, IRM4729 Assignment 3 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
2025 – DUE 29 August 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
1.1 Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research designs.
Which research design is best suited for your research problem? Justify
your answer.
Qualitative and quantitative research designs are two distinct approaches to
investigating social and educational phenomena, each with unique features,
strengths, and limitations.
Qualitative research design is primarily exploratory and interpretive in
nature. It focuses on understanding experiences, meanings, and perspectives
of participants within their real-life contexts. Data are often collected through
methods such as interviews, focus groups, observations, and document
analysis. The data are non-numerical and are analysed thematically or
narratively. This approach allows for deep insight into complex social issues,
giving voice to participants and capturing nuances that may not be
measurable. However, qualitative research is often criticised for its
subjectivity, smaller sample sizes, and limited generalisability.
Quantitative research design, on the other hand, is objective, structured,
and seeks to quantify relationships, patterns, or differences between
variables. It involves numerical data collection methods such as surveys,
questionnaires, or experiments, and relies on statistical analysis. This design
is often valued for its reliability, replicability, and the ability to generalise
findings across larger populations. However, quantitative research may
overlook deeper contextual meanings and is limited in capturing the
complexity of human experiences.
When comparing the two, qualitative research provides depth and context,
while quantitative research provides breadth and measurable evidence. In
practice, researchers may also combine the two approaches in a mixed-
methods design to benefit from the strengths of both.
2025 – DUE 29 August 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
1.1 Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research designs.
Which research design is best suited for your research problem? Justify
your answer.
Qualitative and quantitative research designs are two distinct approaches to
investigating social and educational phenomena, each with unique features,
strengths, and limitations.
Qualitative research design is primarily exploratory and interpretive in
nature. It focuses on understanding experiences, meanings, and perspectives
of participants within their real-life contexts. Data are often collected through
methods such as interviews, focus groups, observations, and document
analysis. The data are non-numerical and are analysed thematically or
narratively. This approach allows for deep insight into complex social issues,
giving voice to participants and capturing nuances that may not be
measurable. However, qualitative research is often criticised for its
subjectivity, smaller sample sizes, and limited generalisability.
Quantitative research design, on the other hand, is objective, structured,
and seeks to quantify relationships, patterns, or differences between
variables. It involves numerical data collection methods such as surveys,
questionnaires, or experiments, and relies on statistical analysis. This design
is often valued for its reliability, replicability, and the ability to generalise
findings across larger populations. However, quantitative research may
overlook deeper contextual meanings and is limited in capturing the
complexity of human experiences.
When comparing the two, qualitative research provides depth and context,
while quantitative research provides breadth and measurable evidence. In
practice, researchers may also combine the two approaches in a mixed-
methods design to benefit from the strengths of both.
