STUDY NOTE NO.

QUALITATIVE VS. QUANTITATIVE

In comparison to quantitative research, qualitative inquiry employs different philosophical assumptions;
strategies of inquiry; and methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation (Creswell 2009, 173).
A qualitative approach emphasizes the qualities of entities, processes and meanings that are not
experimentally examined or measured in terms of quantity, amount, intensity or frequency (Denzin and Lincoln 2000).
Put another way, quality refers to a thing’s essence and ambience - the what, how, when and where of it.
Qualitative research thus refers to the meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols and
description of things (Berg 2007).
The research questions often stress how social experience is created and given meaning. The value-laden
nature of such an inquiry stresses the relationship between the researcher and subject(s), as well as the situational
constraints that shape the inquiry (Denzin and Lincoln 2011).

CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO SEVERAL QUALITATIVE METHODS (CRESWELL,2009)

1. Research is often conducted in the field, allowing direct interaction with the people being studied in their
context.
2. Researchers collect data themselves by examining documents, observing behavior or interviewing
participants.
3. Multiple sources of data are preferred over a single source; this requires the researcher to review all data,
make sense of it and organize it into categories or themes that cut across all sources.
4. Researchers often build their patterns, categories and themes from the bottom up (inductive analysis )
5. The focus is on learning the meaning participants hold rather than the meaning brought in by the
researcher.
6. The research is often an emergent, shifting process in response to the field.
7. The qualitative researcher interprets what is seen, heard and understood. This must be seen in light of the
researcher’s background, history, context and prior understanding.
8. The researcher tries to develop a complex picture of the problem or issue by reporting multiple perspectives
and identifying multiple factors involved.

STRENGTHS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

1. Issues and subjects covered can be evaluated in depth and in detail.

2. Interviews are not limited to particular questions and can be redirected or guided by researchers in real time.
3. The direction and framework of research can be revised quickly as soon as fresh information and findings
emerge.
4. The data in qualitative research depends on human experience and this is more compelling and powerful
than data gathered through quantitative research.
5. Complexities and subtleties about the subjects of the research or the topic covered is usually missed by
many positivistic inquiries.
6. Data is usually gathered from few individuals or cases therefore findings and outcomes cannot be spread to
larger populations. However, findings can be transferred to another setting.
7. With this type of research, the researcher has a clear vision on what to expect. They collect data in a
genuine effort of plugging data to bigger picture.

WEAKNESSES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Qualitative research displays its own strengths however, this is also associated with some disadvantages and
these include the following:

1. The quality of research is heavily dependent on the skills of the researcher and can be easily influenced by
personal idiosyncrasies and biases of researchers.
2. Rigidity is more difficult to assess, demonstrate and maintain.
3. The quantity of data makes interpretation and analysis time-consuming.
4. Qualitative research is sometimes not accepted and understood especially within scientific communities.
5. The presence of researcher in the process of data gathering is unavoidable and can therefore affect or
influence the responses of subjects.
6. Issues on confidentiality and anonymity can pose problems during presentation of findings.
7. Findings can be time consuming and difficult to present in visual ways.
KINDS OF QUALITATIVE METHODS OF RESEARCH

1. HISTORICAL
Historical research deals with the meaning of events. History is merely a transcript of the ever-
flowing stream of events and the inexorable changes in human life and its institutions: its languages,
customs, art, philosophies, and the lives of those who command the attention of their contemporaries-the
mega-figures.
Examples of Historical Researches:
A. Historical that depicts Social life
1. Mass Media from Pre-Spanish to American Period
2. Dating Procedures of Adolescence from the Pre-Spanish to American Regime
3. Memories of Ferdinand Marcos from 1943 to his Death
B. Cultural in Nature
1. Characteristics of the Filipina Dress from 1901 to 2000
2. Pictorial Evolution of Philippine Hats from 1861 to 1945
3. Child-Rearing Practices of the Pangasinense
C. Economic and Political in Nature
1. Philippine Currency from 1850 to 1950
2. The Value of the Peso in the Early 1900 to 2004
3. Personality Characteristics of the Past Presidents

2. CONTENT ANALYSIS METHOD

This method analyzes and evaluates in narrative form the content of documents, periodicals,
reports, letters, biographies and autobiographies, journals, books, and other instructional materials. Its
purpose is to explain the status of phenomenon at a particular time, to give additional knowledge and
information, to explain certain events and occurrences not yet very clear to the readers, or to relate the
content of the material to some other fields of discipline. Content analysis is also referred to as documentary
analysis.
Historical method of research and content analysis method are similar because both analyze
documents, events, and issues. They are different in the sense that in historical method, it analyzes
documents and events in the past while in content analysis method, the analysis is on current documents or
events.

