Quantitative Data Collection Methods
Quantitative research methods describe and measure the level of occurrences on the basis of numbers and calculations. Moreover, the questions of “how many?” and “how often?” are often asked in quantitative studies. Accordingly, quantitative data collection methods are based on numbers and mathematical calculations.
Quantitative research can be described as ‘entailing the collection of numerical data and exhibiting the view of relationship between theory and research as deductive, a predilection for natural science approach, and as having an objectivist conception of social reality’[1]. In other words, quantitative studies mainly examine relationships between numerically measured variables with the application of statistical techniques.
Quantitative data collection methods are based on random sampling and structured data collection instruments. Findings of quantitative studies are usually easy to present, summarize, compare and generalize.
Qualitative studies, on the contrary, are usually based on non-random sampling methods and use non-quantifiable data such as words, feelings, emotions ect. Table below illustrates the main differences between qualitative and quantitative data collection and research methods:
| Quantitative | Qualitative | ||
| Requirement | Question | Hypothesis | Interest |
| Method | Control and randomization | Curiosity and reflexivity | |
| Data collection | Response | Vewpoint | |
| Outcome | Dependent variable | Accounts | |
| Ideal | Data | Numerical | Textual |
| Sample size | Large (power) | Small (saturation) | |
| Context | Eliminated | Highlighted | |
| Analysis | Rejection on null | Synthesis | |
Main differences between quantitative and qualitative methods
The most popular quantitative data collection methods include the following:
- Interviews. Only highly structured interviews with closed-ended questions can be used for quantitative data collection. Interviews can be conducted in one of the following formats:
- Face-to-face interviews;
- Telephone interviews;
- Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).
- Questionnaires (surveys). Again, questionnaires only with closed-ended questions can be used as quantitative data collection method. The following are popular formats for questionnaires:
- Internet-based questionnaire;
- Mail questionnaire;
- Face-to-face survey.
- Observations. The type of observation that can be used to collect quantitative data is systematic, where the researcher counts the number of occurrences of phenomenon.
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[1] Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2015) “Business Research Methods” 4th edition, p.160