research focuses on empirical confirmation and qualitative research focuses on interpretation and construction. ^[3]

Due to the different methodological orientations, there are obvious differences between quantitative and qualitative research in practical applications. This is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Different focus

Quantitative research focuses on the amount of things; qualitative research focuses on the matter.

Different levels in research

Quantitative research is intended to be more qualitative.

according to different

Quantitative research is based on the actual data obtained from the survey, while qualitative research is based on a large amount of historical facts and life experience materials.

Different means

Quantitative research mainly uses methods such as empirical measurement, statistical analysis, and model building; qualitative research mainly uses methods such as logical reasoning and historical comparison.

Subjects are different

Quantitative research is based on probability theory and social statistics, while qualitative research is based on logic and history.

Different expressions of conclusion

Quantitative research is mainly expressed by data, patterns, graphics, etc .; qualitative research conclusions are mostly written descriptions. Qualitative research is the basis and guide of quantitative research, but only when quantitative research is used at the same time, can it be quasi-deterministic on the basis of accurate quantitative.