Which of the following is a limitation of quantitative research methods?

The correct answer highlights a significant limitation of quantitative research methods, which is that they may lack depth and context in understanding social phenomena. Quantitative research typically involves the collection and analysis of numerical data, which allows researchers to identify patterns, correlations, and statistical relationships among variables. However, this approach often does not provide the nuanced understanding of individuals’ experiences, motivations, and the complexities of social contexts that qualitative research is better equipped to explore.

Quantitative methods excel in measuring trends and establishing generalizations across larger populations, but they can oversimplify the richness of social phenomena by reducing them to mere numbers. This lack of depth makes it challenging to fully understand the intricacies of human behavior and social interactions in a way that captures the lived realities of research subjects.

The other options present characteristics or misconceptions about quantitative research methods. For instance, they do not require small sample sizes—rather, they often benefit from larger samples to increase the reliability of findings. Additionally, quantitative methods do not rely on qualitative data; they primarily focus on numerical data. Lastly, quantitative research is generally considered more objective than qualitative methods, which often involve more subjective interpretation from the researcher.