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Essay on quantitative research methods
Quantitative research methods
Strengths and weaknesses of Qualitative research
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1.0 Introduction I have been asked to produce a report which critically evaluates a range of research methodologies and the usefulness of these methodologies when applied to a given scenario. In the first part of this report I will be analyzing the usefulness of the methods covered in lesson when applied to different scenarios and for the second section of the report I will demonstrate an understanding of said methodologies by selecting a method and creating research documentation for a given scenario. In this scenario I am part of an IT Support Team of a large Further & Higher Educational establishment. I have been asked to analyze data collected from help desk logs in preparation for an audit. From this I will recommend suitable research and analysis methods that should be used for this audit. 2.0 Research methods For this report I will be focusing mainly on quantitative data in which a few strategies to get this data include: • Experiments/clinical trials. • Observing and recording well-defined events (e.g., counting the number of patients waiting in a&e at specified times of the day). • Obtaining relevant data from management information systems. • Administering surveys with closed-ended questions (e.g., face-to face and telephone interviews, questionnaires etc.). (Claire, 2001) I will go through each one of these points and analyse each and give situations in which these would be the best way to get the information that is needed at the time. 2.1 Experiments/clinical trials Experimental studies give researchers the chance to change the situation when/if needed to see if the results change which means that the researchers have greater control over what is happening and how. This is mainly used within the medical spectrum (i.... ... middle of paper ... ... if they do it may not be the target recipients that you hoped for. 2.4.2 Web based questionnaire This is still fairly new in comparison to the Paper-pencil questionnaires but it is on the rise because of the simplicity and speed of which you can administer these questionnaires to the public. Like before there are some disadvantages to this method also for example if someone does not have access to the internet and/or a computer that rules them out of your data group straight away. Works Cited Claire, E., 2001. Data Collection Methods. [Online] Available at: http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/researchmethods/data%20collection%20methods/data%20collection%20methods.htm [Accessed 05 January 2014]. Inc, 2010. Management Information Systems (MIS). [Online] Available at: http://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/management-information-systems-mis.html [Accessed 05 January 2014].
The laboratory experiment gives the experimenter a greater chance to control the conditions and enables you to measure behaviour with greater precision. This method also allows for quantative research and also enables greater control of variables. Although it gives the experimenter greater control, this can also seem daunting to the subject who may feel more uncomfortable and is less likely to ...
The advances in technology have provided a number of ways to collect and interpret data in regards to scientific research. According to Cope (2014) using paper and pencil surveys is the tried and true method of collecting data; However, technology is quickly becoming a popular and at times a more efficient way to collect data. The use of technology allows interpreting data to become simpler, allows the researcher to reach a larger sample group and quicker compared
The design of the questionnaire is based on the descriptive survey format (Oppenheim, 2002); however, as it is just a first attempt at designing the questionnaire, I can predict that after having carried out the pilot work (ibid), the ordering of questions sequences could be changed.
Clinical trial is biomedical or health related research studies in human being that follow a pre-defined protocol. Research is an activity designed to test a hypothesis that helps in concluding and developing knowledge. It is a protocol that has an objectives and procedures to reach those objectives (1). There are two types of clinical studies. One is interventional studies in which the research subjects are assigned by the investigator to a treatment or other intervention, and their outcomes are measured. Second is an observational study in which individuals are observed and their outcomes are measured by the investigators.
Experimental studies can either be randomized, an example is community trials, or no-randomized (Quasi-experimental) which are clinical trials. Unlike experimental studies, observational studies are uncontrolled and they have broader subjects. Under observational studies are prospective studies which have regards to exposure, cause, or characteristics. Cross-sectional and retrospective studies are conducted under observational studies and are broken into two. Cross-sectional studies are time of study and retrospective are before time of study.
Focusing on surveys and questionnaires, and quantitative research methods, it varies on the person getting questioned as to which method they prefer. Some individuals may prefer to fill in a questionnaire, as it is quick and simple for them, whereas someone else would rather have a face-to-face interview because they may find questionnaires to complicated. Giving people the choice gives the more chance of getting a response overall. It is important that the researchers are aware of the advantages and disadvantages because they will then be aware of what method to use, and will know what method is best to use. It is also an advantage to work with experienced researchers in order to find out the best results.
What were the strengths and weaknesses in the description of the data collected and the method of
Researchers have less control over variables in a field experiment and this may lead to confounding variables also impacting the
The questionnaire comprised of different sorts of inquiries say Open-ended survey, Close-ended and Multiple-choice questionnaire.
Closed question interviews are questions that involve partakers to choose or select a number of responses that are determined by the interviewer. There are extensive selections of different types of closed interview questions. For an example, a person may choose multiple choice, check boxes, drop down, semantic differential, scale ranking and many more (Penwarden 1). These questions are normally used for confirmatory research to test hypothesis (Royce 182). Therefore, using this methodology is very useful, easy, reliable, and only require a little amount of skill to perform.
First of all, the reason I choose these methodologies because the information that we've gathered from the Lotuskrish is suitable and meet the requirement of the methodology. Three of these are able to work properly and effectively with larger project. At the next, I will briefly discuss the reason between three methodologies.
It is better used where the literacy level of the respondents is low. 2. It can almost be used for all segments of the population 3. It usually yields a much better sample of the population 4. It is flexible and this makes it a very useful, powerful and dependable technique for data collection 5.
New medicine and medical procedures are being developed every day, and even with the entire research put into them there is only one sure way to ensure effectiveness. Medical experimentation, while controversial at times, is the best way to gather results on the safety of a drug and its ability to produce the expected results. Everything in healthcare as we know it goes through some form of experimentation whether it is physically or mentally.
In this chapter I will discuss about the methodology of this project. Several methods are used to determine the research objective. Methodology is a systematic way to solve a problem. It is a science of studying how research is to be carried out. Essentially, the procedures by which researchers go about their work of describing, explaining and predicting phenomena are called research methodology. It is also defined as the study of methods by which knowledge is gained. Its aim is to give the work plan of research. By understanding and using the appropriate methodology in developing the research, it will be easier to achieve or accomplish the system development objective.
Buckingham, A. & Saunders, P. (2004) The survey methods workbook : from design to analysis. Cambridge, UK ; Malden, MA: Polity.