Understanding quantitative and qualitative methods
Whether you’re reading existing research to apply in your classroom or you’re looking to conduct some research of your own, contemplating the distinction between quantitative and qualitative research methods is important so that you can correctly interpret what you encounter.
Last week, we encountered qualitative research. This week, as we focus on statistics and quantitative research, it’s useful to understand the differences between them.
In this video, we hear from Gemma Goldenberg and Sam Sims as they discuss the differences and uses of each.
Key learning points
- Quantitative methods produces numerical data and aims to generalise the results to try and reach an objective truth
- Qualitative methods produces descriptive data and aims to reach an observation on the way things are
- It’s unhelpful to see qualitative as sitting in opposition to quantitative research but to see the two methods as adding value to each other
Once you’re ready, click ‘mark as complete’ and then click ‘Interpreting data’ to move on.
Education Research That Matters: Ways of Researching
Education Research That Matters: Ways of Researching
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