Nursing

Here’s an example of another subtle difference between qualitative and quantitative research in statistics. Consider the very interesting subject of interaction: we may be able to find out if fast driving or drinking causes more fatalities, such as vehicle accidents. But the situation is more complicated here…

When you measure the effects, will drinking in fact be responsible for more wrecks? Or will it just cause people to drive fast and hence cause those wrecks? I hope everyone understands that both fast driving and drinking-and-driving are two independent variables, but you couldn’t often tell if one has an effect upon the other.

In this case, how do you make a determination about the qualitative vs. quantitative aspects? Thoughts?

Reference: Gravetter, F. J., & Wallinau, L. B. (Eds.). (2011). Essentials of statistics for the behavioral sciences (7 ed.). Belmount, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.