Title: Qualitative vs Quantitative Research | Simply Psychology
Headings: What’s the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
What’s the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
There exists a fundamental distinction between two types of data:
Qualitative Research
Methods (used to obtain qualitative data)
Data Analysis
Key Features
Limitations
Strengths
Quantitative Research
Methods (used to obtain quantitative data)
Data Analysis
Key Features
Limitations
Strengths
How to reference this article:
APA Style References
How to reference this article:

Content: Therefore, qualitative research is an interactive process in which the persons studied teach the researcher about their lives. The qualitative researcher is an integral part of the data, without the active participation of the researcher, no data exists. The design of the study evolves during the research, and can be adjusted or changed as it progresses. For the qualitative researcher, there is no single reality, it is subjective and exist only in reference to the observer. Theory is data driven, and emerges as part of the research process, evolving from the data as they are collected. Limitations
Because of the time and costs involved, qualitative designs do not generally draw samples from large-scale data sets. The problem of adequate validity or reliability is a major criticism. Because of the subjective nature of qualitative data and its origin in single contexts, it is difficult to apply conventional standards of reliability and validity. For example, because of the central role played by the researcher in the generation of data, it is not possible to replicate qualitative studies. Also, contexts, situations, events, conditions, and interactions cannot be replicated to any extent nor can generalizations be made to a wider context than the one studied with any confidence
The time required for data collection, analysis and interpretation are lengthy.