Question

Which of the following is not a contrast between quantitative and qualitative research?

a) Ontology vs. Epistemology
b) Generalization vs. contextual understanding
c) Hard, reliable data vs. rich, deep data
d) Interpretivist vs. Feminist

Answer 1

The key contrasts between quantitative and qualitative research are: ontology vs. epistemology, generalization vs. contextual understanding, and hard, reliable data vs. rich, deep data.

Step-by-step explanation:

The contrast between quantitative and qualitative research can be characterized by several factors. Examples of such contrasts include:

1. Ontology vs. Epistemology: Ontology refers to the study of the nature of reality, whereas epistemology refers to the study of knowledge and how it is acquired. These philosophical concepts underpin the different approaches to research.
2. Generalization vs. contextual understanding: Quantitative research aims to generalize findings to a larger population, while qualitative research seeks a deep understanding of a specific context.
3. Hard, reliable data vs. rich, deep data: Quantitative research focuses on collecting numerical data that can be analyzed statistically, while qualitative research gathers detailed, descriptive data through methods such as interviews and observations.
4. Interpretivist vs. Feminist: This option is not a contrast between quantitative and qualitative research but could be related to different theoretical perspectives used in qualitative research.