| Difference with respect to | Quantitative Research | Qualitative Research |
| Underpinning Philosophy | Rationalism | Empiricism |
| Approach to enquiry | Structured/ Rigid/ Pre-determined methodology | Unstructured/ Flexible/ Open Methodology |
| Main purpose of investigation | To quantify extent of variation in a phenomena, situation, issue etc | To describe variation in a phenomena, situation, issue etc |
| Measurement of variables | Emphasis on some form of either measurement of, or classification of variables | Emphasis on description of variables |
| Sample size | Emphasis on greater sample size | Fewer cases |
| Focus of enquiry | Narrows focus in terms of extent of enquiry, but assembles information from greater number of respondents | Covers multiple issues but assembles required information from fewer respondents |
| Dominant research value | Reliability and objectivity (value free) | Authenticity but does not claim to be value free. |
| Dominant research topic | Explains prevalence, incidence, extent, nature of issues, opinions and attitudes; discovers regularities and formulates theories | Explores experiences, meanings, perceptions and feelings |
| Analysis of Data | Subject variables to frequency distributions, cross-tabulations or other statistical procedures | Subject responses, narratives, or observational data to identification of themes and describes these. |
| Communication of findings | Organisation more analytical in nature, drawing inferences and conclusions, and testing magnitude and strength of a relation | Organisation more descriptive and narrative in nature |
References:
- Research Methodology-Methods and Techniques by C.R. Kothari, New Age International (P) Limited, Publishers, ISBN (13) : 978-81-224-2488-1
- Research Methodology- a step-by-step guide for beginners by Ranjit Kumar , SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd, ISBN 978-1-84920-300-5, ISBN 978-1-84920-301-2 (pbk)
