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Types of Research

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14 views26 pages

Types of Research

Uploaded by

Kassaan Lowe
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Types of research

Quantitative versus Qualitative research


Study both scenarios , share on which you think
would have enabled the collection of qualitative or
quantitative data and why.
1. Students in grade 8 at Mount Alvernia High all achieved the 75% pass
mark!
2. However, students in 7 A still seem uninterested in studying.
3. Boy: Words can’t even describe how beautiful you are!
Girl: Aww, thank you.
Boy: But , numbers can-2/10.
Questions asked by
researcher:
1. Why ?
2. How?
3. When?
4. Where?

Type of data Collected:


1. Subjective - Personal
opinions , feelings and Root Word:
personal experiences
2. Descriptive -narrative Quality
report /words
3. Inductive in nature : specific
Qualitative
examples to general theory / Amount of participants:
conclusion Small sample size
Examples of data
collected: Questions asked by
researcher:
How many
How often
How frequently

Quantitative
Type of data
collected

Numerical Data
-Percentages
Root Word: /Statistics
Quantity -Ages
-Range /
Ranking
Research topics may be approached using either quantitative or qualitative
methods. Choosing one method or the other depends on what you believe would
provide the best evidence for your research objectives. Researchers sometimes choose
to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative data in their research since these
methods provide different perspectives on the topic.
Example: You want to know the locations of the most popular study spaces on
Macalester's campus, and why they are so popular. To identify the most popular
spaces, you might count the number of students studying in different locations at
regular time intervals over a period of days or weeks. This quantitative data would
answer the question of how many people study at different locations on campus. To
understand why certain locations are more popular than others, you might use a
survey to ask students why they prefer these locations. This is qualitative data.
Mixed Method /Pragmatic Research
Design
Quantitative research is: "a formal,
objective, systematic process in which
numerical data are utilized to obtain
information about the world“. (Burns and
Grove cited by Cormack 1991 p 140).
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is an inquiry approach useful for describing
trends and explaining the relationship among variables found in the
literature. To conduct this inquiry, the investigator specifies narrow
questions, locates or develops instruments using statistics. From the results
of these analyzes, the researcher interprets the data using prior predictions
and research studies. The final report, presented in standard format, display
researcher objectivity and lack of bias.
Quantitative Research
It is best used to:

Study facts and well known phenomena (Deductive in nature :Begins with a fact ,
then tests hypotheses /theories in controlled settings in order to come to a
conclusion. General to Specific)

Seek correlation ,relationships and causality

Explore outcomes due to treatment and manipulation of research environment


Qualitative research is an inquiry approach useful for exploring and
understanding a central phenomenon. To learn about this phenomenon, the
inquirer asks participants broad, general questions, collects the detailed
views of participants in the form of words or images, and analyzes the
information for description and themes. From this data, the researcher
interprets the meaning of the information drawing on personal reflections and
past research. It is descriptive rather than predictive and is used in a natural
setting . The structure of the final report is flexible, and it displays the
researcher’s biases and thoughts.
• Qualitative research involves analysis of data such as
words (e.g., from interviews), pictures (e.g., video), or objects
(e.g., an artifact). –Narratives
• is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an
understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations.
It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or
hypotheses for potential quantitative research.
• It is designed to reveal a target audience’s range of behavior and
the perceptions that drive it, with reference to research topics
and issues
• Originated in the social and behavioural sciences:
sociology ,anthropology and psychology
Qualitative Research
It is best used to :

Develop hypotheses/theories for further testing ( Inductive reasoning -Studies unknown or


little known phenomena ,collects notes or examples based on observation and then generalizes
or comes to a conclusion based on examples or notes. Specific to general)

Explore complex issues and interactions between humans , reasons for outcomes and processes

Understand the feelings, values and perceptions that underlie or influence a behaviour

Identify customer needs

Generate ideas for improvement

Used in fields such as : Market research,Education ,Health Care ,Political


Science,Anthropology ,Journalism...
More on deductive and inductive reasoning
During the scientific process, deductive reasoning is used to reach a logical true conclusion. Another type of reasoning, inductive,
is also used. Often, people confuse deductive reasoning with inductive reasoning, and vice versa. It is important to learn the
meaning of each type of reasoning so that proper logic can be identified.

Deductive reasoning is a basic form of valid reasoning. Deductive reasoning, or deduction, starts out with a general
statement, or hypothesis, and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion, according to California State
University. The scientific method uses deduction to test hypotheses and theories. "In deductive inference, we hold a theory and
based on it we make a prediction of its consequences. That is, we predict what the observations should be if the theory were
correct. We go from the general — the theory — to the specific — the observations," said Dr. Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, a
researcher and professor emerita at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Inductive reasoning

Inductive reasoning is the opposite of deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning makes broad generalizations from specific
observations. Basically, there is data, then conclusions are drawn from the data. This is called inductive logic, according to Utah
State University.

"In inductive inference, we go from the specific to the general. We make many observations, discern a pattern, make a
generalization, and infer an explanation or a theory," Wassertheil-Smoller told Live Science. "In science, there is a constant
interplay between inductive inference (based on observations) and deductive inference (based on theory), until we get closer and
closer to the 'truth,' which we can only approach but not ascertain with complete certainty."
School of thought:

Researchers can only come to understand the


social world through participants’ interpretations
– interpretative approach.
Reality is diverse and multifaceted. The goal is to
get a picture of this reality.
Task 1
Suppose a marine biologist
observes the behavior and
activities of dolphins. She
identifies different dolphins
within the group and observes
them every day for a month. She
records detailed observations
about their behaviors. Note three
qualitative and three quantitative
data that she could have recorded.
Task 2
Based on class discussion:
Write 3 advantages and limitations to quantitative research

Record 3 advantages and limitations to qualitative research

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