Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsKey DifferencesQuantitative Research MethodsQualitative Research MethodsHow They Relate
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Table of Contents
Key Differences
Quantitative Research Methods
Qualitative Research Methods
How They Relate
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In psychology and other social sciences, researchers are faced with an unresolved question: Can we measure concepts like love or racism the same way we can measure temperature or the weight of a star? Social phenomena—things that happen because of and through human behavior—are especially difficult to grasp with typical scientific models.
At a GlancePsychologists rely on quantitative and quantitative research to better understand human thought and behavior.Qualitative researchinvolves collecting and evaluating non-numerical data in order to understand concepts or subjective opinions.Quantitative researchinvolves collecting and evaluating numerical data.
At a Glance
Psychologists rely on quantitative and quantitative research to better understand human thought and behavior.Qualitative researchinvolves collecting and evaluating non-numerical data in order to understand concepts or subjective opinions.Quantitative researchinvolves collecting and evaluating numerical data.
Psychologists rely on quantitative and quantitative research to better understand human thought and behavior.
This article discusses what qualitative and quantitative research are, how they are different, and how they are used in psychology research.
Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research
In order to understand qualitative and quantitative psychology research, it can be helpful to look at the methods that are used and when each type is most appropriate.
Psychologists rely on a few methods to measure behavior, attitudes, and feelings. These include:
Most of these are quantitative methods. The result is a number that can be used to assess differences between groups.
However, most of these methods are static, inflexible (you can’t change a question because a participant doesn’t understand it), and provide a “what” answer rather than a “why” answer.
Sometimes, researchers are more interested in the “why” and the “how.” That’s where qualitative methods come in.
Qualitative research is about speaking to people directly and hearing their words. It is grounded in the philosophy that the social world is ultimately unmeasurable, that no measure is truly ever “objective,” and that how humans make meaning is just as important as how much they score on a standardized test.
QualitativeSubjectiveUsed to develop theoriesTakes a broad, complex approachAnswers “why” and “how” questionsExplores patterns and themesQuantitativeObjectiveUsed to test theoriesTakes a narrow, specific approachAnswers “what” questionsExplores statistical relationships
QualitativeSubjectiveUsed to develop theoriesTakes a broad, complex approachAnswers “why” and “how” questionsExplores patterns and themes
Subjective
Used to develop theories
Takes a broad, complex approach
Answers “why” and “how” questions
Explores patterns and themes
QuantitativeObjectiveUsed to test theoriesTakes a narrow, specific approachAnswers “what” questionsExplores statistical relationships
Objective
Used to test theories
Takes a narrow, specific approach
Answers “what” questions
Explores statistical relationships
Thescientific methodfollows this general process. A researcher must:
Quantitative methods are aboutmeasuringphenomena, not explaining them.
Quantitative research compares two groups of people. There are all sorts of variables you could measure, and many kinds of experiments to run using quantitative methods.
These comparisons are generally explained using graphs, pie charts, and other visual representations that give the researcher a sense of how the various data points relate to one another.
Basic AssumptionsQuantitative methods assume:That the world is measurableThat humans can observe objectivelyThat we can know things for certain about the world from observation
Basic Assumptions
Quantitative methods assume:That the world is measurableThat humans can observe objectivelyThat we can know things for certain about the world from observation
Quantitative methods assume:
In some fields, these assumptions hold true. Whether you measure the size of the sun 2000 years ago or now, it will always be the same. But when it comes to human behavior, it is not so simple.
As decades of cultural and social research have shown, people behave differently (and eventhinkdifferently) based on historical context, cultural context, social context, and even identity-based contexts likegender, social class, orsexual orientation.
Therefore, quantitative methods applied to human behavior (as used in psychology and some areas of sociology) should always be rooted in their particular context. In other words: there are no, or very few, human universals.
Statistics
Statistical information is the primary form of quantitative data used in human and social quantitative research.Statisticsprovide lots of information about tendencies across large groups of people, but they can never describe every case or every experience. In other words, there are always outliers.
Correlation and Causation
A basic principle of statistics is thatcorrelationis not causation. Researchers can only claim a cause-and-effect relationship under certain conditions:
So when you read a report that “gender was linked to” something (like a behavior or an attitude), remember that gender is NOT a cause of the behavior or attitude. There is an apparent relationship, but the true cause of the difference is hidden.
