Advantages of Quantitative Study Conditions
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When a researcher is formulating or testing a hypothesis, it is important to know which research approach to use. Study conditions for quantitative research and qualitative research differ. For qualitative research, questionnaires may be used to determine a person’s thoughts and behaviors. This information does not produce concrete statistical data to be used for researcher analysis. Quantitative data offers a more accurate approach to results by using data collection and statistical analysis on an objective outcome. Each of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages over study conditions.
Advantages of Quantitative Study Conditions
Quantitative research uses data that measures objective outcomes from variables applied to a population. One advantage of control conditions for quantitative research is that controlled testing helps to support or debunk a hypothesis. Controlled study conditions help determine precise and predictable outcomes. Having a controlled group and comparing it to the group with variables helps the researcher obtain reliable data. Having a controlled study condition allows researchers the ability to analyze the objective outcomes that are produced by comparing the control group to the experimental group and determining the influence that variables have in the study. This accurate measurement of objective information from a controlled study condition also helps to reduce bias in the research results.
Disadvantages of Quantitative Study Conditions
A disadvantage of control conditions for quantitative research is that the control group and experimental group will show numerical data and not explore human phenomena. The study conditions of quantitative research do not explore participant characteristics. Having control to test variables on people, diseases, or the environment is useful in determining differences between two groups when exposed to the variable, but it does not produce results that explain human nature. The study conditions of a quantitative approach to research do not display phenomena, which can negatively impact the interpretation of understanding why humans behave or think a particular way.
Advantages of Qualitative Study Conditions
An advantage of control over qualitative research is that study conditions can explore human characteristics and phenomena more reliably than quantitative research. The study conditions for qualitative research are often gathered by using small sample groups which can produce faster and more cost-efficient results than quantitative designs. Study conditions for qualitative research can involve interviews and questionnaires, which produce results that explore the human experience.
Jenna Gonzalez
When a researcher is formulating or testing a hypothesis, it is important to know which research approach to use. Study conditions for quantitative research and qualitative research differ. For qualitative research, questionnaires may be used to determine a person’s thoughts and behaviors. This information does not produce concrete statistical data to be used for researcher analysis. Quantitative data offers a more accurate approach to results by using data collection and statistical analysis on an objective outcome. Each of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages over study conditions.
Advantages of Quantitative Study Conditions
Quantitative research uses data that measures objective outcomes from variables applied to a population. One advantage of control conditions for quantitative research is that controlled testing helps to support or debunk a hypothesis. Controlled study conditions help determine precise and predictable outcomes. Having a controlled group and comparing it to the group with variables helps the researcher obtain reliable data. Having a controlled study condition allows researchers the ability to analyze the objective outcomes that are produced by comparing the control group to the experimental group and determining the influence that variables have in the study. This accurate measurement of objective information from a controlled study condition also helps to reduce bias in the research results.
Disadvantages of Quantitative Study Conditions
A disadvantage of control conditions for quantitative research is that the control group and experimental group will show numerical data and not explore human phenomena. The study conditions of quantitative research do not explore participant characteristics. Having control to test variables on people, diseases, or the environment is useful in determining differences between two groups when exposed to the variable, but it does not produce results that explain human nature. The study conditions of a quantitative approach to research do not display phenomena, which can negatively impact the interpretation of understanding why humans behave or think a particular way.
Advantages of Qualitative Study Conditions
An advantage of control over qualitative research is that study conditions can explore human characteristics and phenomena more reliably than quantitative research. The study conditions for qualitative research are often gathered by using small sample groups which can produce faster and more cost-efficient results than quantitative designs. Study conditions for qualitative research can involve interviews and questionnaires, which produce results that explore the human experience. An advantage to using this study condition is that the results of the research can explain subjective information that is not measurable otherwise.
Disadvantages of Qualitative Study Conditions
Qualitative research does not use a research control but instead focuses on the in-depth meaning of human motives and attitudes. (Polit and Beck, 2018.) A disadvantage to the control conditions of qualitative research is that qualitative research may not yield the same results if the study is repeated. Due to a lack of control over the people or environment involved in the research, results can vary based on the individuals chosen for the study. Results from qualitative research may not be accurate since the data comes from an individual’s personal perception. (Tenny and Sharts-Hopko, 2019.) With loose control over study conditions for variables and people, qualitative research is subjected to bias. The results of qualitative research are subjective and based off of a person’s thought process or feelings. Replicating the study conditions and results for qualitative research may also be more difficult to do than for quantitative research. Interpretation of information can also be biased and influence the study conclusions.
Quantitative Generalization
Generalizing results from a quantitative research sample into a larger population can help mirror outcomes of a larger sample size or population. One advantage of generalizing a sample into a larger group in quantitative research is that the sample results can be transferable to the population. For example, if a study was conducted with a sample size of 1000 participants, the results could be transferable to a bigger population to conclude the exact statistical number in relation to the larger population sample. Generalizing quantitative results is useful because it helps objectively transfer statistical data and apply these same results into a larger population.
A disadvantage of generalizing a sample into a larger group in quantitative research is that it can be time-consuming and more costly than using a smaller sample size. Researchers must also make sure that the original sample size is an accurate representation of the larger population or generalizing will produce inaccurate results.
Qualitative Generalization
An advantage of generalizing results from a group into a larger sample size with qualitative research is that it can be used to collect data with larger samples. Though generalization is not usually associated with qualitative studies, the results from using a larger sample can provide more data to be used for future studies and aide in developing a new hypothesis.
A disadvantage of generalizing results from a sample to a larger population with qualitative research is that the results from the smaller sample may not be transferable to the larger group. It can be difficult to make comparisons with subjective findings. Since qualitative research is based on a person’s phenomenon, the results of one sample may not replicate results in a larger population group. Qualitative results are subjective, and the results from one study may not be universal to larger population sizes.
References
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2018). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, London, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo: Wolters Kluwer.
Tenny S, Sharts-Hopko NC. Qualitative Study. [2019, May 29]. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470395/