Question

explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative data. Give an example of each from the field of criminal justice. Can both quantitative and qualitative data be used in each of the four purposes of doing research (list these). Why or Why not?

Answer 1

Statistics is all about study and collection of data. In our earlier topic, we have discussed primary and secondary data. Primary data is the data acquired by the researcher to address the problem at hand, which is classified as qualitative data and quantitative data. Qualitative data is a data concerned with descriptions, which can be observed but cannot be computed.

On the contrary, quantitative data is the one that focuses on numbers and mathematical calculations and can be calculated and computed. These data types are used in a number of fields like marketing, sociology, business, public health and so on.

Qualitative Data-  Qualitative Data refers to the data that provides insights and understanding about a particular problem. It can be approximated but cannot be computed. Hence, the researcher should possess complete knowledge about the type of characteristic, prior to the collection of data.

The nature of data is descriptive and so it is a bit difficult to analyze it. This type of data can be classified into categories, on the basis of physical attributes and properties of the object. The data is interpreted as spoken or written narratives rather than numbers. It is concerned with the data that is observable in terms of smell, appearance, taste, feel, texture, gender, nationality and so on. The methods of collecting qualitative data are-

- Focus Group

- Observation

- Interviews

- Archival Materials like newspapers.

Quantitative Data-  Quantitative Data, as the name suggests is one which deals with quantity or numbers. It refers to the data which computes the values and counts and can be expressed in numerical terms is called quantitative data. In statistics, most of the analysis are conducted using this data.

Quantitative data may be used in computation and statistical test. It is concerned with measurements like height, weight, volume, length, size, humidity, speed, age etc. The tabular and diagrammatic presentation of data is also possible, in the form of charts, graphs, tables, etc. Further, the quantitative data can be classified as discrete or continuous data. the methods used for the collection of data are-

- Surveys

- Experiments

- Observations and Interviews

Key Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Data

1) The data type, in which the classification of objects is based on attributes (quality) is called qualitative data. The type of data which can be counted and expressed in numbers and values is called quantitative data.

2) The research methodology is exploratory in qualitative data, i.e. to provide insights and understanding. On the other hand, quantitative data is conclusive in nature which aims at testing a specific hypothesis and examine the relationships.

3) The approach to inquiry in the case of qualitative data is subjective and holistic whereas quantitative data has an objective and focused approach.

4) When the data type is qualitative the analysis is non-statistical. As opposed to quantitative data which uses statistical analysis.

5) In qualitative data, there is an unstructured gathering of data. As against this, data collection is structured in quantitative data.

6) While qualitative data determines the depth of understanding, quantitative data ascertains the level of occurrence.

7) Quantitative data is all about ‘How much or how many’. On the contrary, qualitative data asks ‘Why?’

8) In qualitative data the sample size is small and that too is drawn from non-representative samples. Conversely, the sample size is large in quantitative data drawn from the representative sample.

9) Qualitative data develops initial understanding, i.e. it defines the problem. Unlike quantitative data, which recommends the final course of action.

Qualitative Research in Criminology

Within criminology as well as in most fields of social research, the usage of qualitative methods is a second choice. An important reason why quantitative methods dominate criminological research may be the expectations which are addressed in this type of research. Societal and political discussions concerning crime demand first of all "brute facts" and statistics that show how specific types of crime are distributed among the different segments of the population.

n the forties, when survey methods and statistical procedures advanced, the ethnographic tradition of the Chicago School found its place in the background of social research, and criminology was not an exception. In criminology qualitative methods were pushed into the background additionally by the fact that, at least in Germany, criminology is dominated by jurisprudence. This began to change when, in the sixties in US and in the seventies in Germany, the labeling approach tried to launch a new paradigm in social research on deviance. Labeling approach was strongly tied to symbolic interactionism and ethnomethodology.

Over the past years qualitative criminological research of the earlier research tradition of reconstructing the internal view of the participants has been extended to include specific areas of deviation or offences, as for instance violence or drugs and an analysis of patterns of interaction in institutions of social control. More recent penal instruments are not only subjected to traditional numerical evaluation but examined with qualitative methods. Thus, PELIKAN in her essay uses different approaches in investigating mediation processes in cases of violence between couples. She also explores the difficult relation between research as interaction and research as involvement. This aspect carries weight not only for the assessment of the relevance of qualitative methods in criminology but also- as it becomes apparent in questions about their acceptance in debates on penal policies- for the (sensitive) relation between criminology and criminal policy and for the dilemma of deciding between "support for immediate versus long-term changes of institutions of social control".