Pitfalls of Quantitative Research
Quantitative methods are one way to approach the measurement and understanding of human and social phenomena. But what’s missing from this picture?
As noted above, statistics do not tell us about personal, individual experiences and meanings. While surveys can give a general idea, respondents have to choose between only a few responses. This can make it difficult to understand the subtleties of different experiences.
RecapQuantitative methods can be helpful when making objective comparisons between groups or when looking for relationships between variables. They can be analyzed statistically, which can be helpful when looking for patterns and relationships.
Recap
Quantitative methods can be helpful when making objective comparisons between groups or when looking for relationships between variables. They can be analyzed statistically, which can be helpful when looking for patterns and relationships.
When to Use Surveys in Psychology Research
Qualitative data are not made out of numbers but rather of descriptions, metaphors, symbols, quotes, analysis, concepts, and characteristics. This approach uses interviews, written texts, art, photos, and other materials to make sense of human experiences and to understand what these experiences mean to people.
While quantitative methods ask “what” and “how much,” qualitative methods ask “why” and “how.”
Qualitative methods are about describing and analyzing phenomena from a human perspective. There are many different philosophical views on qualitative methods, but in general, they agree that some questions are too complex or impossible to answer with standardized instruments.
These methods also accept that it is impossible to be completely objective in observing phenomena. Researchers have their own thoughts, attitudes, experiences, and beliefs, and these always color how people interpret results.
Qualitative Approaches
There are many different approaches to qualitative research, with their own philosophical bases. Different approaches are best for different kinds of projects. For example:
Qualitative researchers must be aware of several different methods and know each thoroughly enough to produce valuable research.
Some researchers specialize in a single method, but others specialize in a topic or content area and use many different methods to explore the topic, providing different information and a variety of points of view.
RecapThere is not a single model or method that can be used for every qualitative project. Depending on the research question, the people participating, and the kind of information they want to produce, researchers will choose the appropriate approach.
There is not a single model or method that can be used for every qualitative project. Depending on the research question, the people participating, and the kind of information they want to produce, researchers will choose the appropriate approach.
Interpretation
Qualitative research does not look into causal relationships between variables, but rather into themes, values, interpretations, and meanings. As a rule, then, qualitative research is not generalizable (cannot be applied to people outside the research participants).
The insights gained from qualitative research can extend to other groups with proper attention to specific historical and social contexts.
Relationship Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research
It might sound like quantitative and qualitative research do not play well together. They have different philosophies, different data, and different outputs. However, this could not be further from the truth.
These two general methods complement each other. By using both, researchers can gain a fuller, more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon.
For example, a psychologist wanting to develop a new survey instrument about sexuality might and ask a few dozen people questions about their sexual experiences (this is qualitative research). This gives the researcher some information to begin developing questions for their survey (which is a quantitative method).
RecapBy using both quantitative and qualitative data, researchers have a more holistic, well-rounded understanding of a particular topic or phenomenon.
By using both quantitative and qualitative data, researchers have a more holistic, well-rounded understanding of a particular topic or phenomenon.
Summary
Qualitative and quantitative methods both play an important role in psychology. Where quantitative methods can help answer questions about what is happening in a group and to what degree, qualitative methods can dig deeper into the reasons behind why it is happening. By using both strategies, psychology researchers can learn more about human thought and behavior.
How Social Psychologists Conduct Their Research
6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gough B, Madill A.Subjectivity in psychological science: From problem to prospect.Psychol Methods. 2012;17(3):374-384. doi:10.1037/a0029313Pearce T.“Science organized”: Positivism and the metaphysical club, 1865–1875.J Hist Ideas. 2015;76(3):441-465.Adams G.Context in person, person in context: A cultural psychology approach to social-personality psychology. In: Deaux K, Snyder M, eds.The Oxford Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology. Oxford University Press; 2012:182-208.Brady HE.Causation and explanation in social science. In: Goodin RE, ed.The Oxford Handbook of Political Science.Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199604456.013.0049Chun Tie Y, Birks M, Francis K.Grounded theory research: A design framework for novice researchers.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:2050312118822927. doi:10.1177/2050312118822927Reeves S, Peller J, Goldman J, Kitto S.Ethnography in qualitative educational research: AMEE Guide No. 80.Medical Teacher. 2013;35(8):e1365-e1379. doi:10.3109/0142159X.2013.804977Additional ReadingSalkind NJ, ed.Encyclopedia of Research Design.Sage Publishing.Shaughnessy JJ, Zechmeister EB, Zechmeister JS.Research Methods in Psychology. McGraw Hill Education.
