  We present the results of two complementary ground-based programmes to
determine the host galaxy properties of radio-quiet and radio-loud quasars and
to compare them with those of radio galaxies. Both infrared images and optical
off-nuclear spectra were obtained and we discuss the various strategies used to
separate the quasar-related emission from that of the underlying galaxy.
However, the key feature of this project is the use of carefully matched
samples, which ensure that the data for different types of object are directly
comparable.
