Critical Analysis of Research Papers

1718 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: An essay comparing and contrasting quantitative and qualitative research

In this paper I will critically analyse the strength and weakness of using 'qualitative and quantitative' to a specific area of social work practice. The area of choice is children's services with focus on two research findings in the area of performance measurement within social work, with special emphasis on quality services and stability of placements for children looked after away from home.

The two documents will be referred as Paper one titled 'Performance Targets and stability of Placement for children Long looked After away from home' Harriet Wardan and Tricia Skuse (2002) and Paper two titled 'Defining Quality care for looked After Children: Front line Workers Perspective's on Standards and all that'(David Watson (2003).

I have chosen to use nursing framework because Quantitative and Qualitative studies are different approaches to research and therefore need to be approach different with regard to critiquing' Frances Ryan et al (2007) However, there has been considerable debate concerning whether qualitative and quantitative research can be assessed using the same criteria May & Pope (2000).

The critique will focus on issues like, title, theoretical framework, research design, methodology, data collection, methods, data analysis, rigour, findings, ethics, generalisability and flexibility.

The title clearly indicates the focus of the study in both papers, but for paper two did not say the meaning of 'all that'.

According to Smith (1983) quantitative research is to explain, predict and develop laws that can be universally applied and Qualitative research is the interpretation and understanding of what people give to their situation. The researchers clearly stated the purpose of their studies, aim, objectiv...

... middle of paper ...

...tative method because are interested in how ordinary people observe and describe their Silverman (1993).

There are debates on why qualitative and quantitative can be combined because the two approaches share the goal of understanding the world in which we live Haase & Myers (1980). However, Reichath &Rallis (1994) argued that the two paradigms are incompatible if the qualitative paradigm assumes that there are no external referents for understanding reality. Howe (1988) suggests that researchers should forge ahead with what works. Quantitative research makes no attempt to have personal relationship with the people being studied and to account of their view. The accounts include feelings, beliefs these being concept of feminist work. Feminism holds on to qualitative method because are interested in how ordinary people observe and describe their Silverman (1993).

Show More
Related

  • The Failure of Inter-agency Collaboration to Safeguard the Well-being of Children

    1424 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to the Munro report (2011) that state, a one size fits all is not the right way for child protection agencies to operate. This report also suggested that the inspection for the safeguarding services should be un-announced to help provide agencies with an exact update on the nature of the child’s needs. These recommendations suggested by Munro sets out a wide range of measures to safeguard and promote the physical, emotional, social and behavioural development of the children.

    Read More

  • The Biopsychosocial Model and Research in Mental Health

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    Research can be quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research is objective and involves measuring the phenomena under investigation. Qualitative research is subjective, explores experiences and feelings, and involves the recording of phenomena that cannot easily be quantified (Toates, 2010, pp. 5-6). Both are empirical since they involve data collection (OU, n.d.).

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Quantitative Analysis

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    For the most part over and over again qualitative investigation is habitually contrasted with quantitative investigation. The big representation is problematical while researcher give consideration to over inside every one of the wide-ranging categories. Nevertheless, there are various significant issues in which researchers have an inclination to leap in one approach as well as another, depending on the position of their way of life.

    Read More

  • Qualitative Critique

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...data. After studying the article and assessing the many degrees the author’s possess, they are more than capable of accurately analyzing and correlating the results consistently.

    Read More

  • Evaluate The Role Of Work In Social Work

    2655 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...on and the service that was provided for her son. I am confident that I demonstrated good practice throughout my work with Mr X and worked in an anti-oppressive manner, all decisions that were made on behalf of Mr x were at his best interest. Mrs X mother thanked me for the work that I had completed with him and said she was happy that he was content within the new centre. It is evident that I had acquired knowledge of Mr x assessed needs, his communication skills, level of understanding and his ability to interact with others. I feel that in preparation for intervention I have gained knowledge of the social work role as commissioner and the requirements of assessment, care planning and review under the R.Q.IA minimum standards for day-care I have a greater awareness of the full range of day care standards and the legal responsibility as a registered service.

    Read More

  • Social Work Assessment Essay

    856 Words  | 2 Pages

    This essay aims to explore the characteristics that make a good quality social work assessment in child care. Martin (2010) stated that there was “no single agreed definition of social work assessment.” Coulshed and Orme (2006, p24) did not offer a formal definition but they described assessment as “…a basis for planning what needs to be done to maintain, improve or bring about change in the person, the environment or both.” According to the Maclean and Harrison (2015) good assessments must be “purposeful and timely.” This is because practitioners need to be clear about why they are carrying out assessments and what it is they wish to achieve at the end of that assessment.

