IRM4729
Assignment 03
Due 29 August 2025
, IRM4729
Assignment 03: RESEARCH SCRIPT
Due 29th August 2025
1.1 Compare and Contrast Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs
Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research designs. Which research
design is best suited for your research problem? Justify your answer
Research design provides the overall framework for conducting a study, guiding how
data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted. Two dominant traditions are qualitative and
quantitative designs, each with distinct characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.
Qualitative research is primarily concerned with exploring meanings, experiences, and
perspectives. It often employs interviews, focus groups, case studies, or observations to
generate rich, descriptive data. The strength of this approach lies in its ability to provide
depth, capture context, and reveal nuanced insights that might otherwise remain
hidden. However, qualitative research is often limited by smaller sample sizes,
subjectivity in interpretation, and challenges in generalizing findings to broader
populations.
By contrast, quantitative research emphasizes measurement and statistical analysis. It
involves collecting numerical data through structured methods such as surveys,
experiments, and standardized questionnaires, often with the purpose of testing
hypotheses or establishing cause-and-effect relationships. Its advantages include
objectivity, replicability, and the ability to generalize findings across larger populations.
The limitations, however, include rigidity in research instruments, the risk of
oversimplifying complex human experiences, and the possibility of neglecting the social
and cultural context in which phenomena occur.
Assignment 03
Due 29 August 2025
, IRM4729
Assignment 03: RESEARCH SCRIPT
Due 29th August 2025
1.1 Compare and Contrast Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs
Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research designs. Which research
design is best suited for your research problem? Justify your answer
Research design provides the overall framework for conducting a study, guiding how
data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted. Two dominant traditions are qualitative and
quantitative designs, each with distinct characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.
Qualitative research is primarily concerned with exploring meanings, experiences, and
perspectives. It often employs interviews, focus groups, case studies, or observations to
generate rich, descriptive data. The strength of this approach lies in its ability to provide
depth, capture context, and reveal nuanced insights that might otherwise remain
hidden. However, qualitative research is often limited by smaller sample sizes,
subjectivity in interpretation, and challenges in generalizing findings to broader
populations.
By contrast, quantitative research emphasizes measurement and statistical analysis. It
involves collecting numerical data through structured methods such as surveys,
experiments, and standardized questionnaires, often with the purpose of testing
hypotheses or establishing cause-and-effect relationships. Its advantages include
objectivity, replicability, and the ability to generalize findings across larger populations.
The limitations, however, include rigidity in research instruments, the risk of
oversimplifying complex human experiences, and the possibility of neglecting the social
and cultural context in which phenomena occur.
