DATA COLLECTION METHODS

Quantitative Vs. Qualitative Data Collection



Quantitative Vs. Qualitative Data Collection

Introduction

Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods are commonly used for research studies and data collection as well as analyses. Researchers and managers work on monitoring and evaluation believes that quantitative methods are always and everywhere better quality, or vice versa.

Pros and Cons of Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Quantitative methods measure, determine the number or use a questionnaire with questions to which answers are coded and subjected to numerical analysis. This research method characterizes the whole population based on data from a limited number of questions and sample size that provide information on population characteristics (Bagdoniene & Zemblyte, 2005). It allows revealing significant differences in population characteristics or factors influencing it. It also provides statistically significant relationships between the problem and its obvious cause (Bryman et al., 2008).

Qualitative methods provide in depth examination of a particular problem based on a relatively small sample size of people. This helps in explaining how people perceive their situation and problems, why, and what are their priorities. Qualitative methods are flexible, and use open-ended questions; analysis of the results carried out in the course of data collection (Catherine et al., 2006). Systematic use of qualitative methods gives equally reliable and empirical results as the quantitative.

Quantitative method allows distributing the results to the population as a whole. In this method, information derived from a study of a large number of people or a limited number of parameters (Westerman, 2006). Qualitative methods are used to study the problems. They limit the collection of data to a predefined list. They allow more deep exploration of the problem cause, but the possibility of extending their results to the general population is limited. Quantitative methods are easier in reality to obtain reliable objective numerical data. Qualitative methods use informal approaches ...