Qualitative and quantitative research

One of the central aspects within behavioral sciences is the research process. Without a study of basic psychology, the applied version would be blind and useless. This is because scientific inquiry is what ultimately makes it possible for a discipline to grow and remain updated with what society expects of it.

Now, throughout history, science has not only been characterized by producing new knowledge, but also by designing different research methods. In this article We are going to talk about two widely used research approaches: qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative and quantitative research

Both approaches employ careful and methodical processes to generate, nuance, expand, or discard knowledge. In general terms, we can say that Both use 5 similar and related strategies:

Performed observation and evaluation of phenomena.Establish assumptions or ideas as a consequence of the observation and evaluation carried out. They demonstrate the degree to which assumptions or ideas are founded.Review such assumptions or ideas based on evidence or analysis.They propose new observations and evaluations to clarify, modify and substantiate assumptions and ideas or even to generate others.

Although both approaches are different, they have much in common: they seek to understand and explain real-world phenomena, they aim to obtain rigorous and reliable knowledge. In addition, they collect and analyze data. Through them we can expand and deepen our knowledge base.

The quantitative research approach

It is sequential and evidentiary. Each stage precedes the next and the different steps of it cannot be avoided. It follows the classic scientific method: pose a problem, create a hypothesis, experiment, analyze data and draw conclusions. But the central aspect is that Its object of study is quantifiable or easily measurable variables or phenomena.

Phases of quantitative research

In general, we can identify several common phases in all quantitative research approaches. in his book Investigation methodologyHernández, Fernández and Baptista define 10 of them:

Idea: This is the first contact we have with the reality to be investigated, with the phenomena, events, environments and occurrences that gave rise to the need to study the case.Problem Statement: After having the research idea, it is developed into five elements: 1) research objectives, 2) research questions, 3) justification of the research, 4) feasibility of the research and 5) evaluation of deficiencies in the research. knowledge of the problem. These points make up what is known as the problem statement.Literature review and development of the theoretical framework: In this phase the researcher must theoretically support his research. In the words of the aforementioned authors: “This implies exposing and analyzing the theories, conceptualizations, previous research and background in general that are considered valid to frame the study.” Visualization of the scope of the study: the scope, as its name indicates it, it is the limit that the study will have, how far it will go and to what degree it will be able to answer the research question. In this sense, there are different scopes: exploratory, correlational, descriptive and explanatory. Preparation of hypotheses and definition of variables: hypotheses are the answers or tentative explanations to the research question. The variables, for their part, are those elements that will be measured or observed.Research design development: The design is the strategy or plan that will be applied to obtain the data necessary to respond to the research approach.Definition and selection of the sample: Here the part of the population that will be studied and the type of sampling that will be used to select the participants is delimited. Data collection: This phase has several components: 1) determine how the data will be collected. 2) Select or create one or more instruments to collect information. 3) Apply the instruments. 4) Get the data. 5) Encode the data. 7) Save the information and prepare it for analysis.Data analysis: At this stage, the book Investigation methodology, highlights the following elements: 1) choose the analysis program. 2) Explore the data obtained. 3) Analyze and visualize the data by variable. 4) Evaluate the reliability, validity and objectivity of the measurement instruments. 5) Analyze and interpret the hypothesis through statistical tests. 7) Prepare and organize the results to present them.Preparation of the results report: It consists of writing a text where what was found in the study is presented. Basically, the previous phases are presented along with the final conclusions and recommendations.

For quantitative research, it is necessary to follow a rigorous order in its development.Therefore, the researcher cannot avoid phases, although he can redefine them once he has gone through them.

Characteristics of the quantitative approach

The characteristics of the quantitative approach are the following:

Reflects the need to measure and estimate magnitudes of the phenomena or research problems. For example, “How often do they occur?” The researcher asks a delimited and concrete study problemOnce the study has been planned, the researcher reviews what has already been investigated in relation to his initial approach. In the search and synthesis you can find evidence for or against your starting hypotheses.Data collection is based on measurement. This collection must be carried out with standardized procedures or instruments accepted by the scientific community. The data are represented by numbers and are analyzed using statistical methods.In the process the researcher has to try to have as much control as possible, so that a possible relationship between the variables of his study cannot be explained by other factors that are different from those he has measured. Interpretation constitutes an explanation of how the results fit with existing knowledge.Seek to be as “objective” as possiblefocusing on data and not interpretations or subjectivity. Quantitative research seeks to identify “universal” and, to the extent possible, causal laws.

Every quantitative study is characterized by being predictable and structured.. Researchers generally try to generalize the results they obtain. This is a crucial characteristic that differentiates this approach from the qualitative one.

Quantitative research designs

According to research methodology experts, Hernández, Fernández and Baptista, Quantitative designs can be experimental or non-experimental. In turn, each one is divided into other categories. Let’s see it in detail.

Experimental designs: They are used when the researcher aims to establish the possible effect of a cause that is manipulated. Within this classification we find:

Preexperiments: They are called that because their degree of control is minimal. They are especially useful as a first approach to the research problem.Pure experiments: are those that meet the two requirements to achieve control and internal validity: comparison groups and group equivalence.Quasi-experiments: They deliberately manipulate at least one independent variable to observe its effect on one or more dependent variables. They differ from “pure” experiments in the degree of security; since subjects are not randomly assigned to groups or paired; instead, they are already formed before the experiment.

2. Non-experimental designs: They are carried out without the deliberate manipulation of variables and in which the phenomena are only observed in their natural environment to analyze them. In this case, we find the following designs:

Transectional or transversal: collect data at a single moment. Its purpose is to describe variables and analyze their incidence and interrelation at a given time.Longitudinal or evolutionary: They collect data at different points in time, to make inferences about the evolution of the research problem, its causes and its effects.

Thanks to The designs are that the data that will answer the research questions can be collected.. Through them, the researcher has a route of action and a strategic plan that will allow him to achieve his objectives.

The qualitative research approach

Qualitative studies have the main objective of understanding phenomena. They do not follow a rigid and sequential process, so they can develop questions and hypotheses before, during or after data collection and analysis.

Some paradigms that support this approach are phenomenology, constructivism, and critical theory. Therefore, as an article in the magazine points out Conrad “It uses the observation of subjective realities as a fundamental technique, where the nature of reality changes depending on observations and data collection.”

Phases of qualitative research

Like the quantitative approach, the qualitative approach also has its phases. Let’s see what is proposed in the book Investigation methodology:

Idea: It is what you want to understand and investigate.Problem Statement: It is the formulation and definition of the problem to which the response will be given. It has the same components as the quantitative approach approach.Initial immersion in the field: In this phase the researcher immerses himself and becomes familiar with the context and the people he will study.Conception of the study design: It is the plan that will be followed to understand the phenomenon studied. Later we will see what the types of designs of this approach are.Sample definition: delimit, define and select participants.Collection nowdata analysis: according to Hernández, Fernández and Baptista, Its elements are 1) confirm or change the sample. 2) Collect qualitative data, whether through interviews, field diaries, observation, focus groups, documents, life stories, etc. 3) Analyze the data: open, axial and selective coding. 4) Generate concepts, categories, themes, descriptions, hypotheses and grounded theory.Interpretation of results: Based on the theoretical framework, the data analyzed and the research question, the results obtained are interpreted.Preparation of the results report: It consists of writing the text where the findings and the research carried out will be reported.

It should be noted that in qualitative studies it is not essential to preserve the order of the phases. Therefore, the researcher can go back and forth between each one. It is also important to say that the complexity of this…