Examples of Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Miscellanea / / January 31, 2022
Qualitative and quantitative research are two major approaches when planning an investigation, that is, two paths or possible strategies that differ in their approach to the problem and in the type of information they allow the user to collect. investigator.
The Quantitative investigation It is the one that focuses its attention on the data, that is, the one whose results can be expressed numerically: percentages, exact figures, proportions, etc., because from the analysis of these data, the desired conclusions are obtained. It is a form of research closely linked to the natural Sciences, the formal sciences and objective empirical research, whose main characteristics are:
The qualitative research is the one that deals with speeches, that is, from the opinions, thoughts and reflections of the people, so that their results cannot be expressed in exact numerical values, but are approached through interpretive methods. This means that information is collected through queries, interviews, surveys and similar instruments, and the information is studied in its natural and daily context, trying to understand the reality that is inferred from it. It is a widely used method in
social Sciences and the humanities, and its main characteristics are:There is also a mixed method of research, in which these two models are combined.
Differences between quantitative and qualitative research
The differences between one and another research model can be summarized as follows:
Quantitative investigation | Qualitative research |
It addresses an objective reality through deductive and sequential methods. | It addresses a subjective reality through inductive and non-linear methods. |
Their results are expressed in numbers (figures, statistics, percentages, etc.) which are then analyzed. | Their results are expressed in texts of an analytical type, in which an interpretation of the phenomenon studied is proposed. |
It is a method of the exact Sciences, the formal sciences and some social sciences. | It is a method typical of the social sciences and humanities, as well as other forms of discourse analysis. |
Its approach is limited, replicable and predictive. | His approach is broad, deep and rich in interpretation. |
Quantitative Research Examples
Some examples of quantitative research can be:
- An analysis of the voting intention of a population months before a presidential election.
- The calculation of the economic growth of a company in its last quarters, with a view to making decisions in the medium term.
- The calculation of the speed at which certain subatomic particles can move after colliding with certain elements.
- The experimental demonstration of a chemical method for the synthesis of heavy hydrocarbons.
- The study of the resistance of certain types of steel intended for the construction of bridges and public works.
- The experimental study of the ecological impact of a new type of biopolymers for the textile industry.
Examples of qualitative research
Some examples of qualitative research can be:
- The study of a literary work in the cultural and social context of its author's life, to determine how revolutionary it was at the time.
- A comparison between the architectural trends of Ancient Egypt and Classical Greece to show that there was some continuity between the first civilization and the second.
- An analysis of ancient historical sources and modern archaeological finds to propose that the Trojan War really did occur and took place in Turkey.
- A study of the political discourses of a Latin American nation during a time of civil war, in order to better understand the nature of the conflict.
- The review of the photographic work of an American artist to point out the influence of previous authors on his gaze.
- A critical history of the maps of an Asian nation throughout the 20th century, reflecting the changes in its notion of national territory.
References:
- “Qualitative research” in Wikipedia.
- “Quantitative research” on Wikipedia.
- “Qualitative research” in the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo (Mexico).
- "Quantitative, qualitative and mixed research" in the University of Colima (Mexico).
Follow with: