Comparison Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research

By Muhammad Hilmi Muhajir (1232010139) 5th Semester Student, Class D Department of Islamic Education Managemen Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training Undergraduate Program, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Research is a systematic effort to understand the world scientifically. Two major approaches dominate academic inquiry: qualitative and quantitative research. Though often viewed as opposites, they actually complement each other. Quantitative speaks in numbers and measurements, while qualitative speaks in meanings and experiences.

The quantitative approach, rooted in the positivist paradigm, emphasizes objectivity, measurement, and generalization. Methods such as surveys, experiments, and statistical tests are used to identify patterns and relationships. For instance, a study on the influence of leadership style on teacher motivation can be analyzed through questionnaires and regression models. The findings are measurable and replicable, but they often lack insight into the reasons behind the numbers.

Conversely, the qualitative approach, grounded in constructivism, seeks to understand meaning and social context. Researchers explore phenomena through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. Rather than asking "how much," qualitative research asks "why" and "how." It provides rich, human-centered insights, even though its findings are less generalizable.

In modern scholarship, many researchers combine both in a mixed-methods approach, merging the precision of data with the depth of meaning. Quantitative reveals how much and how often, while qualitative explains why and how. Together, they create research that is both accurate and meaningful.

Quantitative offers clarity and evidence; qualitative offers depth and understanding. When numbers meet meaning, research becomes more than a report it becomes a reflection of life itself. The best research does not merely count data but seeks to comprehend the human story behind it.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: Muhammad Hilmi Muhajir
Date and Place of Birth: Ciamis, October 24, 2004
Parents: Mr. Diding Tajudin and Mrs. Siti Hajar
Permanent Address: Kp. Cikowari RT 01 RW 07, Sirnabaya Village,
Rajadesa District, Ciamis Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia
Current Residence: Miftahut-Taufiq Islamic Boarding School,
Jl. Mekarsari II, RT 02 RW 09, Pasir Biru, Cibiru, Bandung City,
West Java, Postal Code 40615
Phone: +62 895-0491-9264
Email: cenkeep@gmail.com

This article is a review of Part VI (Comparison Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research ) from the teaching materials for the Management Research Methods course, taught by Prof. Dr. H. A Rusdiana, M.M (https://digilib.uinsgd.ac.id/id/eprint/121673)