3. ETHNOGRAPHIC METHOD
Ethnography is a systematic process of observing, detailing, describing, and analyzing the cultural
beliefs, practices, rituals, and customs of a cultural group in order to obtain information about their culture in
a particular environment. It is learning from other people how actions in one society make sense from the
point of view of another society.
The process of conducting ethnographic studies involves intensive field researches to discover and
describe accurately and comprehensively the culture of the people being studied; the researcher has to live
with the people and become part of their culture. To be able to understand more the cultural environment of
the subjects/respondents, the researcher must be able to understand a little of their language, beliefs,
practices, attitudes and be familiar with their cultural environment. This qualitative method of research is
very much popular in the fields of sociology and anthropology.

Examples of topics that can be investigated using the ethnographic method are:
1. Cultural Beliefs and Practices of the Gaddangs of Nueva Ecija
2. Circumcision Rituals among the Ibanag Menfolks
3. Folkways and Mores among the Ilocanos of Isabela
4. Child-rearing Practices among the Ifugaos in Northern Luzon
5. Marriage Rituals and Practices Among the Headhunters of Northern Luzon
6. Wake and Burial Beliefs and Practices among the Bicolanos of Rinconada Area, Camarines Sur
7. Pupil-Teacher Relationship in a Far-flung Barangay Elementary School
8. Attitudes and Behavior of Former Moviestars in a Drug Rehabilitation Center
9. Teacher-Parent Interactions in a Multigrade Community School

4. PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD
This method studies human experience through the description provided by the people involved.
These experiences are “live experiences” of the people themselves.
In other words, the subject of phenomenological studies is the human world. The people (subjects)
are asked by the researcher to describe the experiences as they perceive them; hence, the purpose of
phenomenological study is to describe the meaning of experiences that hold for each subject.
To understand the live or primary experiences of the subjects, the researcher must first identify
what he wants to discover. This is known as bracketing.
 Phenomenological studies are common in Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Education,
Criminology and other Social Sciences. It is also useful in nursing research. Purposive sampling technique
is usually the type of sampling used in this study.
Examples of topics using phenomenological studies are:
1. Mother’s Experiences Living with a College Graduating Child Dying of Cancer
2. Stress and Anxiety of Engineering Students During Licensure Examination
3. Experiences of Five La Union Fishermen Drifting in the Sea for Ten Days
4. Living Under the Earthquake Rubbles Without Food, Water, and Light for Five Days

GUIDELINES IN CONDUCTING PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCHES

1. Investigate a particular phenomenon

The researcher must have an intuitive grasp of the phenomenon, that is, he must have a heightened
awareness of his subject. Then he must identify the constituents of the observed phenomenon in his
consciousness. Then, he describes the phenomenon by way of analogy.
2. Investigate the general essence
The researcher must order or sequence the particular phenomenon in his consciousness according to
similarities; then he interprets intuitively what constitute the essence of this phenomenon that he and the
subject experience together.
3. Relate essential relationship among essences
The researcher must relate essential relationship among essences through synthetic process.
4. Watch modes of appearance
This can be done by the researcher through shading of the phenomenon in his field of awareness.
5. Watch the constitution of phenomenon
The researcher may describe the phenomenon as it unfolds to him and emerges in his consciousness.
6. Relate things in general essence
The researcher may theorize from his own experiences and connect his insights with existing theories.
7. Perform creative synthesis
This can be done by interpreting the phenomenon or by making implications of the phenomenon.

References:
http://occupytheory.org/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-qualitative-research/
Ariola, M. (2006). Principles and Methods of Research. Manila,Philippines.Rex Book Store.