Evaluate the general differences between quantitative and qualitative Essay

Evaluate the general differences between quantitative and qualitative methodologies. What are the advantages when employing them in combination - Essay Example Therefore, it can be seen that the methodologies of social research have a profound effect on the theories and inferences later formulated. This paper evaluates the differences in the two broad categories of data collection approaches, quantitative and qualitative, and discusses how using them together might benefit social research. Quantitative Method: the method of data collection that is more popular and deemed more reliable as compared to other methods in scientific circles is that of quantitative collection and evaluation of social data (Social Research Methods 2006). As the name suggests, it is concerned with quantifying (Wikipedia 2008) the information that has to be collected. In this method, the pertinent social issue is regarded as distinct from the society and the premises in which it is originally carried out (Wikipedia 2008), the positivist technique, (Wikipedia 2008) and viewed as a problem complete unto itself that is unaffected by its environment. Consequently, the variables (Weinreich Communications 2006)_ that is, the factors that exist outside of the problem-system that might have a role to play in the issue_ to be considered are lessened quite significantly (Wikipedia 2008), and the issue is dealt with more like a closed system. For the same purpose, the researcher is required to be objectiv e (Weinreich Communications 2006), meaning that his or her own experiences, thoughts or affiliations should not interfere with the way the problem is viewed and handled. As the purpose is to quantify the information, a large amount of data is required to be collected, meaning that the number of cases are quite large whereas the variables considered are less (Wikipedia 2008). This, combined with the fact that the researcher is supposed to be objective makes this method of data collection very reliable (Lecture Notes 2007), as the same results can be produced over and over again regardless of the place of study or the person conducting the research (Weinreich Communications 2006). A large amount of data and theories worked out, henceforth, means that the approach is deductive (Lecture Notes 2007), as a general concept is worked out from specific nature of data. In fact, quantitative method is extremely apt at and useful for generalisations, and it is for this reason that it is widely used as a tool in policy and decision making practices (Social Research Methods 2006). Another reason for this is that the ontology for this method is realist; it concentr ates on developing universal laws and principles (Lecture Notes 2007) based heavily on numeric (Lecture Notes 2007) and scientific data that is collected systematically and is processed in a way that it becomes scientifically reliable and viable for realist approach. The different methods of data