Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods, Essay Example

A researcher has many different tools he/she can leverage in exploring research topics. Typically, researchers prefer to use quantitative methods as the research “gold standard.”  Quantitative methods have a number of advantages: 1) They provide precision in measurement; 2) Measurement can easily be performed across categories and ultimately vis-à-vis other studies; 3) Quantitative estimates are relatively east to perform robust validity and reliability tests on post facto.  There are, however, also numerous weaknesses in only using quantitative measures.  First, there is analytical texture lost in reducing the complexity of a concept to a mere number.  While there may be “truth” expressed in a quantitative measurement, it is certainly not the whole truth. Second, quantitative measurements are also open to numerous biases and errors.  Most prominently, quantitative research is reduced to one (anachronistic) concept: whether it is statistically significant (p<.05) or not.

Qualitative research can provide added information and texture to certain research questions, particularly those that are resistant to quantitative examination.  Qualitative research is a good selection for the initial exploration of questions where categorization or quantification of certain concepts is not easy.  In addition, qualititative research has a number of advantages: 1) Allows a more in-depth examination of the topic than merely running a statistical analysis; 2) Provides greater insight with a smaller sample size than would be required for a quantitative analysis.  The weaknesses of qualitative research are: 1) Difficult to conduct cross-categorization comparisons or across research studies; 2) Difficult to conduct reliability or validity studies, although it may be possible by analyzing the type of study used.

Overall, while this paper has analyzed quantitative and qualitative research methods in isolation, they can profitably be used together to provide the best of both worlds.