Qualitative and Quantitative data

Question 1

Who favours Quantitative methods?

Answer 1

Positivists
They are objective and numerical data.
Easy analysis meaning they can generate a cause-and-effect relationship so generalisations can be made.

(High reliability)
(Potentially low validity)

Question 2

List some quantitative methods

Answer 2

Lab experiments
Closed questionnaires
Structured interviews
Official statistics

Question 3

Who favours qualitative data?

Answer 3

Interpretivists
Provide meaningful insights into social behaviour.
They are subjective.
More detailed.

(High validity)
(Potentially low reliability) - Difficult to analyse.

Question 4

List some qualitative methods

Answer 4

Unstructured interviews
Participant observations
Documents - Diaries
Field experiments
Open questionnaires