The validity of collective knowledge, its reproduction and especially its relevance for behavior is not only based on its representation in the media, however, but in its "vitalization" in the context of actions in daily life. Criminology is a genuinely interdisciplinary research field. This is only partly reflected by the contributions in this volume, as most of them are from sociology. This predominance of sociological contributions could be a random result of our call for papers, however, it reflects the fact that there is a certain predominance of sociological studies in qualitative criminological research. On the other hand, a specific qualitative methodology has to a large extent been developed in sociological research.

Quantitative Research in criminology

Quantitative methods provide the primary research methods for studying the distribution and causes of crime. Quantitative methods provide numerous ways to obtain data that are useful to many aspects of society. The use of quantitative methods such as survey research, field research, and evaluation research as well as others, help criminologists to gather reliable and valid data helpful in the field of criminology. The data can, and is often, used by criminologists and other social scientists in making causal statements about variables being researched.

Data sources in criminological research

There are multiple types of data that social scientists use to measure crime today. In order to measure crime, we must first come up with a definition of crime. There are many different definitions of crime out there, but a simple definition that I will use comes from Wilson and Herrnstein, in which they say crime is "any act committed in violation of a law that prohibits it and authorizes punishment for its commission" .

Another way of measuring crime is the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, which are based on police measures of crime. But because the data in these reports are based on reported crimes, they share the same measurement problems that have been listed above. There are a number of errors in the UCR. First, the UCR does not try to count all reported crimes. Index offenses, also called Part I crimes, are only counted if they are reported AND recorded by police. Usually, there are always reports of crime, but police may choose not to record them for a number of reasons. Also, the UCR will not include Part II crimes only if the arrestee has been formally charged with a crime, because individual states may have varying definitions of these crimes.

Asking people if they have been victims of crimes is a good way to measure data. This type is usually done in the form of a survey. Surveys can possibly have several advantages, like- obtaining information that has not been reported to authorities; finding out about crimes reported to police, but not recorded officially; and can provide data on victims and offenders and the incident themselves.

Yes, both Qualitative and Quantitative data can be used in each of the four purposes of doing research.

Quantitative and qualitative research are commonly considered to differ fundamentally. Yet, their objectives as well as their applications overlap in numerous ways.

Quantitative Research is considered to have as its main purpose the quantification of data. This allows generalizations of results from a sample to an entire population of interest and the measurement of the incidence of various views and opinions in a given sample. Yet, quantitative research is not infrequently followed by qualitative research which then aims to explore select findings further.

Qualitative research is considered to be particularly suitable for gaining an in-depth understanding of underlying reasons and motivations. It provides insights into the setting of a problem. At the same time, it frequently generates ideas and hypotheses for later quantitative research.

The main differences between quantitative and qualitative research consist in respect to data sample, data collection, data analysis, and last but not least in regard to outcomes.

Outcomes- Qualitative research typically is exploratory and/or investigative in nature. Its findings are often not conclusive and cannot automatically be used to make generalizations. However, it is indispensable in developing a deep understanding of a given thematic complex and sound rationale for further decision making. Quantitative research is essential for providing a broad base of insight on which typically a final course of action is recommended.

Qualitative data analysis is non-statistical, its methodological approach is primarily guided by the concrete material at hand. In quantitative research, the sole approach to data is statistical and takes places in the form of tabulations. Findings are usually descriptive in nature although conclusive only within the numerical framework.

It is a frequently held prejudice that quantitative research is “objective” vs. qualitative is “subjective.” This is, of course, a gross oversimplification. Rather, one could compare the two approaches as follows: Quantitative research seeks out explanatory laws whereas qualitative research aims more at in-depth description. Qualitative research measures, in hopes of developing universal laws where qualitative research can be described as an exploration of what is assumed to be a dynamic reality. Qualitative research does not claim that what is discovered in the process is universal, and thus, replicable. Common differences usually cited between these types of research include.