METODOLOGIA DE INVESTIGAÇÃO CIENTÍFICA APLICADA À GESTÃO AMBIENTAL: UM ESTUDO SOBRE AS ABORDAGENS QUALITATIVA E QUANTITATIVA

Abstract

Given the current social and environmental challenges that development faces, it is necessary to research, design, evaluate and apply different models of research in environmental management. Several theoretical and methodological approaches are needed to overcome the prevailing economic views that have proved to be restrictive in terms of understanding the socio-environmental complexity that leads to aggravating problems of environmental deterioration and social exclusion, which directly and indirectly end up being reflected in the living conditions of human beings.Scientific research has several modalities, each one developed by one or more research methods and techniques. Among its research modalities, there are two approaches that cover other forms of research: qualitative approach research and quantitative approach research. In this study, we will see these two modalities, their applications and differences, as well as the possibility of interconnection between the two. The work we present is the result of a literature review whose general objective is to understand what qualitative and quantitative research is. Specific objectives are to describe the qualitative and quantitative approaches, characterize the two approaches, and present the research methods and techniques applied in each of the approaches. After the study, the results show that qualitative research is concerned with the meaning of social phenomena and processes, taking into account the motivations, beliefs, values ​​and representations found in social relationships, through interpretation and explanation of phenomena and research. quantitative is concerned with quantifying data, proving whether a theory is valid or not based on statistical analyses.