| Scientific research is conducted throughout a | | | | characteristic or commonality. |
| student’s academic career. However, as a student | | | | Generally qualitative research projects are interested in |
| matures the depth and complexity of their research | | | | determining how an event or characteristic impacts a |
| project increase. As a student approaches high school | | | | population. In order to learn how it impacts the |
| and college they will need to learn how to conduct | | | | population the population is surveyed. They can be |
| both qualitative and quantitative research. Each forms | | | | surveyed using face-to-face interviews, by conducting |
| of research produces quality information, but through | | | | interviews over the phone, by mailing the test subjects |
| slightly different avenues. | | | | a questionnaire to complete or by having them |
| Quantitative Research | | | | complete an online survey or questionnaire. |
| Quantitative research focuses on data that can be | | | | Often times qualitative research deals with human |
| measured. It examines a cause and effect relationship. | | | | responses to a situation. It is because humans are |
| In this type of research the hypothesis is a prediction | | | | used as the test subject that it is necessary to take |
| of what is going to happen when the student | | | | extra steps when setting up the experiment |
| manipulates the independent variable. Their results are | | | | methodology. Students may need to get special |
| going to be based on the measurable differences | | | | permission to conduct research on humans and they |
| produced in the results. | | | | will also need to take steps to ensure that the test |
| Usually quantitative research is a better option for | | | | subjects’ identities are kept confidential and that the |
| science students working on a science fair project. | | | | test subjects are educated about the research project |
| This is because the students are working with | | | | that they will be participating in. |
| concrete processes and scenarios that can be easily | | | | Which Research Method Is Right for You? |
| manipulated and that produce data that is easy to | | | | Both qualitative and quantitative research projects are |
| measure and analyze. Quantitative research projects | | | | viable options for students in elementary, middle and |
| can be used to study the hard sciences of chemistry, | | | | high school. However, the option that the student |
| physics and mathematics. | | | | selects needs to reflect the purpose of the |
| Qualitative Research | | | | experiment. Students that are working on science fair |
| Qualitative research is used to study behaviors and | | | | projects will generally want to stick to quantitative |
| the soft sciences of psychology and sociology. | | | | research projects. However, if the student is interested |
| Qualitative research can be just as valuable as | | | | in psychology or sociology, then a qualitative research |
| quantitative research, however, it is often given less | | | | project will probably be a better fit. It is a good idea to |
| attention and authority because of its subjective | | | | talked to your teacher to see which type of research |
| nature. When setting up a qualitative research project | | | | project is appropriate for an assignment just to make |
| students will need to identify a population that has a | | | | sure your project will qualify for a good grade in your |
| specific characteristic or commonality. They then need | | | | science class. |
| to determine what they want to learn about that | | | | |