Final answer:
Quantitative research methods often use questionnaires and surveys to collect large amounts of quantifiable data, whereas qualitative methods gather data that is more subjective and descriptive.
Step-by-step explanation:
In contrast to qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews or focus groups, quantitative research methods as a rule rely heavily on questionnaires and other means of collecting masses of quantifiable data. Quantitative sociology employs statistical methods such as surveys with large numbers of participants, representing research collected in numerical form that can be counted and analyzed. For example, the U.S. Census is a large-scale survey intended to gather sociological data, consisting of various questions that aim to assess the demographics of the U.S. population.
Surveys may also result in both quantitative and qualitative data. Questionnaires can collect quantitative data through closed-ended questions, which produce data in a form that can be easily counted and statistically analyzed in terms of frequencies and percentages. However, questionnaires can also include open-ended questions, which generate qualitative data. This qualitative data, such as participants' personal opinions and experiences, is subjective and often based on observations in a natural setting, making it harder to organize and tabulate than quantitative data.
Surveys are a personal tool for researchers, including anthropologists, allowing them to gather a large quantity of data which can inform their subsequent qualitative inquiries. However, qualitative assessments in social sciences are more likely to drive investigations and findings due to their depth in understanding society and human behavior.