本文首先思考方法論典範與知識發展間的學術脈絡，進而主要分析質化研究與量
化研究兩大研究取向之主要相異點。比較與對照分析的重要包括「知識論、方法論與相關典
範」、「理論意涵、研究目標與研究者立場」、以及「研究策略、資料與研究方法」等面向
的根本差異。其次，本文進一步介紹質化研究方法的五個主要傳統，包括傳記、現象學、紮
根理論、民族誌學、與案例研究等，同時針對此五大傳統的研究焦點、研究對象、研究主體
、資料分析、以及資料收集、記錄與儲存方式等面向作一比較說明。最後，本文以質化研究
的應用與未來發展作為結尾，並說明質化研究在傳播與圖書資訊研究上的發展概況。本文結
尾指出，質化研究不僅是進行研究的一種「操作技術」，更是一門研究者應學習如何與被研
究者、文獻與研究場域互動，進而建構與瞭解社會真實的「詮釋藝術」。

This article starts at reviewing
the general paradigmatic development of research methodologies in human and
social sciences through an epistemological review of the comissue. Secondly,
this paper deals with the comparison and contrast of qualitative and
quantitative methods in terms of epistemolgical, methodological, theoretical,
procedural, and operational perspectives. This constitutes the major task of
this paper. Thus, many method-related dimensions are contrasted according to the
distinctive features of each methodological orientation. In addition, five main
qualitative traditions as proposed by Creswell are also briefly introduced. Some
features of these traditions are also compared. In the last sectioin, this paper
tackles the development and cahllenge of qualitative methods in the field of
communication and library/information studies, and concludes that aualitative
research is not just an "operational technique" but also an "interpretation
art".