Useful knowledge: Properly conceived and executed, both qualitative and quantitative research has advanced our well-being. — 123rf.com
“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Attributed to Albert Einstein, this phrase best encapsulates the qualitative and quantitative methods in academic research.
Qualitative research is commonly deployed on phenomena that are subjective in nature, such as well-being, experiences, mental health, aesthetics, literature, and performing arts.
The data-gathering tools employed are normally also qualitative, such as interviews, observations, interactions and immersions.
On the other hand, quantitative research is customarily deployed on phenomena that are measurable, such as physical properties, chemical reactions, biological processes, business profits and economic data.
Data is gathered through measurements, surveys, reports and statistics.
Good and meaningful research requires an appropriate selection of methods. For example, if we are investigating emotional well-being, a qualitative approach is suitable as this is a subjective phenomenon.
Similarly, if we are investigating global warming, a quantitative approach is appropriate as this is an objective and measurable phenomenon.
Research can also combine both qualitative and quantitative for a more holistic and meaningful understanding of the phenomenon investigated.
Charles Darwin combined observations, measurements, field immersions and intellectual insights to produce the Theory of Evolution that has revolutionised our knowledge and understanding of the natural world.
Einstein tapped on both quantitative rigour and qualitative insights to produce the Theory of Relativity with profound insights into the physical world.
Much contemporary research on healthcare, education, social policies, law and psychology are a mix of qualitative and quantitative.
From my observations, academia places much more emphasis on the predominantly quantitative disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Quantitative research currently dominates publications, even in business studies, which traditionally straddles qualitative (entrepreneurship, innovation, advertising, marketing, publicity, public relations, management) and quantitative (accounting, finance, economics, operations, logistics) aspects.
As my statistics and economics professor Gary Smith likes to say, “If you torture data long enough, it will confess to anything.”
Inappropriate and ill-conceived research can lead to misleading and meaningless results.
For example, the number of alphabetic letters in a person’s name can probably be statistically correlated to some obscure socio-economic indicator, but will such a finding be meaningful and worthwhile? The easy availability of statistical programs and artificial intelligence that speedily churn out correlations and connections has led to the proliferation of data mining.
Data mining or “HARKing” (Hypothesising After Results are Known) is the practice of finding patterns or connections from a database. The connections found may be spurious or coincidental, and should not be taken seriously, much less be the basis of a research paper or a new theory.
Predominantly qualitative disciplines like fine arts, music, philosophy, literature, history, anthropology and humanities are commonly de-emphasised and devalued.
Properly conceived and executed, both qualitative and quantitative research has generated plenty of useful knowledge that has advanced our well-being.
Qualitative research has enhanced our understanding of cultural relativity, social structures, public policy, mental health, personal development and education, while quantitative research has led to advances in science, technology, medicine, computing, telecommunications and transportation.
Nonetheless, regardless of whether academic research is qualitative, quantitative or both, its true value is gauged by its contribution and impact on individual, societal and environmental well-being.
The significant strides made in research only becomes priceless when the world is no longer plagued by environmental degradation, global warming, war, hunger, poverty, social inequalities, suffering and violence.
Dr Wong Teik Aun, a principal lecturer at the Centre of Australian Degree Programmes at INTI International College Penang, enjoys writing on subjects close to his heart and has published On the Beaten Track Nepal: The Himalayas, Symphony and Synchrony: An Orchestra of Ideas and Tales of Animal Lovers. He has also contributed numerous academic articles to internationally ranked journals. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
