1. 定性研究：
定性研究是指分析有关人类行为的深入信息并产生“文本数据”(非数字)。当在此期间需要探索想法、想法和意义时，我们可以采用定性研究方法。定性研究提供了对问题的洞察，有助于为潜在的定量研究发展想法或假设。
2. 定量研究：
定量研究是指根据一些数值数据和数学模型对事物进行分析，并产生“数值数据”。当在此期间需要测量某物或测试假设时，我们可以采用定量研究方法。定量研究使用可衡量的数据来表述事实并揭示研究中的模式。
定性研究与定量研究的区别：
| S.No. | QUALITATIVE RESEARCH | QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | Objective of Qualitative research is to gain a qualitative understanding of the underlying reasons and motivations. | Objective of Quantitative research is to quantity the data and generalize the results from the sample to the population of interest. |
| 02. | Qualitative research focuses on quality features. | Quantitative research focuses on quantity features. |
| 03. | The common purpose of this research is to discover ideas with general research objects. | The common purpose of this research is to test hypothesis or specific research questions. |
| 04. | The philosophy behind it is phenomenology. | The philosophy behind it is positivism. |
| 05. | In qualitative research observations are done to produce result. | In quantitative research experiments are done to produce result. |
| 06. | Qualitative research produces “textual data” (non-numerical). | Quantitative research produces “numerical data”. |
| 07. | In this research data can be measured it can be observed. | In this research data can be measured accurately. |
| 08. | It is considered as subjective. | It is considered as objective. |
| 09. | This research methods follow observe and interpret approach. | This research methods follow measure and test approach. |
| 10. | Qualitative research follows unstructured data collection method. | Quantitative research follows structured data collection method. |
| 11. | In qualitative research question format is open ended. | In quantitative research question format is close ended. |
| 12. | It examines in wide angle means examines breadth and depth of topic. | It examines in narrow angle means examines some specific variable of topic. |
| 13. | It takes small number of non representative cases as sample. | It takes large number of representative cases as sample. |
| 14. | Qualitative research follows non statistical data analysis approach. | Quantitative research follows statistical data analysis approach. |
| 15. | It collects data through interviews, observations, documents and artifacts. | It collects data through tests, questions, scale, inventories. |
| 16. | It is most often used in exploratory research designs. | It is most often used in descriptive and casual research designs. |
| 17. | It develops an initial understanding as outcome. | It recommends a final course of action as outcome. |