Qualitative Versus Quantitative Approaches

Abstract

F.R. Volkmar (ed.), Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disor DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3, # Springer Science+Bus activities, situations, and materials (Fraenkel & Wallen, 2006 in Gast, 2010). It is a systematic approach to studying phenomenon within a particular context (Gast, 2010). In qualitative research approaches, the researcher is a participant observer who goes from specific to more general by process of inductive analysis and does not focus on generalization of results. Qualitative methods focus on groups, in-depth interviews, and reviews; they are an inductive process used to formulate theory. Qualitative methods do not rely on statistics or numbers and are less generalizable than quantitative methods. Qualitative research approaches are subjective in nature. Quantitative approaches to research are based on formal, objective, and systematic processes in which data are numerically quantified. Another hallmark of quantitative research is replicability. Quantitative approaches are objective, deductive, and based on numeric quantification and generalization of results. Quantitative methods are used to test prespecified concepts, constructs, and hypotheses that make up a theory. Most commonly used quantitative methods include group design research and single-subject (within subject/single case) research designs; the latter is theoretical and based on specific research questions rather than hypotheses. Both group research designs and single-subject designs are more generalizable. In group design, the generalization comes in larger