This document discusses and compares quantitative and qualitative assessment tools used to evaluate learning outcomes. Quantitative tools like tests, surveys, checklists and questionnaires focus on measurable data presented numerically. They are more objective but require statistical analysis expertise. Qualitative tools like interviews, observations, and focus groups provide descriptive data to understand experiences and meanings at a nominal level. They require skilled administration but provide depth, context, and insight not obtainable through quantitative methods alone. Both approaches have advantages and limitations depending on the assessment needs.

1. B.Ed. II YEAR
Quantitative
&
Qualitative Assessment

2. Quantitative Assessment
Quantitative assessment tools focus on countable values.
Quantitative tool is the method by which data are collected
and can be analyzed, i.e. numbers, statistical analysis. They
evaluate the individual’s skills, knowledge, and performance
based on specific standards by matching outcomes with goals.
These tools express their results in numbers.
They are said to be more objective and valid than qualitative
assessment tools that evaluate abstract evidence of learning
and development. They are also more convenient to
administer, replicate and check.

3. Quantitative tools and techniques are used for assessing learning
outcomes at ordinal, interval as well as ratio levels. Under this,
quantitative changes in the behavior of child are measured and
explained. All the modes related to traditional testing and
examination are applied in this assessment.
For this purpose Following assessment tools are used:
Tests : A test or examination is an assessment intended to measure a
test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness or classification
in many other topics(e.g., beliefs). A test may be administered
verbally, on paper, on a computer or in a predetermined area that
requires a test taker to demonstrate or perform a set of skills.

4. Surveys : Survey represent one of the most common type of
quantitative , social science research. In survey educator selects a
sample of students from a classroom and administer a standardized
questionnaire or survey can be a written document that is completed
by the student being surveyed, an online questionnaire, a face-to-
face interview or a telephone interview. Through survey, it is
possible to collect data from large or small classroom.
Checklist : It contain list of behaviors or specific steps, which can be
marked as present/absent , complete/ incomplete, yes/no etc. In
some case teacher use checklist to observe the students. Checklist
can be used for ongoing assessment to monitor students’ behavior
and progress towards reaching stated goals.

5. Questionnaire : A questionnaire is a research instrument
consisting of a series of questions for the purpose of gathering
information from respondents. Questionnaires can be thought of
as a kind of written interview. They can be carried out face to face,
by telephone, computer or post. For evaluating social aspects of
one’s personality like sociability, self- exposition etc. is widely used
in psychology. There is a series of selected questions, the answer to
which give an insight into an individual’s personality. These
questions have two or three alternatives like ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘?’.

6. Advantages of Quantitative Assessment
Quantitative assessment tools are widely used in various
departments because they provide measurable insights for easier
and faster evaluation and statistical analysis.
Quantitative assessments are deductive in nature, they are used
for diagnostic tests at the beginning of the program or courses in
schools . They can immediately measure an individual’s prior
knowledge or level of proficiency, which then helps teachers
adjust their lessons to focus more on what the students need.

7. Disadvantages of Quantitative Assessment
Although quantitative assessment tools are convenient to
use but they are not easy to create.
Requires some expertise with statistical analysis.
Data collection methods provide respondents with a
limited number of response option.
Many kinds of information are difficult to obtain through
structured data collection instruments such as income.

8. Qualitative Assessment
“Qualitative assessment is focused on understanding
how people make meaning of and experience their
environment or world (Patton, 2002)”.
It is narrow in scope, applicable to specific situations
and experiences and is not intended for generalization
to broad situations. Qualitative research employs the
researcher as the primary means of data collection (e.g.
interviews, focus groups, case study and observations.
Qualitative methods don’t yield numerical results in
themselves.

9. Qualitative tools and techniques are used for assessing learning
outcomes at nominal level. These methods can be useful for
describing a situation and can provide insight for our intervention
approach.
At this level qualitative changes in the behavior of child such as
interest, hobby, aptitude, habit and personality can be measured by
the use of given assessment tools:

10. Interviews
“Interviews comprise a number of open-ended,
questions that result in responses that yield
information about people's experiences, perceptions,
opinions, feelings, and knowledge" (Patton, 2002, p.4).
It is common to engage in face-to face verbal interviews
with one individual; however, interviews may also be
conducted with a group and administered via mail,
telephone or the Web (Upcraft & Schuh, 1996).

11. Observations
“Observations, on the other hand, do not require direct contact
with a study participant or group. Rather, this type of data
collection involves a researcher providing information-rich
descriptions of behavior, conversations, interactions,
organizational processes or any other type of human experience
obtained through observation. Such observation may be either
participant, in which the researcher is actually involved in the
activities, conversations or organizational processes or
nonparticipant, in which the research remains on the outside of
the activity, conversation or organizational process in scope”
(Creswell, 1998; Denzin & Lincoln, 2000; Patton, 2002).

12. Focus Group
Focus groups is a technique used by sociologists and in different fields
of study which include communication studies, education, political
science and public health.
It is a form of qualitative research consisting of interviews in
which a group of people are asked about their perceptions,
opinions, beliefs and attitudes towards a product, service,
concept, advertisement or idea . Questions are asked in an
interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with
other group members. During this process, the researcher
either takes notes or records the vital points he or she is getting
from the group.

13. Focus groups allow interviewers to study people in a more natural
conversation pattern than typically occurs in a one-to-one interview.
Focus groups can be used by teachers for students to learn from one
another so that they exchange and build on one another's views.

14. Advantages of Qualitative Assessment
Direct contact: It connect directly with the population and the
community with which we’re concerned. In assessment, the
best sources of information are those closest to what’s being
assessed: they experience it more than anyone else.
Creates rapport : It creates rapport with participants and
improve access to information.

15. Provides depth and detail : They answer some questions that
quantitative measures can’t. Quantitative methods may tell us how
many people do a certain thing, but they’re unlikely to tell us how or
why they do it. Qualitative methods can better answer the how and
why questions and also provide other information in the process.
Realities of the situation : It can get at certain underlying realities of
the situation. Once again, quantitative methods often don’t answer
“why?” questions, while qualitative methods can tell us about the
history of the community or issue, who the significant supporters and
opponents of various ideas are, whom people in the community listen
to, etc. In an assessment situation, these can be crucial pieces of
information.

16. Creates openness: It encourage people to expand on their responses.
They can open up new topic areas not initially considered.

17. Disadvantage of Qualitative Assessment
Requires skill : This assessment requires skill and experience to
undertake.
Generalization not possible : Generalization of findings to large
population is not possible without quantitative approaches.
Difficult to make systematic comparisons: For example, if
people give widely differing responses that are highly
subjective.
Dependent on skills of the researcher: Particularly in the case
of conducting interviews, focus groups and observation.

18. References
https://tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1199
https://www.simplypsychology.org/questionnaires.html
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-
community-needs-and-resources/qualitative-methods/main
http://archive.learnhigher.ac.uk/analysethis/main/qualitative1.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_group