Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Traditions: epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences

Abstract

There has been much discussion about quantitative and qualitative approaches to research in different disciplines. In the behavioural and social sciences, these two paradigms are compared to reveal their relative strengths and weaknesses. But the debate about both traditions has commonly taken place in academic books. It is hard to find an article that deals with the generic issues related to the quantitative and qualitative divide by drawing on distinguished research literature. Interested in addressing this need, this article aims to explain the essential characteristics of quantitative and qualitative research approaches with an emphasis on their underlying epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences. It elucidates the research design issues and concepts in relation to both research paradigms, from planning research to collecting and analyzing data, and reporting findings. The criteria that are used to evaluate research strategies and findings are also discussed.

Towards an understanding of clinical nurses challenges that leads intention to leave

“…Thematic analysis and coding process occurred through consensus, and transferability of findings were observed by a descriptive demographic to represent the nursing views within the professional context. (17) The development of this study met national and international standards of ethics in research involving human subjects.…”

Motivating Project Owners to Increase Their Commitment towards Improving the Delivery Performance of Green Building Projects

“…According to Abawi (2008), quantitative methodology is a type of inquiry into social or human phenomenon composed of theories, concepts and variables, which are measured and analysed using statistical techniques to explain or predict phenomena of interest. Qualitative methodology is an emergent, inductive, interpretive and naturalistic approach to the study of people, cases, phenomena, social situations and processes in their natural settings, in order to reveal in descriptive terms the meanings that people attach to their experiences of the world (Yilmaz, 2013). According to Bhattacherjee (2012), mixing both methodologies helps to generate unique insights, which are not available from either types.…”

“…This is followed by testing the variables and concepts using obtained numerical data, thereby generating findings. Thereafter, industry views are explored for deepened understanding of the relevance and applicability of the findings (Yilmaz, 2013).…”

“…This additional research objective is studied through the qualitative methodology, and therefore the purposive sampling technique is key to selecting and studying a small number of people whose position and wealth of exposure as project owners of completed green building projects in Australia can help to deepen the findings about how project owners' motivation and their commitment can lead to improving the delivery performance of green building projects (Yilmaz, 2013). …”

“…In line with the quantitative methodology, the data obtained for this research objective is analysed with both statistical exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA & CFA). According to Yilmaz (2013), mathematical models and statistics are used to analyse data in quantitative research. The EFA was used to determine the drivers that measure the factors of project owners' motivation for delivering green building projects, while the CFA was used to confirm the results (Byrne, 2005).…”