Abstract

Research is defined as the study of a certain subject matter using the scientific method. The common dispute, often argued in academic books communicates the ideas, flaws of both approaches nestled in academic books. Scouring the internet to find articles that deal with nonspecific issues that are closely associated with quantitative and qualitative; it separates by placing a line on notable research writings.

Introduction

Research is ubiquitous and is carried out by all disciplines. The discipline that deals with human studies or study of society and politics is qualitative in nature while logical based studies such as natural science is quantitative in nature. Despite different methodology, research in each discipline uses a systematic approach to increase knowledge in an existing subject matter.

Research can be done two separate ways; quantitative research or qualitative research depending on the questions that are being asked. Both forms of research are of equal importance in the human service field. Researchers first must decide what subject they are going to do research on, and then decide which research type will be best suited with the subject matter. In this paper, we will define appropriate academic research, quantitative research and qualitative research. Explain how they differ and relate each to the human services field and the scientific method. Describe how to decide whether to use a quantitative or a qualitative research methodology. Provide examples of what sort of study is appropriate for each methodology and explain why.

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Quantitative research is a more comprehensive approach while qualitative research is detail oriented and endeavors to achieve a deeper understanding of the case involved. A way to think of this is to view one method as strategic and the other as tactical. Qualitative exploration techniques and quantitative examination strategies each produces favorable circumstances as far as correlations. Subjective exploration strategies would incorporate exercises, for example, singular meetings, little gathering interviews, center gatherings and observational studies. The bulk of qualitative research falls under the classification of descriptive designs but can turn into quantitative research when the researchers endeavor to make comparisons or to exhibit a random sample of opinions (Newman, 2016). Quantitative or qualitative research methodology employs methods that in vast spectrum. Methods include focus groups, in-depth interviews and reviews of documents for types of themes, surveys, structured interviews & observations, and reviews of records or documents for numeric information. It is a process inductive to formulate theories or hypotheses versus deductive process used in the quantitative approach.

In quantitative research, the problem is the guide to questions or hypothesis that are asked in the study. While using qualitative research, the problem being discussed creates the importance of the central idea. Quantitative research uses a more closed-ended approach and uses set responses to questions. Whereas, the qualitative approach uses open ended questions to the participant. Quantitative research depends on the quantity of the data it is researching by using a large number of participants, set responses and reporting the facts in an unbiased manner. Qualitative research uses a smaller group of participants and writes their report based on their own bias and judgment and the researchers own personal reflection (Creswell, 2012).