Quantitative Research “refers to the systematic
empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical, mathematical or
computational techniques.” Quantitative research is usually categorized by
descriptive research, experimental research, correlational research, and
causal-comparative research. Qualitative research is used to develop and
integrate mathematical models or theories to gain results. Quantitative are
results of data that are in the form of numbers and statistics. While
qualitative research uses word form top gain results and data. Quantitative research
uses numerical data to gain and test results.
Quantitative Research generalizes results from a
sample to the population of interest. The objective is to “measure the
incidence of various views and opinions in a chosen sample. The sample is
usually a large number of cases representing the population of interest.” Data
collection can stem from surveys, questionnaires, or interviews.
Quantitative research can be used in a variety of
ways to gain results. While qualitative research can offer results using an
individuals opinion, quantitative research does not have any room for opinions,
as results are usually required to have some numerical and statistical depth to
them. I think quantitative research is great for businesses as the corporation
will be able to know where they stand amongst their competition. It can also be
used in instances where a part may need to be ordered and an exact number is
needed to know how many of each part is being requested.
My manager uses quantitative research on a daily
basis as he continues to inform us of how many prospects we have gained over
the past week or month. He also listed our year to date progress and goals for
the next month or year. I think this is great, as my team and I always know
where we stand when it comes to the numbers specifically for what our
department does. My team and I have also been given the responsibility to
research the quantitative results we obtain individually for our designated
Masters Degree programs. This not only helps us with learning how to obtain
this information and how to use it, but also allows us the ability to track our
own work and see how much we have accomplished as individuals.
While quantitative research will probably always be
extremely useful for an organization, I also feel that there would be no
success without it. A company must always know where they stand amongst their competitors
and in their industry. However, qualitative research has just the same amount
of importance as quantitative research as this type of research will provide an
organization with results that are needed to help run the company for it to be
successful. I think that both are needed and desired at all levels to achieve and
maintain success.
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