Qualitative versus quantitative research. Rob McBride and John Schostak As mentioned in the previous chapter, qualitative research is often contrasted with quantitative research.
The picture is complicated when we consider that within each of these broad categories, which we described in Chapter 1, there are what can be called 'sub schools of thought'. Nevertheless, there are some critical issues in which researchers have a tendency to jump one way or the other, depending on the set of beliefs they hold. We believe too, that some of these issues are more important to students who are carrying out research for the first time, especially in an age when quantitative measures such as school league tables have such a high profile in the public eye. Communication methods supporting design p.