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            There are two types of research designs: descriptive and explanatory research. Descriptive research design is also known as qualitative research, which aims to answer questions such as what exists or happens in society. Explanatory research design, which is known as quantitative research, aims to answer questions such as why does it exist or happen. In other words, qualitative or descriptive research aims to answer questions to how something happens, while quantitative or explanatory research aims to answer why questions.

According to the PDF slides developed by Tero Mamia, Quantitative research aims at explaining problems, issues, and results through the use of numbers. It is based on the idea that social phenomena can be quantified, measured and expressed numerically (Mamia). Basically the goal of quantitative research is to determine the connection between independent and dependent variables. A variable is an observable and measurable unit that can then be used to compare other observable measurable units. This type of research generates numerical data that can be analyzed by statistical methods. The numerical data is often collected in the form of surveys or questions. For example, ERAU survey asks students to rate his or her teacher’s performance. Typically, these types of surveys have number answers, such as 5 for very satisfied to 1 very dissatisfied. To my understanding these numbers or observations are then processed into a data matrix for analysis.

            There are various strengths and weaknesses to quantitative research. Some of the strengths are: it enables research and description of social structures and processes, allows for comparisons between variables, gives a description of change, and it analyses and explains social phenomena dependencies. The weaknesses of quantitative research are: it simplifies and compresses reality, only applicable to quantifiable phenomena, and it assumes the researcher has extensive knowledge on the subject in order to ask the correct questions on the survey (Mamia).

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Quantitative research is different from qualitative research. Quantitative research uses experimental methods and quantitative measures to test hypothetical generalizations. It also seeks causal determination, prediction, and generalization of findings (Hoepfl, 1997). According to Marie Hoepfl, qualitative research uses a naturalistic approach that seeks to understand phenomena in context-specific settings (Hoepfl, 1997). It’s basically a method of research in which results are gathered by other non-statistical process or quantification means. Qualitative research is mainly used to: better understand any phenomenon in which little information is known, gain new perspectives of already known information, and to gain more in-depth information about those difficult contexts (Hoepfl, 1997). This method looks at the important variables of the issue in their respective natural settings. Since qualitative research is about exploring problems, questions, and issues through open-ended questions, the researcher must provide direct quotations of the new discovered information.

A qualitative method involves the analysis of data through interviews, pictures, videos, or artifacts. Such information can be gathered through focus groups, in-depth interviews with the samples, the analysis of unstructured data, audio recordings, and even through the use of the Internet. According to Hoepfl’s findings, the following are some of the descriptions qualitative research has:

·      The researcher must observe, describe, and interpret the natural setting of the source data.

·      Use a human as a data collection instrument. Humans are capable of: responding to environmental cues, interacting with the situation, collecting multiple sources of data simultaneously; processing data, and more

·      Use inductive data analysis

·      The research must be written in a descriptive and expressive language

·      The research must have an interpretive character, discover the meaning of events to the individuals who experience it, and the interpretations of those meanings by the researcher

·      Researchers must pay attention and seek the uniqueness of the case

·      The research must have an emergent design, and the researchers must focus on the emerging process as well as the outcome of the research

·      The qualitative research must be judged through the special criteria of trustworthiness

   Hoepfl, M. (1997). Choosing Qualitative Research: A Primer for   Technology Education Researchers. DLA History - About the Scholarly Communications Project and the Digital Library and Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech. Retrieved July 5, 2012, from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v9n1/hoepfl.html