Quantitative Versus Qualitative Methods
As noted earlier, data are classified as quantitative (can be counted or expressed in numbers) or qualitative (descriptive information, expressed in words). Both can be valuable, depending on the type of information you want and how you plan to use it. Some methods lend themselves to qualitative data, while others are more suited to collecting quantitative data; some can produce both.In general, quantitative data collection methods are structured and controlled, usually with a closed set of answers participants can choose from. They provide uniform, standardized data that are easy to sum up numerically. Analyzing quantitative data generally requires mathematical or statistical procedures.
Qualitative methods are generally less structured and allow you to be flexible in how you use them. You can expect a broad range of information based on the diversity of individual responses. Analyzing qualitative data involves content analysis—combing through individual responses looking for themes.
Using mixed methods—in other words, both data types—can help make your evaluation more robust and present a more accurate picture of what has occurred.
Things to Consider
