Assignment Task:
Quant/Qual Response
WHAT: REPLY to the TWO Discussion Posts
FORMAT: APA with In-text Citation and Reference List
REFERENCES: TWO Peer-Reviewed references minimum within last 5 years
INCLUDE: Turnitin Report
MaGe
Discussion Post Reply #1
When comparing quantitative and qualitative research, it is clear they have different approaches to understanding the world. Quantitative research focuses on numbers and measurable data. Researchers use surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis to test theories and hypotheses. (Creswell & Creswell, 2018), An example of this type of research would be a study of the effectiveness of medications. The Quantitative method collects numerical data and analyzes it to look for patterns.
Qualitative research is quite different from quantitative as it researches people's experiences, thoughts, and emotions rather than numerical data. This type of research focuses on why things happen using methods such as observations and interviews.
The goal of qualitative research is to answer more open-ended questions. (Bhandari, 2023). A good example of a qualitative research method would be exploring how behavioral health patients feel about their medical treatment using observations and surveys.
Another type of research is descriptive research, which can often be confused with qualitative research but is different. Descriptive research is a specific form of quantitative research that aims to outline the characteristics of populations without an explanation for cause and effect (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Descriptive research focuses on making a clear picture of a specific phenomenon rather than looking into the deeper causes of it.
Understanding the differences between quantitative, qualitative, and descriptive research is important for selecting the correct approach to answer research questions.
Each of these methods has its strengths and is valuable depending on the specific goals of a study.
JuKi
Discussion Post Reply #2
For week three assignment, I used the PICO(T) question: In adults with depression (P), does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (I), compared to no CBT (C), reduce depressive symptoms (O) over six months (T)?
The two types of research, quantitative and qualitative, were developed to analyze two different research methodologies. Qualitative research usually involves data that are not statistically quantifiable. The data are collected in open-ended questions or observations to explore experiences, behaviors, and meanings (Dehalwar & Sharma, 2024). Studies that analyze depressed adult's perceptions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are not quantifiable and require qualitative research methods.
Quantitative research, on the other hand, measures and analyzes the variables in numerical data and statistical significance (Barroga et al., 2023). For example, a study that examines whether a depressed patient's CBT affected the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) score in a six-month duration would be quantitative research.
Unlike qualitative research design, descriptive research can be quantitative, qualitative, or both. The descriptive design focuses on the objective data of 'what is happening,' while qualitative research explores 'why' and 'how' something happens. A descriptive research example would be observing the types of patients who seek CBT as the choice of depression treatment. Need Assignment Help?