When it comes to research, there are two types of methods that are used to help us illustrate the world in which we live in. Quantitative research methods show patterns of change through statistics, and they apply to the general population because sample sizes are larger. Surveys and graphs are used to show change throughout different generations and help provide us with explanations. As for Qualitative research methods it takes a more in-depth approach and researchers will be able to ask questions, interview, email or use any form of communication to better understand a situation with their interviewee. It is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative research because we get a better understanding of how these work when we conduct research and we know which method is more appropriate for certain situations. Quantitative research is very valuable and there may be many strengths to the social sciences when the researcher wants to understand his/her study from a statistical standpoint. The generalization of the results is enhanced because their is a higher number of subjects which allows for a wide study, and allows better explanations of social phenomena. Since the researcher does not know the subjects personally, bias is ruled out. This type of research method also allows us to understand how things may change over time, because researchers can reproduce results and compare and analyze with other similar studies. Both articles The Compassion Gap in American Poverty Policy by Fred Block and The Work Home-Crunch by Kathleen Gerson and Jerry A. Jacobs provide comprehensive data by replicating a study used in a previous year. Gerson and Jacobs focus on Americans working less than average or more than average hours per week. They compare the differences between the hours worked in 1970 and 2000. (Gerson 2008) Since a study was done in the year 1970 it makes it more valuable to replicate the study in 2000 to see if hours worked have increased, decreased or stayed the same. Block analyzes the changes when it comes to poverty in America from the years 1973 and 2003. St