Given below are two statements, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other Reason (R). In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Assertion (A):Qualitative research is guided by positivistic epistemology

Reason (R):The aim of quantitative research is only to test hypotheses

ABoth A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A

BBoth A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A

CA is correct but R is not correct

DA is not correct but R is correct ✓ Correct

Correct answer: (D) A is not correct but R is correct

Explanation

The assertion is wrong and the reason is right: it is quantitative, not qualitative, research that rests on positivist epistemology.

Qualitative research is guided by interpretivism, seeking the meanings people attach to their experience.

Positivism assumes one objective reality measured through quantification, which fits quantitative work.

The reason is correct, because quantitative research is chiefly directed at testing hypotheses derived from theory.

It uses numerical data and statistical tests to confirm or reject those hypotheses.

Qualitative and quantitative research thus rest on opposed views of knowledge and reality.

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