    Read More

  • The Meaning of Quantitative and Qualitative Research

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    Quantitative and Qualitative are two different forms of research that complement each other either from a numerical standpoint or a descriptive one. Quantitative research comes from a numerical perspective and qualitative research comes from more of a descriptive perspective, though they cannot be described with these specific terms, they need to be elaborated on to get more of an overall understanding.

    Read More

  • Social Ecological Perspective

    1541 Words  | 4 Pages

    Commission for Social Care Inspection (2005) Making Every Child Matter, Commission for Social Care Inspection

    Read More

  • The Advantages Of Quantitative And Qualitative Research Methods

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    Quantitative and qualitative research methods are the two central methods for conducting research. Although there are both advantages and disadvantages to each of these research methods, many researchers decide to merely utilize one of the methods, without exploring the other method at all. This is a problem as these researchers only get to analyze their research from one point of view rather than from differing points of view. In other words, these researchers will solely rely on numbers and statistics or solely rely on interviews and observations. The researchers Bonta and Gendreau are open to utilizing both research methods, however, instead of simply using quantitative research methods. Conversely, the researchers Roberts and Jackson are

    Read More

  • Qualitative And Quantitative Research

    745 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many elements involved in conducting a proper research. The two general types of research designs are qualitative and quantitative. These types of designs are different in many ways. Quantitative is an objective research typically focused on numerical data. Qualitative research is subjective research focused on narrative data. This paper further elaborates on many elements that separate quantitative research from qualitative research.

    Read More

  • Quantitative Qualitative

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some researchers exclusively use quantitative (one) or qualitative (the other) research approaches citing that there are differences in the two styles. Professing quantitatively an objective truth and a single reality or promoting qualitatively a subjective truth and multiple realities (Castellan, 2010). It is also possible, and maybe even desirable to use both qualitative and quantitative methods combined, but if doing so, the researcher needs to be warned that it is very difficult to maintain the integrity of each approach when completing a comprehensive qualitative study while conducting a sophisticated quantitative study (Castellan, 2010). In comparing two assigned research studies, we

    Read More

  • Qualitative Research In Quantitative Research

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    A researcher needs to familiarize himself/herself with the limitations present in any research, design, and method. This will help the researcher ensure positive possibilities in reliability and validity. It is also important to add the importance of recognizing and becoming aware of philosophical assumptions to help reduce bias throughout the research.

    Read More

  • Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Deterrence

    2800 Words  | 6 Pages

    Now all of these articles have their own specific goals and information they are trying to find, but they all have two major things in common.

    Read More

  • Marketing Research: Primary vs. Secondary Research

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Quantitative research is defined as research involving the use of structured questions in which the response options have been predetermined and a large number of respondents are involved.” (Burns & Bush, 2006). Quantitative research is associated with the more traditional industry research. The purpose of quantitative research is very clear and well defined. With this type of research, manager and researchers are on one accord and have agreed upon specific information that will be needed for the research that is numerical in nature. On the other hand, “qualitative research involves collecting, analyzing and interpreting data by observing what people do and say.” (Burns & Bush, 2006).

    Read More

  • Qualitative Research for Instructional Technology

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    A trend of the past several years has been the growing use of qualitative research for educational research. Qualitative research, broadly defined, means "any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedures or other means of quantification. Where quantitative researchers seek causal determination, prediction, and generalization of findings, qualitative researchers seek instead illumination, understanding, and extrapolation to similar situations. Qualitative analysis results in a different type of knowledge than does quantitative inquiry. " (Hoepfl, 1997, p.13). "During the past several decades, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s, naturalistic inquiry (or qualitative research) has gained considerable acceptance. Nevertheless, the debate between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as competing positions, persists. It is important to recognize the limitations of viewing quantitative and qualitative methods as completely different or competing approaches" (Custer, 1996, p. 4). What exactly are the basic differences between the two forms of research? Hoepfl (1997) explains it by saying that "phenomenological inquiry, or qualitative research, uses a naturalistic approach that seeks to understand phenomena in context-specific settings. Logical positivism, or quantitative research, uses experimental methods and quantitative measures to test hypothetical generalizations (p. 14)". Custer (1996) also points out that "the qualitative-quantitative dichotomy dates back as early as the 17th century where quantitativists were characterized by some as ‘vulgar statisticians’".

    Read More

More about Critical Analysis of Research Papers

Open Document