Quantitative Versus Qualitative Research: An Attempt to Clarify the Issue

Abstract

This paper will describe points of disagreement between quant i ta-tive research and qualitative, or in te rpre t ive, research. After a brief historical overview, the dis-cussion will focus on how each per-spective responds to three major and closely r e l a t e d ques t ions: (1) What is the relationship of the investigator to what is investigat-ed? (2) What is the relationship between facts and values in the process of i nves t iga t ion? and (3) What is the goal of investiga-tion? Educational researchers have r ecen t ly devoted i n c r e a s i n g amounts of time and energy to the issue of one method versus the other. Unfortunately, much of the discussion has tended to obfuscate rather than clarify. There has been a tendency to engage in polemics and, at times, name calling. We have all heard, if not seen in print as frequently or as bluntly, one side refer to the other as "bank-rup t, " "number-c runcher s, " or "storytellers. " There has also been a tendency to see t he two ap-proaches, if not as interchange-able, certainly as complementary. The implication is that research-ers may variously mix the two ap-proaches for any par t icular re-