Step 3: Choose Data Collection Method(s)
How to Choose a Method
Should you use quantitative or qualitative methods?
The decision about who should answer is also tied to the decision about how it
should be answered. Your first determination should be whether to use
qualitative or quantitative methods. Qualitative methods provide rich
descriptive information and insights into characteristics and choices.
Quantitative methods provide numbers, frequencies, percentages, and rates. Both
are important and can complement each other.
A Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods* |
Qualitative |
Quantitative |
- Provides depth of understanding
- Asks "Why?"
- Studies motivations
- Is subjective
- Enables discovery
- Is exploratory
- Allows insights into behavior, trends, and so on
- Interprets
|
- Measures level of occurrence
- Asks "How many?" or "How often?"
- Studies action
- Is objective
- Provides proof
- Is definitive
- Measures level of actions, trends, and so on
- Describes
|
What other factors should you consider?
Consider what methods you or your group has the skills to do, what skills could
be accessed by hiring someone, how much time you have available, and how
much money you have to spend on this.
|