Difference Between Qualitative and Quantitative Data

Development of Evidence-Based Practice Change Proposal I: Quantitative and Qualitative Data
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Development of Evidence-Based Practice Change Proposal I: Quantitative and Qualitative Data
Data is a fundamental component of research because it assists the researchers in answering their research questions. According to Polit and Beck (2018), research data represents the information the researchers gather in a study. It can either be qualitative or quantitative, depending on the primary objectives. However, fundamental differences distinguish the two forms of data.
The leading difference between qualitative and quantitative data is that the former comprises descriptive statements, while the latter constitutes numerically expressed information. Creswell and Creswell (2018) describe qualitative data as prose, while quantitative one is all about numbers. While these are the apparent distinctions, other features highlight the subtle aspects of these data in research. Polit and Beck (2018) indicate that the process of collecting data differs between the two categories. The author reveals that researchers rely on written documents, interviews, and observations to collect qualitative data. However, they employ experim...