Identifying and Finding Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Slide 2
Librarian: Let’s take a few minutes to talk about quantitative and qualitative research studies – what
they are and how they differ from each other, as well as how to identify them when searching in library
databases.
Quantitative research is objective; a quantitative researcher is trying to measure something and then
determine the meanings of differences, relationships or associations between identified variables.
Qualitative research, on the other hand, is subjective; a qualitative researcher is attempting to explain or
better understand a naturally occurring phenomenon by seeking out the experiences, perceptions and
opinions of people who have experienced the phenomenon.
In a quantitative study, results are reported in terms of statistical significance of numeric data. If you
read a quantitative research study report, you should expect to find data tables, with information about
the statistical significances of findings.
In a qualitative study report, you will find results reported in terms of theories, interpretations, or
derived meanings. Expect to find tables with data expressed as words.
More generally, quantitative research tests a theory using deductive reasoning to synthesize data. That
makes the focus of results concise and narrow.
Qualitative research is usually broad and more complex that quantitative research. Researchers use
inductive reasoning to synthesize qualitative data intended to develop new theories or understandings
of a topic.
In quantitative research, the researcher is ultimately interested in a cause and effect relationship, while
a qualitative researcher is ultimately interested in meaning, or discovery.
In quantitative research, the basic elements of analysis are numbers and statistical analyses. In
qualitative research, the basic elements of analysis are words, narrative, and meaning.
Student: I think I understand the difference between quantitative and qualitative studies now, but when
I find an article, how will I be able to tell if it discusses a quantitative or a qualitative research study?
Librarian: That’s a great question. First, you need to make sure that the article reports on original
research. Many articles you can find through library databases may be what we call “white papers” or
academic discussions of a topic. These may be useful articles if you are doing background research on a
topic, but if an assignment specifically asks you to find articles that discuss research methods, you need
to look further. Before you assume that an article reports on a research study, you need to figure out if
the authors collected original data or used existing information for their analysis. Either way, the
identification of a data source and a report of data analysis are necessary in an article that reports on a
research study.
Student: Oh, so if the authors don’t discuss the collection and analysis of data—whether quantitative or
qualitative—it may not be a report of a research study?
