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When reading academic papers and journals, you'll notice that researchers approach their studies in various ways, using diverse methodologies. Understanding these research methodologies is crucial for researchers to effectively design their studies and choose the most suitable approach. Research can be broadly categorized into quantitative and qualitative methods. Today, let's explore the differences between these two research approaches.


 

Quantitative Research

Concept

Quantitative research involves using data that can be quantified numerically. Following an empirical and experimental tradition, this method quantifies social phenomena and uses statistical methods to describe and analyze the data. It's advantageous for hypothesis testing and discovering patterns, producing objective research outcomes.
 

Quantitative research addresses research questions or hypotheses involving measurable characteristics, using statistical software for data analysis. Examples include measuring relationships between two variables or testing a series of hypotheses, such as experiments, correlations, and surveys. For instance, a survey could analyze the relationship between students' gender and their alcohol consumption, quantifying and analyzing their correlation.

Types of quantitative research

   - Interviews (unstructured, semi-structured, or structured)

   - Focus groups and group interviews

   - Surveys (online or in-person)

   - Observations (participant observation and recording activities)

   - Biophysical measurements (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate)

   - Document and record analysis (e.g., financial reports, court records)


 

Qualitative Research

Concept

Qualitative research is conducted using qualitative data (e.g., descriptive records for historical research). It follows a phenomenological and interpretative inquiry tradition, focusing on describing and interpreting social phenomena based on the subjective perceptions of the parties involved. Qualitative research is primarily exploratory, seeking to interpret and understand the meaning behind phenomena, such as fundamental reasons, opinions, and motivations. It's often used to develop ideas or hypotheses for quantitative research.

Based on subjective and interpretative epistemologies, it intensively examines participants' words, actions, traces left behind, etc., from a naturalistic perspective, aiming to interpret and find meaning. For example, qualitative research could observe and analyze the drinking culture among college students at a particular university.

 

Types of qualitative research

   - Ethnography

   - Hermeneutic research

   - Phenomenological research

   - Symbolic interactionism

   - Grounded theory

   - Case studies

   - Life history

   - Narrative research



Mixed Methods Research

Concept
Mixed methods research, gaining recent popularity, combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to overcome the limitations of each and leverage their strengths. By integrating multiple research methods, such studies provide deeper insights than those using a single method.

However, to enhance the completeness of this research, objective quantitative research results must logically and appropriately connect with the researcher's insights, necessitating meticulous planning and execution.