Quantitative Research Methods Training

Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Edema Conference Centre, Morogoro

4th August, 2014

What is research?• Systematic inquiry that investigates hypothesis• Suggests new interpretation of data/texts or

new knowledge – Poses new questions for future research to explore

• It also involves – Asking questions that nobody has ever asked before– Doing necessary work to find the answer– Communicating the knowledge you have acquired to

a larger audience

Methods 1) Quantitative

2) Qualitative

Quantitative methods Are driven by two concerns;• Nature of relationships among variables

– Unrelated – Correlation– If one variable affect another– Independent and dependent variable(there is effect)

• Whether discoveries or findings are generalizable– Study design– Sampling procedures– Analysis of data

Quantitative methods…• Would want to quantify the two concepts

– The size of relationships among variablesThis is quantified through mathematicso The difference average scores of maths between female and

maleo The correlation between scores on an IQ test and grade point

average

– The probability that the results are generalizable

This is quantified through inferential statisticso There is statistically significant difference at 0.5 level between

male and female on mathematics scores

Quantitative methods…What quantitative research answers

• Research question demanding a quantitative answer e.g how many, to what extent

• Numerical change(down or up)

• State of something e.g. factors affecting recruitment of CHWs?

• Testing of hypotheses e.g. understand relationship between variable A&B

Comparison

General framework Quantitative Qualitative

Seek to confirm hypotheses aboutphenomena

Seek to explore phenomena

Instruments use more rigid styleof eliciting and categorizingresponses to questions

Instruments use more flexible,iterative style of eliciting andcategorizing responses to questions

Use highly structured methodssuch as questionnaires, surveys,and structured observation

Use semi-structured methods suchas in-depth interviews, focusgroups, and participant observation

More generalizable Less generalizable

More objective: provide observed effects(interpreted by researcher)

More subjective: describe a problem from the respondents point of view

Analytical objectivesQuantitative Qualitative

To quantify variation To describe variation

To predict causal relationships To describe and explain relationships

To describe characteristics of apopulation

To describe individual experiences

To describe group norms

Question format Quantitative Qualitative

Closed-ended Open-ended

Fixed responses options Unstructured or semi-structured responses options

Data format Quantitative Qualitative

Numerical (obtained by assigningnumerical values to responses)

Textual (obtained from audiotapes,videotapes, and field notes)

Less in-depth but more breadth of information across a large number of cases

More in-depth information on a few cases

Flexibility in study designQuantitative Qualitative

Study design is stable frombeginning to end

Some aspects of the study areflexible (for example, the addition,exclusion, or wording of particularinterview questions)

Participant responses do notinfluence or determine how andwhich questions researchers asknext

Participant responses affect howand which questions researchersask next

Study design is subject tostatistical assumptions andconditions

Study design is iterative, that is,data collection and researchquestions are adjusted accordingto what is learned

Sampling Quantitative Qualitative

Probability sampling Non probability sampling

Data collection and analysisQuantitative Qualitative

Time expenditure heavier on planning phase and lighter on the analysis phase

Time expenditure lighter on planning end and heavier during analysis

Can be valid and reliable; largely depends on measurements device or instrument used

Can be valid and reliable; largely depends on skill and rigor of the researcher

Statistical tests are used for analysis No statistical tests