Question

explain 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative research

Answer 1

Quantitative research: Quantitative research is a type of research that is statistical in nature and has numbers attached to it, like percentages, numericals or averages. It deals with the study of numerical data. It employs mathematical hypothesis in the investigation of quantitative phenomenon. Its function involves predicting outcomes and testing a hypothesis or theory. It draws a general and objective conclusion. Examples of quantitative research are surveys or experiments conducted on a population. There are four main types of quantitative research; descriptive, correlation, casual comparative, quasi-experimental, and experimental.

Advantages of quantitative research:

1. Quantitative research is relatively easier to administer to a group of population.
2. It gives a sense of control to the researcher since he can analyze the data gathered through different procedures.
3. It can effectively test, finalize or disapprove the hypothesis in experiments.
4. It can accomodate large sizes and is useful for large sampling size.
5. The research data that is gathered, is easier to interpret.

Disadvantages of quantitative research:

1. Qualitative research is not cost effective which can be expensive and time consuming.
2. Due to its fixed questionnaire structure, there are limited and restricted outcomes.
3. The responses recorded are not constant and may change over time.
4. Due to different influences, the research findings may be biased.
5. While performing a survey or an experiment, some groups are difficult to gather or collect.

Qualitative research: Qualitative research emerges from a philisophical view of the world. It focuses on the quality of human experience and predicts meaningful interpretation of phenomena or focus of the study. It pays attention to detail and is exploratory and descriptive in nature. Interviews, focus groups and documents are examples of qualitative research methods.

Advantages of qualitative research:

1. Qualitative research helps in the understanding of human behaviour and social phenomena in a natural context.
2. The subjects can provide data in their own way which leads to the quality of uniqueness in the data that is recorded.
3. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research is unstructured, which makes it an interactive research method.
4. The exploratory characteristic of this method helps to generate new areas of research.
5. It gives way to the formation of new theories.

Disadvantages of qualitative research:

1. The data gathered can be ambiguos in meaning.
2. Though it is capable to generating new areas, quantitative research is not effective when it comes to testing a hypothesis.
3. There is a risk of collecting irrelevant and uneccesary details or information from the participant.
4. This research method lacks reliability.
5. The lack of objectivity is a major diasvantage.