Significance of Qualitative Vis a Vis Quantitative approach to Address Poverty. A Review from Malaysian Perspective

Abstract

Traditionally, our understanding of poverty has been based on comparisons of standardized quantitative measures including income and welfare statistics. However, quantitative method alone does not reveal the most subjective elements of poor people’s experiences of poverty. Besides, recent studies show a shift in paradigm towards qualitative methods. This paper attempts to demonstrate that both quantitative and qualitative methods are essential in providing a holistic understanding of poverty. Given the multi-dimensional nature of poverty, quantitative methods need to be complemented with qualitative measures. This paper is conceptual in nature. Based on the content analysis, an extensive review of secondary data was undertaken to examine and understand the rising phenomenon of current paper on poverty in Malaysia. Being a concept paper, the study concludes by providing implication of using both methods in understanding how poverty occurs, why it persists, and how it may be alleviated.