Qualitative Vs Quantitative Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Qualitative Vs Quantitative Research - Essay Example As Meyer (2003) describes it ‘realities exist in any given situation, that is, the researcher’s, those of the individuals being investigated, and the reader or audience interpreting the results; these multiple perspectives, or voices, of informants (i.e., subjects) are included in the study. The research puts in perspective these people who would greatly influence the kind of data to be collected and submitted (Monroe, 2004). In addition, reality is socially constructed with the data being gathered from a multitude of people, primacy of subject matter; the research is geared towards knowing what factors underlie in a certain context, variables are complex, interwoven, and difficult to measure (Given & Lisa, 2008). This brings in the presentation of data in words to explain the terms which cannot be exploited by statistical methods.  Further, it has been noted that the researcher interacts with those he studies and actively works to minimize the distance between the res earcher and those being researched (Miles & Huberman, 1994). As further stated by Lee (1998) cannot be exploited by statistical methods ‘researchers typically become members of a culture, group, or setting, and adopt roles to conform to that setting. In doing so, the aim is for the researcher to gain a closer insight into the culture's practices, motivations and emotions’. This enables the researcher to get the first hand information and in order to enable the researcher to gain and present the actual non distorted information.... Moreover, Edward & Richard (1979) explain further that, ‘qualitative research emphasizes the importance of looking at variables in the natural setting in which they are found. Interaction between variables is important’. This explains that qualitative research is based on words representing the data collected. As Meyer (2003) describes it ‘realities exist in any given situation, that is, the researcher’s, those of the individuals being investigated, and the reader or audience interpreting the results; these multiple perspectives, or voices, of informants (i.e., subjects) are included in the study. The research puts in perspective these people who would greatly influence the kind of data to be collected and submitted (Monroe, 2004). In addition, reality is socially constructed with the data being gathered from a multitude of people, primacy of subject matter; the research is geared towards knowing what factors underlie in a certain context, variables are comp lex, interwoven, and difficult to measure (Given & Lisa, 2008). This brings in the presentation of data in words to explain the terms which cannot be exploited by statistical methods. Further, it has been noted that the researcher interacts with those he studies and actively works to minimize the distance between the researcher and those being researched (Miles & Huberman, 1994). As further stated by Lee (1998) ‘researchers typically become members of a culture, group, or setting, and adopt roles to conform to that setting. In doing so, the aim is for the researcher to gain a closer insight into the culture's practices, motivations and emotions’. This enables the