Brikci and Green (2007) suggest using a qualitative approach for studies that aim to

“understand the perspectives of participants, explore the meaning they give to a phenomenon,

and observe a process in depth” (p.7). Qualitative research questions, therefore, aim to generate

opinions, beliefs, and values. Questions that explore, for instance, the perception, idea, thoughts,

or emotions of study participants would be classified as qualitative in nature. Mack, Woodsong,

MacQueen, Guest, & Namey (2011), meanwhile, state that a qualitative research question is

“open-ended” (p. 3). Examples of these questions would involve the why’s and how’s of the

object being studied. The data format of the answers derived from these questions is textual in

nature.

Quantitative research questions, on the other hand, aim to “quantify variation, predict

causal relationships, or describe the characteristics of a population” (Mack et al., 2011).

Questions that explore the differences, relationships, and characteristics of the object being

studied, therefore, are quantitative in nature. The answers generated from these questions are

usually numerical in nature. These questions sometimes aim to quantify otherwise unquantifiable

objects by transforming them into measurable variables and relationships. Another defining

characteristic of a quantitative question is its reliance on experiments and surveys as research

methods.

While quantitative and qualitative research questions differ in the way they attack a

research problem, combining them can lead to a more insightful and comprehensive research

study. Some studies, for instance, begin with a quantitative question to uncover manifest

characteristics of an object being studied and then proceed to a qualitative one to delve deeper

into the meanings and relationships within that object.

References

Brikci, M., & Green, J. (2007). A guide to using qualitative research methodology. Retrieved

fromhttp://evaluation.msf.at/fileadmin/evaluation/files/documents/resources_MSF/

MSF_Qualitative_Methods.pdf

Mack, N., Woodsong, C., MacQueen, K. M., Guest, G., & Namey, E. (2011). Qualitative

research methods overview. In Qualitative research methods: A data collector’s field

guide. Retrieved from http://www.fhi.org/en/rh/pubs/booksreports/qrm_datacoll.htm