Research methods can broadly be categorized into two main types: qualitative and quantitative. The fundamental difference lies in their approach to data, their objectives, and the types of questions they aim to answer.

Qualitative Research Methods

Definition: Qualitative research is an exploratory research approach that focuses on understanding concepts, thoughts, experiences, and meanings from the perspective of individuals or groups. It deals with non-numerical data, such as words, images, and observations, to gain in-depth insights into a phenomenon. It is often used to explore “how” and “why” questions, to uncover underlying reasons, motivations, and patterns that are not easily quantifiable.

Characteristics:

• Focus: Understanding meaning, context, and subjective experiences.
• Data Type: Non-numerical (text, audio, video, images).
• Sample Size: Typically small and purposefully selected (not randomly), aiming for rich, in-depth information rather than broad generalization.
• Methods: Interviews (in-depth, semi-structured, unstructured), focus groups, observations (participant observation, ethnographic studies), case studies, content analysis of documents/media, narrative analysis.
• Analysis: Interpreting themes, patterns, meanings, and narratives from the data. It’s often inductive, meaning theories or hypotheses emerge from the data.
• Outcome: Rich, descriptive insights; development of hypotheses or theories.

Example of Qualitative Research:

Research Question: “How do women in rural Kisumu County perceive and experience barriers to accessing maternal healthcare services?”

• Method: The researcher would conduct in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15-20 pregnant women and new mothers living in rural areas of Kisumu County.
• Data Collection: During the interviews, the researcher would ask open-ended questions like:
  • “Can you describe your experience accessing healthcare during your pregnancy?”
  • “What challenges did you face when trying to get to a clinic or hospital?”
  • “How did these challenges make you feel?”
  • “What do you think could make it easier for women like you to get the care they need?”
• Analysis: The researcher would transcribe the interviews and then use thematic analysis to identify recurring themes, patterns, and categories in the women’s responses. Themes might include “transportation difficulties,” “cost of services,” “lack of information,” “perceived disrespect from healthcare providers,” or “impact of cultural beliefs on seeking care.”
• Outcome: The study would provide a rich, nuanced understanding of the lived experiences and perceptions of these women, explaining why certain barriers exist and how they impact access to care, which could inform the development of targeted, culturally sensitive interventions.

Quantitative Research Methods

Definition: Quantitative research is a systematic investigation that deals with numerical data and statistics. Its primary goal is to measure variables, test hypotheses, examine relationships between variables, and generalize findings from a sample to a larger population. It aims to answer “what,” “when,” “where,” and “how many” questions.

Characteristics:

• Focus: Measuring variables, testing hypotheses, and establishing cause-and-effect relationships.
• Data Type: Numerical (numbers, statistics, quantifiable data).
• Sample Size: Typically large and randomly selected, aiming for statistical generalizability.
• Methods: Surveys with closed-ended questions (e.g., Likert scales, multiple-choice), experiments, structured observations (where observations are counted or rated numerically), statistical analysis of existing datasets.
• Analysis: Statistical analysis (descriptive statistics like means and percentages; inferential statistics like t-tests, ANOVA, regression) to identify patterns, correlations, and significant differences. It’s often deductive, meaning a hypothesis is tested.
• Outcome: Statistical findings, charts, graphs, and the ability to confirm or disconfirm theories and generalize results.

Example of Quantitative Research:

Research Question: “Is there a statistically significant correlation between the number of nurses per patient and patient satisfaction scores in public hospitals in Kisumu County?”

• Method: The researcher would conduct a survey research study, potentially combined with secondary data analysis.
• Data Collection:
  • Nurse-to-patient ratio: Collect numerical data on the average number of nurses per patient shift from 20 public hospitals in Kisumu County over a specific period (e.g., the last 12 months) from hospital administrative records.
  • Patient Satisfaction Scores: Administer a standardized patient satisfaction survey (using a Likert scale, e.g., 1 = Very Dissatisfied to 5 = Very Satisfied) to a large, random sample of discharged patients (e.g., 500-1000 patients) from the same 20 hospitals. The survey would include closed-ended questions about satisfaction with nursing care, communication, responsiveness, etc., generating numerical scores.