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Discussion Post Reply #1
When comparing quantitative and qualitative research, it is clear they have different approaches to understanding the world. Quantitative research focuses on numbers and measurable data. Researchers use surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis to test theories and hypotheses. (Creswell & Creswell, 2018), An example of this type of research would be a study of the effectiveness of medications. The Quantitative method collects numerical data and analyzes it to look for patterns. Hire best assignment help now!
Qualitative research is quite different from quantitative as it researches people's experiences, thoughts, and emotions rather than numerical data. This type of research focuses on why things happen using methods such as observations and interviews.
The goal of qualitative research is to answer more open-ended questions. (Bhandari, 2023). A good example of a qualitative research method would be exploring how behavioral health patients feel about their medical treatment using observations and surveys.
Another type of research is descriptive research, which can often be confused with qualitative research but is different. Descriptive research is a specific form of quantitative research that aims to outline the characteristics of populations without an explanation for cause and effect (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Descriptive research focuses on making a clear picture of a specific phenomenon rather than looking into the deeper causes of it.
Understanding the differences between quantitative, qualitative, and descriptive research is important for selecting the correct approach to answer research questions. Each of these methods has its strengths and is valuable depending on the specific goals of a study.