Research methods are split broadly into quantitative and qualitative methods. Show
Which you choose will depend on your research questions, your underlying philosophy of research, and your preferences and skills. Our pages Introduction to Research Methods and Designing Research set out some of the issues about the underlying philosophy. This page provides an introduction to the broad principles of qualitative and quantitative research methods, and the advantages and disadvantages of each in particular situations. Some definitions Quantitative research is “explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics).”* Qualitative research seeks to answer questions about why and how people behave in the way that they do. It provides in-depth information about human behaviour. * Taken from: Aliaga and Gunderson ‘Interactive Statistics ‘3rd Edition (2005) Quantitative ResearchQuantitative research is perhaps the simpler to define and identify.The data produced are always numerical, and they are analysed using mathematical and statistical methods. If there are no numbers involved, then it’s not quantitative research. Some phenomena obviously lend themselves to quantitative analysis because they are already available as numbers. Examples include changes in achievement at various stages of education, or the increase in number of senior managers holding management degrees. However, even phenomena that are not obviously numerical in nature can be examined using quantitative methods. Example: turning opinions into numbers If you wish to carry out statistical analysis of the opinions of a group of people about a particular issue or element of their lives, you can ask them to express their relative agreement with statements and answer on a five- or seven-point scale, where 1 is strongly disagree, 2 is disagree, 3 is neutral, 4 is agree and 5 is strongly agree (the seven-point scale also has slightly agree/disagree). Such scales are called Likert scales, and enable statements of opinion to be directly translated into numerical data. The development of Likert scales and similar techniques mean that most phenomena can be studied using quantitative techniques. This is particularly useful if you are in an environment where numbers are highly valued and numerical data is considered the ‘gold standard’. However, it is important to note that quantitative methods are not necessarily the most suitable methods for investigation. They are unlikely to be very helpful when you want to understand the detailed reasons for particular behaviour in depth. It is also possible that assigning numbers to fairly abstract constructs such as personal opinions risks making them spuriously precise. Sources of Quantitative DataThe most common sources of quantitative data include:
Our pages on Survey Design and Observational Research provide more information about these techniques. Analysing Quantitative DataThere are a wide range of statistical techniques available to analyse quantitative data, from simple graphs to show the data through tests of correlations between two or more items, to statistical significance. Other techniques include cluster analysis, useful for identifying relationships between groups of subjects where there is no obvious hypothesis, and hypothesis testing, to identify whether there are genuine differences between groups. Our page Statistical Analysis provides more information about some of the simpler statistical techniques. Qualitative ResearchQualitative research is any which does not involve numbers or numerical data.It often involves words or language, but may also use pictures or photographs and observations. Almost any phenomenon can be examined in a qualitative way, and it is often the preferred method of investigation in the UK and the rest of Europe; US studies tend to use quantitative methods, although this distinction is by no means absolute. Qualitative analysis results in rich data that gives an in-depth picture and it is particularly useful for exploring how and why things have happened. However, there are some pitfalls to qualitative research, such as:
Sources of Qualitative DataAlthough qualitative data is much more general than quantitative, there are still a number of common techniques for gathering it. These include:
Our pages on Interviews for Research, Focus Groups and Observational Research provide more information about these techniques. Analysing Qualitative DataBecause qualitative data are drawn from a wide variety of sources, they can be radically different in scope. There are, therefore, a wide variety of methods for analysing them, many of which involve structuring and coding the data into groups and themes. There are also a variety of computer packages to support qualitative data analysis. The best way to work out which ones are right for your research is to discuss it with academic colleagues and your supervisor. Our page Analysing Qualitative Data provides more information about some of the most common methods. It’s your research…Finally, it is important to say that there is no right and wrong answer to which methods you choose. Sometimes you may wish to use one single method, whether quantitative or qualitative, and sometimes you may want to use several, whether all one type or a mixture. It is your research and only you can decide which methods will suit both your research questions and your skills, even though you may wish to seek advice from others. Which term is used to identify the practice of using several sources to confirm a conclusion?Rather than drawing conclusions from a single study, data triangulation — by definition — uses multiple data sources to examine a situation.
What are some advantages of using a mixed methods approach?Benefits. MMR allows a research question to be studied from different perspectives. For example, one can combine the rich, subjective insights on complex realities from qualitative inquiry, with the standardized, generalizable data generated through quantitative research.
Which of the following are considered mixed method design strategies?The four major types of mixed methods designs are the Triangulation Design, the Embedded Design, the Explanatory Design, and the Exploratory Design.
Which type of mixed method design uses qualitative data first to determine an intervention or measurement tool and then analyzes that tool using quantitative data?You can use this design if you think your qualitative data will explain and contextualize your quantitative findings. Exploratory sequential: Qualitative data is collected and analyzed first, followed by quantitative data.
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