Qualitative Data and Quantitative Data: Are they different?

Yes, they are different but… also same-same!

Quantitative:- numbers- frequencies- sizes

Qualitative:- Meanings- Experiences - Description of people's

knowledge, attitudes or behaviors.

Focus of data collection

Objectives of data collection

Quantitative:- To derive

statistically reliable information

- To statistically measure differences between treatments

Ex: 40% of rural women can read and write

Qualitative:- To get in-depth and

rich description - To explain causes

and effects - To clarify concepts Ex: Rural women feel

confident being able to write

Questions answered

Quantitative:- How many? - How much?Ex: How many

participants did not join the trip to Central Plaza?

Qualitative:- How come?- Why? - Who?- What?- When?Ex: Why did some

participants not join the trip to Central Plaza?

Profile of participants to the ADB-MI Learning Program on Project M&E in the GMS

Data collection method

Quantitative:- Experiments- Questionnaires- Surveys- Sampling- Census

Qualitative:- Focused group

discussions- Case studies- Interactive interviews- Participatory methods

(ex. Participatory Rural Appraisal or PRA; Participatory M&E)

Data collection method

Quantitative:- Prefers random

sampling from a population

Ex. 10% of villages in Khon Kaen will be sampled

Qualitative:- Prefers specific

segments of the population

Ex. Poorest women in 5 poorest villages in Khon Kaen

Data analysis method

Quantitative:- Statistical analysis- Standard deviation,

average, variance, percentage

Ex: Only 5% of the farmers attended the training.

Qualitative:- In-depth descriptive

analysisEx: Because it was

planting season, not many farmers can attend the meeting.

Data collection method

Quantitative:- Uses closed

questions Ex: Are you happy?

Qualitative:- Uses open-ended

questionsEx: Why are you happy?

■ How do you assess the training methods used?

■ Which training methods did you like best and why?

1 (not good)

2(somewhat

good)

3(good)

4(very good)

5(excellent)

Ex. Assessment of training methodology:

Results produced

Quantitative:- More objective- Easy to sum up,

evaluate, simplify

Qualitative:- More subjective - Helps understand the

processes behind experimental results

- Improves quality of surveys

Method to check validity and reliability of data

Quantitative:- Conduct repeated

trials- Increase sample

size

Qualitative:- Uses triangulation (Cross checking data

using at least 3 different methods and from 3 different sources )

When to use

Quantitative:- Depends on

objectives

Qualitative:- Depends on

objectives

Some Reminders

• There is no one best way of doing things! • It is best to combine both qualitative and

quantitative methods • Don’t just rely on numbers, seek

explanations.• Don’t just rely on explanations, seek some

numbers.