As a future professional in the social and education landscape, research design is one of the most critical strategies that you will master to identify challenges, ask questions and form data-driven solutions to address problems specific to your industry.
Many approaches to research design exist, and not all work in every circumstance. While all data-focused research methods are valid in their own right, certain research design methods are more appropriate for specific study objectives.
Unlock our resource to learn more about jump starting a career in research design — Research Design and Data Analysis for the Social Good.
We will discuss the differences between quantitative (numerical and statistics-focused) and qualitative (non-numerical and human-focused) research design methods so that you can determine which approach is most strategic given your specific area of graduate-level study.
Understanding Social Phenomena: Qualitative Research Design
Qualitative research focuses on understanding a phenomenon based on human experience and individual perception. It is a non-numerical methodology relying on interpreting a process or result. Qualitative research also paves the way for uncovering other hypotheses related to social phenomena.
In its most basic form, qualitative research is exploratory in nature and seeks to understand the subjective experience of individuals based on social reality.
Qualitative data is…
- often used in fields related to education, sociology and anthropology;
- designed to arrive at conclusions regarding social phenomena;
- focused on data-gathering techniques like interviews, focus groups or case studies;
- dedicated to perpetuating a flexible, adaptive approach to data gathering;
- known to lead professionals to deeper insights within the overall research study.
You want to use qualitative data research design if:
- you work in a field concerned with enhancing humankind through the lens of social change;
- your research focuses on understanding complex social trends and individual perceptions of those trends;
- you have interests related to human development and interpersonal relationships.
Examples of Qualitative Research Design in Education
Here are just a few examples of how qualitative research design methods can impact education.
Example 1: former educators participate in in-depth interviews to help determine why a specific school is experiencing a higher-than-average turnover rate compared to other schools in the region. These interviews help determine the types of resources that will make a difference in teacher retention.
Example 2: focus group discussions occur to understand the challenges that neurodivergent students experience in the classroom daily. These discussions prepare administrators, staff, teachers and parents to understand the kinds of support that will augment and improve student outcomes.
Example 3: case studies examine the impacts of a new education policy that limits the number of teacher aids required in a special needs classroom. These findings help policymakers determine whether the new policy affects the learning outcomes of a particular class of students.
Interpreting the Numbers: Quantitative Research Design
Quantitative research tests hypotheses and measures connections between variables. It relies on insights derived from numbers — countable, measurable and statistically sound data. Quantitative research is a strategic research design used when basing critical decisions on statistical conclusions and quantifiable data.
Quantitative research provides numerical-backed quantifiable data that may approve or discount a theory or hypothesis.
Quantitative data is…
- often used in fields related to education, data analysis and healthcare;
- designed to arrive at numerical, statistical conclusions based on objective facts;
- focused on data-gathering techniques like experiments, surveys or observations;
- dedicated to using mathematical principles to arrive at conclusions;
- known to lead professionals to indisputable observations within the overall research study.
You want to use quantitative data research design if:
- you work in a field concerned with analyzing data to inform decisions;
- your research focuses on studying relationships between variables to form data-driven conclusions;
- you have interests related to mathematics, statistical analysis and data science.
Examples of Quantitative Research Design in Education
Here are just a few examples of how quantitative research design methods may impact education.
Example 1: researchers compile data to understand the connection between class sizes and standardized test scores. Researchers can determine if and what the relationship is between smaller, intimate class sizes and higher test scores for grade-school children using statistical and data analysis.
Example 2: professionals conduct an experiment in which a group of high school students must complete a certain number of community service hours before graduation. Researchers compare those students to another group of students who did not complete service hours — using statistical analysis to determine if the requirement increased college acceptance rates.
Example 3: teachers take a survey to examine an education policy that restricts the number of extracurricular activities offered at a particular academic institution. The findings help better understand the far-reaching impacts of extracurricular opportunities on academic performance.
Making the Most of Research Design Methods for Good: Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College
Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development offers a variety of respected, nationally-recognized graduate programs designed with future agents of social change in mind. We foster a culture of excellence and compassion and guide you to become the best you can be — both in the classroom and beyond.
At Peabody College, you will experience:
- an inclusive, welcoming community of like-minded professionals;
- the guidance of expert faculty with real-world industry experience;
- opportunities for valuable, hands-on learning experiences,
- the option of specializing depending on your specific area of interest.
Explore our monthly publication — Ideas in Action — for an inside look at how Peabody College translates discoveries into action.
Please click below to explore a few of the graduate degrees offered at Peabody College:
- Child Studies M.Ed. — a rigorous Master of Education degree that prepares students to examine the developmental, learning and social issues concerning children and that allows students to choose from one of two tracks (the Clinical and Developmental Research Track or the Applied Professional Track).
- Cognitive Psychology in Context M.S. — an impactful Master of Science program that emphasizes research design and statistical analysis to understand cognitive processes and real-world applications best, making it perfect for those interested in pursuing doctoral studies in cognitive science.
- Education Policy M.P.P — an analysis-focused Master of Public Policy program designed for future leaders in education policy and practice, allowing students to specialize in either K-12 Education Policy, Higher Education Policy or Quantitative Methods in Education Policy.
- Quantitative Methods M.Ed. — a data-driven Master of Education degree that teaches the theory and application of quantitative analysis in behavioral, social and educational sciences.
Connect with the Community of Professionals Seeking to Enhance Humankind at Peabody College
At Peabody College, we equip you with the marketable, transferable skills needed to secure a valuable career in education and beyond. You will emerge from the graduate program of your choice ready to enhance humankind in more meaningful ways than you could have imagined.
If you want to develop the sought-after skills needed to be a force for change in the social and educational spaces, you are in the right place.
We invite you to request more information; we will connect you with an admissions professional who can answer all your questions about choosing one of these transformative graduate degrees at Peabody College. You may also take this opportunity to review our admissions requirements and start your online application today.
