What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative method of data collection?

In data collection there are two different types of main methods, qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data is collected through methods such as interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. Quantitative data is collected through methods such as surveys, polls, and experiments.

The main difference between qualitative and quantitative data is that qualitative data is descriptive while quantitative data is numeric. Qualitative data provides insights into why people behave the way they do while quantitative data simply measures how many people behave in a certain way.

Another difference between qualitative and quantitative data is that qualitative data is typically collected through smaller sample sizes while quantitative data is collected through larger sample sizes. This is because it is easier to collect detailed information from a small group of people than it is from a large group of people.

Also, qualitative data is usually collected through unstructured or semi-structured interviews, while quantitative data is usually collected through structured surveys. This means that qualitative data tends to be richer and more detailed, while quantitative data is more limited in scope but can be more easily analyzed and compared.

Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods have their advantages and disadvantages. The best research designs will use a mix of both methods to get the most complete understanding of the research question.