What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research, and in what situations might you use each type? Provide an example of a study that might use qualitative research methods and one that might use quantitative research methods.
Qualitative and quantitative research are two broad categories of research methods used in social science research.
Qualitative research is a research method that seeks to understand the subjective experiences, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals and groups through the collection of non-numerical data such as text, audio, or visual data. Qualitative research methods involve collecting data through methods such as interviews, focus groups, and observations, and analyzing this data using techniques such as content analysis or thematic analysis. Qualitative research is often used when the research question seeks to understand how or why something happens, or when exploring a new or complex phenomenon.
Quantitative research, on the other hand, is a research method that seeks to measure and analyze numerical data to make statistical inferences about a population. Quantitative research methods involve collecting data through structured methods such as surveys, experiments, or statistical modeling, and analyzing this data using techniques such as regression analysis or hypothesis testing. Quantitative research is often used when the research question seeks to measure the magnitude and direction of the relationship between variables, or when the research question requires testing of a hypothesis.
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