Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
Qualitative and quantitative forms of data analysis have similarities and differences.
Similarities
First, the form of analysis for both types of data in both styles of research involves inference. Researchers infer from the empirical details of social life. To infer means to pass a judgment, to use reasoning, and to reach a conclusion based on evidence. In both forms of data analysis, the researcher carefully examines empirical information to reach a conclusion. The conclusion is reached by reasoning and simplifies the complexity in the data. There is some abstraction or distance from the data, but this varies by the style of research. Both forms of data analysis anchor statements about the social world in a inquiry that has adequacy (i.e., it is faithful to the data0. “In qualitative research, adequacy refers to the amount of data collected, rather than to the number of subjects as in quantitative research.Adequacey is attained when sufficient data has been collected that saturation occurs” (Morse, 1994:230, emphasis in original).