Characteristics of quantitative and qualitative research
Question	Quantitative	Qualitative
What is the nature of reality?	Reality is objective and singular, separate from the researcher.	Reality is subjective and multiple, as seen by participants in the study.
What is the relationship of the researcher to what is being researched?	Researcher is independent from what is being researched.	Researcher interacts with what is being researched.
What is the relationship between facts and values?	Facts are value-free and unbiased.	Facts are value-laden and biased.
What is the language of research?	Formal	Informal
What is the process of research?	Deductive	Inductive
	Cause and effect	Mutual simultaneous shaping of factors
	Static design - categories isolated before the study	Emerging design -categories identified during research process
	Context-free	Context-bound
	Generalisations leading to prediction, explanation and understanding	Patterns and theories developed for understanding
	Accurate and reliable through validity and reliability	Accurate and reliable through verification
	Quantitative	Qualitative