Use quantitative research methods to gather and represent a random selection, provide statistics and ensure that a researcher avoids bias when collecting data. Questionnaires, surveys and counting are items that can form the aspects found in a quantitative research study.
Qualitative research asks research participants to report things such as psychological outlooks, cultural influences, biases, tastes or other subjective elements. Use this type of research to form an overall reflection of the meanings that people assign to experiences.
Survey focus groups to gather input before drafting an objective, quantitative questionnaire. This follows a subjective, qualitative approach in developing a quantitative tool.
Evaluate subjects following qualitative methods after collecting data. This could mean asking survey respondents to rate areas such as their general happiness, job satisfaction, shopping habits or the effectiveness of management. The initial numbers supply the data; the evaluations require qualitative considerations.
Draw opinions, feelings or biases from survey participants and express these in numbers. Assign percentages to the number of people who respond a certain way.
Seek both numbers and evaluations simultaneously. Use this approach to improve data gathering methods, such as when asking for subjective feedback about an objective questionnaire. Administer a new questionnaire for re-evaluation.