PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1

Lesson 3. Types of Research

LESSON OVERVIEW
In this lesson, students will learn the three primary types of research approaches—
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods. Each approach has distinct characteristics,
methodologies, and applications, depending on the research questions being addressed.
Understanding these approaches will enable students to select the most appropriate
methods for their studies.

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
a. Identify and define the three main research approaches: Qualitative, Quantitative,
and Mixed Methods.
b. Explain the distinct characteristics, methodologies, and purposes of each research
approach.
c. Understand the various types of qualitative research methods and their
applications.
d. Analyze and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different qualitative
approaches.

SUBJECT MATTER:

I. Research Approaches
There are three types of research: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods.

A. Qualitative Research

Deals with questions of quality that pertain to characteristics or descriptions. Also refers
to what, how, when, and where it is. Usually, Qualitative research answers the questions
“What” or “Why.” According to Berg (2007), qualitative research refers to the meanings,
concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and description of things.
Employs different philosophical assumptions, strategies of inquiry, and methods of data
collection, analysis, and interpretation (Creswell, 2009).

B. Quantitative Research

According to Given (2008), it is a systematic and empirical investigation of observable

phenomena using statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques. Usually
answers the questions “How Many?” and “What is the relationship/difference between
them?” Aims to develop and employ mathematical models, theories, and or hypotheses
pertaining to a phenomenon.

C. Mixed Methods Research

A type of research wherein the researcher collects both quantitative and qualitative data.
Mixed methods research combines the two types of data and employs unique designs
that may include philosophical assumptions and theoretical frameworks.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Aspect Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

Purpose Exploring ideas, understanding Testing hypotheses, measuring
context, and describing variation or relationships, and generalizing
experiences. findings.
Data Words, themes, or narratives. Numbers, graphs, and tables.
Expression
Analysis Summarizing, categorizing, and Using math and statistical methods.
interpreting data.
Sample Few respondents, in-depth Many respondents, broad
exploration. generalization.
Questions Open-ended and exploratory. Close-ended or multiple-choice.
Framework Flexible, iterative methods (e.g., Structured methods (e.g., surveys,
interviews, focus groups). questionnaires).
Study Adapts as research progresses. Fixed and stable from start to end.
Design

TYPES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

1. Narrative Research - Researchers examine how stories are told to understand
how participants perceive and make sense of their experiences. The inquirer
focuses on the stories told from the individual and arranges these stories often in
chronological order.
2. Phenomenology (Descriptive Phenomenology) - One of the most used
methods in qualitative research. It gives detailed descriptions of the lived
experiences of individuals on a certain phenomenon or event.
3. Grounded Theory – Use of collected data to develop new theories.
4. Ethnography – Researchers immerse themselves in a particular culture or
ethnographic group to describe and understand their cultures. They explore and
collect their data either through an emic or etic approach (Taylor et al., 2006):
 Etic Approach – Objective; the researcher is an observer who looks in on a culture
without taking part in it.
Emic Approach – Subjective; the researcher participates in the ethnographic
group. Observation is done from within the culture.

5. Case Study – Long–time study that shows a detailed description of a specific

subject's experience, whether a single person, family, group, or community.

Contrasting Foundational Considerations of Five Qualitative Approaches

Types of
Narrative Grounded
Qualitative Phenomenology Ethnography Case Study
Research Theory
Research
Developing
Developing Describing
in-depth
Research Exploring the Understanding a theory and
description
life of an the essence of grounded in interpreting a
Focus and analysis
individual the experience data from culture-
of a case or
the field sharing group
multiple cases
Studying a
Studying an
process, an
Studying one Studying several Studying a event, a
Unit of action, or an
or individuals who group that program, an
interaction
Analysis more have shared the shares the activity, or
involving
individuals experience same culture more than
many
one individual
individuals
Describing
Needing to Needing to and Providing an
Grounding a
Research tell describe the interpreting in-depth
theory in the
stories of essence of a the shared understanding
Problem views of
individual lived patterns of of a case or
participants
experiences phenomenon culture of a cases
group
Drawing from
the
humanities
Drawing Drawing from
Nature of including Drawing from
Drawing from psychology,
Disciplinary anthropology, philosophy,
from anthropology law, political
literature, psychology, and
Origins sociology and science, and
history, education
sociology medicine
psychology,
and
sociology
Advantages And Disadvantages of Different Qualitative Approaches

Advantages Disadvantages
Narrative • Narrative research can provide a • It can be time-consuming, and
Research unique way to explore human the findings can be difficult to
experiences. generalize to a larger
• It can also be a useful tool for population.
teaching and learning, and for setting • It can also be subjective, and
the stage for future research. the researcher's personal
beliefs and experiences can
influence the results.

Phenomenology • Strong technique to analyze • Data gathering and analysis is

subjective experience and obtain time consuming and laborious
insights into people's actions and • Participants may not be able to
intentions. express themselves articulately
• Prone to researcher bias
• Findings cannot be generalized.

Grounded • Avoids assuming structures are • Not useful for the application of
Theory stable (Charmaz, 2017). received theory and for testing
• Useful for researchers who want to hypotheses.
explain a process rather than test an • Prone to researcher bias
established theory.

Ethnography • Allows for rich detailed data to be • Can be expensive

collected (Howitt, 2019). • Certain logistics can pose
• Provides an opportunity for challenges
researchers to uncover new unknown • Rapport may be difficult to create
ways of thinking. • Prone to researcher bias

Hawthorne effect – observed

individuals adjust their behavior in
response to their awareness of
being observed
Case Study • Single case can be used to develop • Labor intensive
or disprove a theory • Generates large diverse data
• Can be used as a model or sets which can be hard to
prototype manage
• Findings cannot be generalized