Qualitative vs Quantitative Research (2021)

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In this post, we will discuss Qualitative vs Quantitative Research. Qualitative and quantitative research are two fundamental approaches to research, each with its own strengths and applications. Qualitative vs quantitative research involves collecting data based on some qualities and quantities, respectively. Let us discuss both the Qualitative and Quantitative Research in detail below.

Qualitative vs Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research involves collecting data from in-depth interviews, observations, field notes, and open-ended questions in questionnaires, etc. The researcher himself is the primary data collection instrument and the data could be collected in the form of words, images, patterns, etc. For Qualitative Research, Data Analysis involves searching for patterns, themes, and holistic features. Results of such research are likely to be context-specific and reporting takes the form of a narrative with contextual description and direct quotations from researchers.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research involves collecting quantitative data based on precise measurement using some structured, reliable, and validated collection instruments (questionnaires) or through archival data sources. The nature of quantitative data is in the form of variables and its data analysis involves establishing statistical relationships. If properly done, the results of such research are generalizable to the entire population. Quantitative research could be classified into two groups depending on the data collection methodologies:

Research Design: qualitative vs Quantitative Research

Experimental Research

The main purpose of experimental research is to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. The defining characteristics of experimental research are the active manipulation of independent variables and the random assignment of participants to the conditions to be manipulated, everything else should be kept as similar and as constant as possible. To depict the way experiments are conducted, a term used is called the design of the experiment. There are two main types of experimental design.  

Within-Subject Design
In a within-subject design, the same group of subjects serves in more than one treatment

Between Subjects Design
In between-group design, two or more groups of subjects, each of which is tested by a different testing factor simultaneously.

Non-Experimental Research

Non-Experimental Research is commonly used in sociology, political science, and management disciplines. This kind of research is often done with the help of a survey. There is no random assignment of participants to a particular group nor do we manipulate the independent variables. As a result, one cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship through non-experimental research. There are two approaches to analyzing such data: 

Tests for approaches to analyzing such data such as IQ level of participants from different ethnic backgrounds.

Tests for significant association between two factors such as firm sales and advertising expenditure.

Examples:

  • Quantitative: A study that surveys 1000 people to determine the average income in a city and its correlation with education level.
  • Qualitative: Research that interviews cancer patients about their experiences with treatment and explores the emotional impact of the disease.

Choosing Qualitative or Quantitative Research

The best approach depends on the research question. However, a general guideline is:

  • Use quantitative research to explore “what” and “how much” questions, measure relationships, and test theories.
  • Use qualitative research to understand “why” and “how” questions, gain insights into experiences, and explore social contexts.

Remember, Qualitative and Quantitative researches are not mutually exclusive. Sometimes, researchers use a mixed methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative methods for a more comprehensive understanding.

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Read about What is Research? Why we do conduct it?

R Frequently Asked Questions

Absolute Error of Measurement

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The absolute error of measurement is the difference between the measured value of an object and its true value.

When we measure an object, the measured value may be either a little more or a little lower than its true value, that is, an absolute error has occurred.
For example, if a scale (a measurement device) states the weight 10KG but you know the true weight is about 9KG, then the scale has an absolute error of 1KG ($ 10KG-9KG=1KG$).

This error may be caused by the scale used itself ‌ not measuring the exact amount of measurement you are trying to measure. For example, your measuring device may be accurate to the nearest KG. That is, if the weight is 9.6 kg, your scale may “round up” and give 10 kg. Thus, the absolute error is about $ 10KG-9.6KG=0.4KG$.

Absolute Error of Measurement

Mathematically, it can be described by the formula given below,
$ (\Delta X)=X_i-X$, where $ X_i$ is the measurement quantity by the device used and $X$ is the true value.

The measurement device may either little more or a little lower than the true value, the formula can be described in absolute form, that is
$$(\Delta X)=|X_i-X| $$

Absolute Error of a Measurement

‌Note that

  • If someones know the true value and the measured value, then the absolute error of measurement is just the subtraction of these numbers. However, sometimes, one may not know about the true value, one should use the maximum possible error as the absolute error.
  • Any possible measurement that one makes is ‌ an approximation, 100% accuracy of any measurement is impossible. It is also possible that if a measurement of the same object is made twice, then the two measurements may not be identical. Such ‌ differences between measurements (of the same object) are called variations in the measurement.
  • The absolute error of measurement does not provide any details about the graveness or importance of the error. For example, when measuring the distances between cities Kilometers apart, an error of a few centimeters is negligible. However, an error of centimeters when measuring a small piece of a machine is a ‌ significant error.
  • The largest possible absolute error of a measurement is always half of the value of the smallest unit used.
Types of Errors: Absolute Errors

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Basics of Ratios: Use and Application (2021)

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This post will discuss some Basics of Ratios. The ratio is used to compare two quantities of the same kind. Consider in a group of 45 people, 15 of whom are females. Let us understand the Basics of Ratios from an example.

Example of Ratios

We can compare the number of males and the number of females in the group in two different ways,

  1. There are 15 more males than females in a group of people. We are comparing the number of males and the number of females in the group of people by finding their differences.
  2. The number of males in a group of people is twice that of females. We are comparing the number of males and the number of females by finding a fraction consisting of the number of males over the number of females. The fraction is $\frac{30}{15}$.

In the second method, the fraction obtained is an example of the ratio.

A ratio may be written with a colon symbol between the numbers. Therefore, the male-female ratio in the group of people can be written as 30:15 or $\frac{30}{15}$. It can be read as the ratio of 30 is to 15, or simply 30 to 15.

In general, the ratio of $a$ to $b$ can be written as $la:b$ or $\frac{a}{b}$, where $a$ and $b$ represent whole numbers and $b$ should not be zero. Since ratio $\frac{30}{15}=\frac{2}{1}$ or $30:15 = 2:1$. the $30:15$ and $2:1$ are called equivalent ratios.

Basics of Ratios

Note that the order in which the ratio is written is important. A ratio has no measurement units. It is only a number that indicates how many times, one quantity is as great as the other. For example, the male to the female ratio of 2:1 means that the number of males is twice the number of females. It can also be interpreted as the female to male of 1:2 or $\frac{1}{2}$ indicates that there are half as many females as males.

Ratios Formula Uses and Application

Application of Ratios

Ratios can also be used to compare more than two quantities. For example, three-men A, B, and C share the profit of a business. They receive say 5000, 3000, and 1000, respectively. The ratio of their share of the profit is 5000:3000:1000 or 5:3:1.

One can also find that either there is an increase or decrease in the ratio. For example, say if the number of teachers in a college is increased from 45 to 55, then the ratio “number of present staff” to “number of old staff” (or number of present staff: number of old staff) = $55:45 = 11:9$ or $\frac{\text{no. of present staff}}{\text{no. of old staff}} = \frac{55}{45}=\frac{11}{9}$.
This ratio can be interpreted as the number of teachers has been increased in the ratio 11:9 or $\frac{11}{9}$.

The application of ratios in various fields are:

  1. Finance (Financial rations, investment analysis)
  2. Business and Management (inventory management, marketing and sales, and human resources)
  3. Science and Engineering (Concentration and Ratios in Chemistry, Mixture Ratios, Scale and Proportion
  4. Everyday Applications (Recipes, Maps and Scales)
  5. Mathematics (Rates and Unit Costs, Proportions)

Remember, ratios are a versatile tool, and their specific applications can vary depending on the field and situation. However, their core principle of comparing quantities remains constant, making them a valuable asset for anyone seeking to analyze and understand the world around them.

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