Qualitative snd Quantitative data

Qualitative data

• Written data - allows the participant to expand their answers, provide descriptive accounts

• E.g interviews - interpretivists prefer this - allows us to understand experiences

Quantitative Data

• Numerical data - preferred by positivists

• Needed if the researcher is testing a hypothesis

Strengths and weaknesses of quantitative

• Reliable

• Objective

• Can get trends

• Gain large sample - make generalisations

• Practical - cost-effective

• Not valid

• Lack of depth

• May be biased in questions asked

• Time-consuming - response rate of 10%

Strengths and weaknesses of qualitative

• Valid

• Respondent can speak in own words

• Gain insight into hard to reach groups - criminals

• Build a rapport - improves validity

• Unreliable

• Can’t quantify

• Lack of representativeness - can’t make generalisations

• Low in objectivity - interviewer bias