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gough B, Madill A.Subjectivity in psychological science: From problem to prospect.Psychol Methods. 2012;17(3):374-384. doi:10.1037/a0029313Pearce T.“Science organized”: Positivism and the metaphysical club, 1865–1875.J Hist Ideas. 2015;76(3):441-465.Adams G.Context in person, person in context: A cultural psychology approach to social-personality psychology. In: Deaux K, Snyder M, eds.The Oxford Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology. Oxford University Press; 2012:182-208.Brady HE.Causation and explanation in social science. In: Goodin RE, ed.The Oxford Handbook of Political Science.Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199604456.013.0049Chun Tie Y, Birks M, Francis K.Grounded theory research: A design framework for novice researchers.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:2050312118822927. doi:10.1177/2050312118822927Reeves S, Peller J, Goldman J, Kitto S.Ethnography in qualitative educational research: AMEE Guide No. 80.Medical Teacher. 2013;35(8):e1365-e1379. doi:10.3109/0142159X.2013.804977Additional ReadingSalkind NJ, ed.Encyclopedia of Research Design.Sage Publishing.Shaughnessy JJ, Zechmeister EB, Zechmeister JS.Research Methods in Psychology. McGraw Hill Education.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gough B, Madill A.Subjectivity in psychological science: From problem to prospect.Psychol Methods. 2012;17(3):374-384. doi:10.1037/a0029313Pearce T.“Science organized”: Positivism and the metaphysical club, 1865–1875.J Hist Ideas. 2015;76(3):441-465.Adams G.Context in person, person in context: A cultural psychology approach to social-personality psychology. In: Deaux K, Snyder M, eds.The Oxford Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology. Oxford University Press; 2012:182-208.Brady HE.Causation and explanation in social science. In: Goodin RE, ed.The Oxford Handbook of Political Science.Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199604456.013.0049Chun Tie Y, Birks M, Francis K.Grounded theory research: A design framework for novice researchers.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:2050312118822927. doi:10.1177/2050312118822927Reeves S, Peller J, Goldman J, Kitto S.Ethnography in qualitative educational research: AMEE Guide No. 80.Medical Teacher. 2013;35(8):e1365-e1379. doi:10.3109/0142159X.2013.804977
Gough B, Madill A.Subjectivity in psychological science: From problem to prospect.Psychol Methods. 2012;17(3):374-384. doi:10.1037/a0029313
Pearce T.“Science organized”: Positivism and the metaphysical club, 1865–1875.J Hist Ideas. 2015;76(3):441-465.
Adams G.Context in person, person in context: A cultural psychology approach to social-personality psychology. In: Deaux K, Snyder M, eds.The Oxford Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology. Oxford University Press; 2012:182-208.
Brady HE.Causation and explanation in social science. In: Goodin RE, ed.The Oxford Handbook of Political Science.Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199604456.013.0049
Chun Tie Y, Birks M, Francis K.Grounded theory research: A design framework for novice researchers.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:2050312118822927. doi:10.1177/2050312118822927
Reeves S, Peller J, Goldman J, Kitto S.Ethnography in qualitative educational research: AMEE Guide No. 80.Medical Teacher. 2013;35(8):e1365-e1379. doi:10.3109/0142159X.2013.804977
Salkind NJ, ed.Encyclopedia of Research Design.Sage Publishing.Shaughnessy JJ, Zechmeister EB, Zechmeister JS.Research Methods in Psychology. McGraw Hill Education.
Salkind NJ, ed.Encyclopedia of Research Design.Sage Publishing.
Shaughnessy JJ, Zechmeister EB, Zechmeister JS.Research Methods in Psychology. McGraw Hill Education.
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