According to Hoepfl “Qualitative research can be broadly
defined as any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means
of statistical procedures or other means of quantification." (Hoepfl, 1997,
p. 1)
In other words qualitative
also know as naturalistic
research, it refers
a way of conducting, and conceiving research. In qualitative research, the
researcher is the instrument or the tool for designing, collecting, and
analyzing research. Qualitative research, in contrast to quantitative research,
generally does not translate aspects of the world into numbers to be analyzed
mathematically. Instead, it analyzes the world through the lenses the researcher
brings to bear on the data.
Qualitative Versus Quantitative
“The line between qualitative and quantitative research is
not hard and fast, and both forms of research build on the contributions of the
other. Researchers in education and other fields often conduct mixed methods
research, thoughtfully and carefully combining the two to answer questions
using multiple strategies.” (Kuttner & Threlkeld) “Quantitative
researchers seek causal determination, prediction, and generalization of
findings, qualitative researchers seek instead illumination, understanding, and
extrapolation to similar situations.” (Hoepfl, 1997, p. 1)
So from my understanding qualitative research is based on subjective
facts from the prospective of the researcher basically a quality based research,
compared to quantitative research which I would classify as a quantity based
research.
Use of a Qualitative Research
“The qualitative methods are appropriate in situations where one needs to
first identify the variables that might later be tested quantitatively, or where the
researcher has determined that quantitative measures cannot adequately describe or interpret a
situation.” (Hoepfl, 1997, p. 2) In other words qualitative research would be
used to establish perameters and variables
in an open, natural environment. The findings and conclusions of the qualitative
research could then be futher researched and test in a controlled environment
under a theory of quantitative research.
The major difference is the setting, qualitative is quality research in
the subjects natural environment, where as quantitative is based in number in a
controlled of lab type environment.
References
Hoepfl,
M. C. (1997, Fall). Choosing Qualitative Research: A Primer for Technology
Education Researchers. Journal of Technology Education, 9(1). Retrieved Sept
19, 2015, from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v9n1/hoepfl.html
Kuttner, P., & Threlkeld, A. (n.d.). Foundations of
Qualitative Research in Education. Retrieved from Harvard.edu:
http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=qualitative&pageid=icb.page340273
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