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Nature of quantitative and qualitative research
Strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research
Nature of quantitative and qualitative research
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AC 1.1, 2.1, 2.2
The qualitative research method involves analysing data, such as words, pictures or objects. It is more subjective, and requires the researcher to interpret data in order to form thematic ideas. Quantitative research can gather a large amount of data that can be easily organised and manipulated into reports for analysis. It often includes one to one interview. It utilises open- ended questions. This means that the researcher has to interpret their findings. Moreover, in qualitative research is used to generate hypotheses and develop an understanding about a particular group that uses words and images rather that numbers. That being said, a qualitative research focuses on a smaller sample group to help find a deeper analysis
For example, if one wanted to know how many of customers support a proposed change in products or service and how strongly and they support it. Again, in quantitative research, the researcher might end up with data reduced to numbers, which are analysed using statistics. They tend to focus on the numbers in order to get the full picture. At the same time, in qualitative research, it involves describing and analysing a phenomenon while using words. In many research projects, make a use of mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative in order to gain a more comprehensive and explanation of the subject being studied. However, quantitative data are often portrayed as being more limited in scope and in depth than qualitative data. Largely, quantitative methods have some notable advantages; they also have a disadvantage, which means that some phenomena are best studied by using different qualitative
In this report, the researchers used qualitative synthesis. For this matter, the researcher wanted to find out the importance of giving information and education is essentials and the effectiveness prior to discharge from hospital and continues when the older person returns home.
The different kinds of studies that are required include qualitative accounts of the views of those receiving services, and descriptive and observational work on how interventions are put into practice (so-called ‘process and implementation studies’). In the systematic review community, these are sometimes referred to as ‘studies with diverse designs’ and since such studies by definition use a variety of methods, they require different kinds of methods to synthesise their findings. (SCIE,
Evidence Based Practice is a growing field in the social work arena. The essence of evidence-based practice is placing the client’s benefits first by posing specific questions of importance to the client, searching objectively and efficiently for the best evidence, and then using the evidence to guide one’s practice. In short, evidence-based practice is the integration of research into practice. In this paper I illustrate the steps of evidence-based practice from the formation of a COPES question to the identification of practice guidelines.
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.).
The literature review is important to find credible, reliable, and relevant sources that fit the research problem. “To achieve its purpose, the literature review may examine issues of theory, methodology, policy, and evaluation that relate to the effectiveness of a policy or intervention” (Krysik & Finn, 2013, p.66). Annotated bibliographies and abstracts also provide information about different sources and this can be helpful for evaluating sources when doing a literature review. “An annotated bibliography includes a summary or evaluation of each of the sources” and when writing one it can help to establish if the sources used are relevant and apply to the research topic that is being investigated. (Stacks, Karper, Bisignani, & Brizee, 2013).
In social work evidence based practice is considered to be a decision making process and practitioners rely on the evidence when working with clients. According to Aveyard and Sharp (2013), evidence based practice is not easy to put into practice and there are many barriers to evidence based practice such as lack of time, lack of awareness of research, lack of support and cooperation, and lack of authority and inadequate facilities (p. 145). Although there are challenges to implementing evidence base practice this is still a doable task in the field of social work. Therefore, practitioners need to explore the motivation, knowledge and skills needed by the individual, the organizational motivation, learning
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...
The term methodology refers to the way in which we approach problems and try to find answers and in social science, it applies to how research is conducted, our assumptions, interest and purposes shape which methodology we choose (Steven, 2016:3).Qualitative research is understanding people from their own perspectives, their viewpoint and experiencing reality as they experience it. Qualitative research has many approaches or methods of collecting data and one of them is an interview which I have chosen to explain further based on it as a method of collecting data. The interview is the most common method of data gathering used in qualitative research and it is used in deferent ways by every main theoretical and methodological approach.
Rubin, A. & Babbie, E.R. (2008). Research Methods for Social Work. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/cole
On the other hand, Quantitative research refers to “variance theory” where quantity describes the research in terms of statistical relationships between different variables (Maxwell, 2013). Quantitative research answers the questions “how much” or “how many?” Quantitative research is an objective, deductive process and is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined variables with generalized results from a larger sample population. Much more structured than qualitative research, quantitative data collection methods include various forms of surveys, personal interviews and telephone interviews, polls, and systematic observations. Methods can be considered “cookie cutter” with a predetermined starting point and a fixed sequence of
Quantitative research may be seen as the less contentious of the two because it is more closely aligned with what is viewed as the classical scientific paradigm. Quantitative research involves gathering data that is absolute, for example numerical data so that it can be examined as unbiased as possible. The main idea behind quantitative research is that it is able to separate things easily so that they can be counted. The researcher generally has a clear idea of what is being measured before they start measuring it, and their study is set up with controls. Qualitative research on the other hand is a more subjective form of research, in which the research allows themselves to introduce their own bias to help form a more complete picture. Qualitative research may be necessary in situations where it is unclear of what is exactly being looked for in a study, while quantitative research generally knows exactly what it is looking for. Questionnaires and surveys are quantitative socio-legal research, because it is the collection of numerical data, or data that can be easily being turned into a numerical form. In terms of analysing quantitative data, Excel is the b...
A problem or issue is identified and explained by means of documentation, comparative analyses and surveying techniques such as interviews, questionnaires and observations (Moroni, 2011). The second phase is planning. An action plan is detailed for one or more interventions in conformity with the research to be carried. The action phase consists of the understanding of the interventions. The assessment phase gathered the feedback using qualitative or quantitative approach depending on the issue during this period.
This is for the most part, however not so much, done by method for a survey or meeting. Studies are intended to give a 'preview of how things are at a particular time. There is no endeavor to control conditions or control variables; studies don't allot members into gatherings or change the treatment they get. Overviews are appropriate to elucidating concentrates, yet can likewise be utilized to investigate parts of a circumstance, or to look for clarification and give information to testing theories. It is imperative to perceive that 'the study methodology is an examination technique, not an exploration strategy.
Qualitative studies are slightly different in that they do not use large cohorts and they are not analyzing large data sets. Qualitative studies also look to answer question “why”. They use smaller numbers but go more in-depth with the small group they have. “In contrast, qualitative research involves looking at characteristics, or qualities, that cannot easily be reduced to numerical values. A qualitative researcher typically aims to examine the many nuances and complexities of a particular phenomenon” (Leedy & Ormrod, 2010, p. 94). Qualitative and Quantitative studies can be used separately or together in a mixed methodology.
On the other hand, quantitative research allows you to test hypothesis derived from theories, associated with the issues being investigated. It is less flexible, as there are standardized procedures and techniques for collecting, organizing and analyzing the data (Kuada, 2012).
Thyer, B. & Myers, L. 2011, ‘The quest for evidence-based practice: A view from the United States’, Journal of Social Work, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 8-25.
...n, K., Guest, G., Namey, E. 2005). While quantitative research seeks to prove hypotheses, qualitative research explores an idea. While quantitative research seeks to predict relationships, qualitative research explains relationships. While quantitative research uses close ended questions, qualitative research uses open ended questions. Quantitative research is inflexible and stable, while qualitative research can be altered as new information is gathered (Mack, N., Woodsong, C., MacQueen, K., Guest, G., Namey, E. 2005). With the key difference being the amount of flexibility, qualitative research would be the best methodology to explore and discover new research on my chosen research topic. In the case of a literature review, quantitative methodology is the ideal method for exploring what data already exists, so we can assess the needs for new data to be explored.