Both qualitative and quantitative research are concerned with

Concept

Research approaches work with raw evidence that is too detailed to interpret directly. Data reduction is the systematic condensation of that evidence into an analysable form while retaining information relevant to the research question. Qualitative studies use coding, categories, and themes; quantitative studies use coding, tables, summaries, and statistics.

Application

Both qualitative and quantitative research therefore reduce data. The form differs, but each approach selects, organises, and summarises observations so that patterns can be interpreted.

Contrast

• Data reduction converts extensive raw observations into manageable analytic representations such as themes, categories, tables, or statistical summaries.

• An artificial setting is a deliberately controlled or constructed environment; either approach may instead be conducted in a natural or field setting.

• Uniformity means sameness in form or distribution, whereas research data can legitimately contain variation and heterogeneous material.

• Social fantasy refers to imagined social situations or narratives that may themselves be studied as one kind of material.

Result

Hence, the shared concern is data reduction.