In the qualitative vs. quantitative mud wrestling ring, is the definition of a research question itself not a qualitative process? In the humanities, is it possible to ask a question that is purely numeric? We use words to formulate our questions. Once words are introduced, we imbed our inherent perspective in the question itself. In reading a research question, we impose our subjective interpretation. A person selects the words, subjects of the study, how data is collected and analyzed. It seems to me that we cannot cleave our pre-conceptions from the research process or from the interpretation of research findings.
Ultimately, we explain the quantitative data in a document. Words can be imprecise and are subject to the reader’s interpretation.
