Do you think IIT Guwahati certified course can help you in your career?
Introduction
Quantitative research tries to find out if one thing causes or is related to another thing by testing ideas, whereas Qualitative research tries to understand something in the real world by talking to people and watching what happens.
Both of these methods have their strengths and limitations, and researchers need to choose the method that best fits their research objectives. Are you also one of those who get confuse which method to choose? Not to worry NINJA!
In this article, we will discuss the difference between qualitative and quantitative research.
Before we start with the differences, let us have a brief introduction about Qualitative research and Quantitative research.
What is Qualitative Research?
Qualitative research is a type of research that aims to gain an understanding of the underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations of individuals.
It involves collecting data through methods such as interviews, focus groups, and observations.
Qualitative research is exploratory and aims to develop a deep understanding of a phenomenon. It is generally used in fields such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology.
What is a Quantitative Research?
Quantitative research, on the other hand, is a type of research that involves collecting and analyzing numerical data.
This type of research involves statistical analysis, and the results are often presented in graphs and charts.
Quantitative research is used to test hypotheses and make predictions.
It is generally used in fields such as economics, physics, and engineering.
Let us now see the differences between Qualitative and Quantitative Research:
Qualitative vs Quantitative Research
The main differences between qualitative and quantitative research are:
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Definition
Qualitative research is a research method that develops an understanding of human and social sciences to find how people think and feel.
Quantitative research is a method used to generate numerical data and hard facts using statistical, logical and mathematical techniques.
Purpose
To understand complex phenomena, gain insights, and capture perspectives through non-numeric data, such as observations.
To measure variables using numerical data to make predictions and generalize findings to a bigger population.
Examples of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Studies
Some examples of qualitative research studies include:
A study that explores the experiences of cancer patients during their treatment.
A study that examines the impact of poverty on children’s education.
A study that investigates the reasons behind high employee turnover rates in a particular company.
Some examples of quantitative research studies include:
A study that examines the relationship between diet and weight loss.
A study that investigates the effect of a new drug on blood pressure.
A study that measures the impact of a marketing campaign on sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between quantitative and qualitative?
Quantitative data deals with numerical values, and it can be calculated and expressed in terms of quantities. On the other hand, qualitative data is non-numeric in nature. It describes attributes, characteristics, or qualities often acquired through observations.
Mention the types of quantitative research.
The different types of quantitative research are survey research, descriptive research, experimental research, correlational research, and casual-comparative research. Each of these research has its own significance according to which selections for research can be made.
Mention the types of qualitative research.
There are several types of qualitative research according to various data collection techniques that researchers use. A few such research are ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, case study, content analysis, narrative research, action research, and historical research.
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative example?
In a quantitative example, numerical data is used to calculate and quantify variables, such as surveying, to decide the percentage of people who prefer a specific product. In a qualitative example, non-numeric data describe attributes or qualities, such as conducting interviews to explore participants' experiences about some topics.
Conclusion
Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches have their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
While qualitative research provides in-depth and detailed information about participants’ experiences and perspectives, quantitative research allows for statistical analysis and generalization to larger populations.
Ultimately, understanding the differences between qualitative and quantitative research can help researchers choose the most appropriate approach for their research project. If you liked our article, do upvote our article and help other ninjas grow. You can refer to our Guided Path on Coding Ninjas Studio to upskill yourself in Data Structures ,DBMS, Java, Javascript, Python and many more!
Live masterclass
Multi-Agent AI Systems: Live Workshop for 25L+ CTC at Google
by Saurav Prateek
09 Feb, 2026
03:00 PM
Beginner to GenAI Engineer Roadmap for 30L+ CTC at Amazon
27+ registered 
