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Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative methods
Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative methods
Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative methods
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Social research is the practical activity concentrates for addressing the research problems by way of providing research strategy, a research design and tool of data gathering and analysis. Any research strategy has various implication for research design and implementation of various tools of data gathering and analysis. There are basically social research based on the three major factors: strategy, design and method, and these are based on the quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method is based on the numerical facts and figure of the set of observations (Zhao and Zhao, 2012). While, qualitative research method register and assess talks and actions or review text which someone has written. This difference between quantitative …show more content…
Under this essay report, qualitative and quantitative research strategies are going to implement determining characteristics of social research. Qualitative research strategies are those which able to draw the real meaning and informed by the interpretivist tradition under the social theory. Under this theory, the description and the explanation of the social planet is required to refer to subjective message (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2015). Interpretivist research focus to expose the fruitful aspects of cultural as under the case of social anthropology. Such tradition has implemented ethnographic tools to expose the significance of other cultures, covering sub-cultures under urban and rural areas. Ethography covers observing societies, interviewing individuals, reading the text found under documents, and gathering this data instantly under the natural context divided by those studied. This implementation of the natural context is must if the researcher is to find out the social world because, this has been seen by those being studied. The main focus of ethnographic tool is learning to …show more content…
After all, social researchers can only claim a degree of validity for their research findings since research is scrutinised by other researchers in the professional community. Failure to comply with these established standards can mean the research will not be published and the credibility and reputation of the social researcher is seriously undermined. However, there are many disciplinary and sub-disciplinary groups with their own methodological preferences. Sociologists vary considerably in the stance they take on theoretical and methodological issues, but there have been distinct theoretical and philosophical trends that have influenced research strategies and research designs of sociologists. There is a tendency in British academic sociology to emphasise the theoretical and philosophical inputs to the research process rather than the potential outcomes. Professional social researchers, on the other hand, must produce findings that can be ‘warranted’ as knowledge by their rather different research community. Both academic and professional social researchers may be required to be more outcome- and audience- oriented if they are seeking external funding for research. Social scientists may choose research strategies that reflect long-held and much cherished tenets about the philosophy of social science, but methodological decisions are affected by the specific social context.
Qualitative research aims to gather information from data collection methods and transform it into written words. Such as transcribing recorded interviews, taking field notes from observations, using words to outline images (Denscombe, 1998, p. 174). On the other hand, quantitative research aims to gather information from data collection methods and transform it into numbers. Such as analysing conducted surveys and pulling numbers to transform it into statistics, tables and graphs (Denscombe, 1998, p.174-177).
Qualitative research involves the methods of case- studies, in- depth interviews, text/discourse analysis and historical analysis, focusing on a few cases with the primary purpose of gain in- depth understanding of the resea...
There are two types of research that can be conducted in research studies, these are qualitative and quantitative (Newman, 2011). Qualitative research is a process that uses detailed oriented methodology that tries to achieve a profound knowledge or understanding of specific incident and circumstance, wh...
Qualitative research is concerned with understanding people’s many layers of envisioned reality. It is observation of the human practice, descriptive in manner, with careful, detailed factual description of people, objects and action. Viewed in a nonpositivism style, those who look at research in this manner believe all that is important and cannot be measured as in quantitative, concrete measurement. They believe there is an interaction between researcher and participant that has to be accounted for. This being said, experiments cannot be reproduced from one environment to another because the conditions are different, the context of the situation changes and interactions cannot be the same for different researchers and participants (Long, 2014a).
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...
Qualitative research is an approach that attempts to situate an activity that locates the observer in the world by providing the study to occur in their natural setting and by attempting to make sense of, or interpret information (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005). A characteristic of qualitative research is to use a variety of empirical materials such as personal experience, interviews, and questionnaires. It is imperative to understand the task at hand and how to fully carry out the study when using a qualitative research approach in order to find out the information needed. One view of qualitative research is it involves examining individual’s experiences and documenting those experiences in detail (Jones, 2011). By documenting these observations the researcher is ensuring validity in his or her data and giving the correct creditability to those who participated in the study.
In this paper, I will define quantitative and qualitative research methods and provide examples in the context of social issues which will hopefully provide insight into how this methods are properly applied.
The main focus of the interpretivist research is on the proper description of the phenomena and focusing less on the critics of such phenomena (Phillips, McNaught & Kennedy, 2012). The interpretivism paradigm supports the view of multiple realities and truths and focuses on the holistic perspectives of people. This paradigm is integrated with the methodology approach that provides an opportunity for concern, voice and practice of the research candidate. Interpretivism paradigm assumes that the reality and truth known is formulated inter intuitively through the meaning and interpretation developed socially.
Qualitative and quantitative research methods take different approaches to gathering and analysing information. Whether it is a qualitative or quantitative study, the research study begins with a question or series of questions. Both use rigorously designed studies to get the most accurate, detailed and complete results. Qualitative studies common methods are interviews, surveys and observation. A qualitative study aims to provide a detailed description of the study results, often using pictures and written descriptions to describe what the research revealed. A qualitative study looks at the big picture, helping researchers to narrow in on points of interest that then can be followed up on in a quantitative study. While a quantitative study has a narrower focus, it attempts to provide a detailed explanation of the study focus, along with this using numbers and statistics. And the results from a quantitative study can reveal bigger questions that call for qualitative study. Or vice versa a qualitative study may reveal at analysis that a more focus and direct approach may be needed. With both methods analysis is a key part of any study whether qualitative or quantitative.
A sociologists main interest is to observe and explain society, therefore the research procedure must be taken seriously. Meaning, the steps taken must be done appropriately and systematically to obtain accurate results. Therefore, “skipping or skimping any steps will risk the reliability and validity of the research” (Arvanitakis 2016). Sociological research methods usually consist of surveys, field work, experiments and secondary data analysis (Little 2014). Even though it may seem odd to use scientific methods to study
Research is part and parcel of today's life, especially from an academic and professional perspective. Social research can be ideally defined as a practical activity targeted towards answering research questions by the use of research strategies including conducting a research design involving data collection and analysis and development of appropriate conclusions. Social research is an appropriate method of collecting information and presenting need for a particular argument. According to Walliman, (2006), the concept of social research therefore requires proper understanding in regards to the strategy utilized, the design employed, as well as the method used in conducting a particular study so as to ensure that the outcome is as valid and
Select a specific research method and critically evaluate its usefulness to researching in/for social work. It is not unusual for practitioners and students to become anxious about the prospect of undertaking social research. The reputation of research is difficult, mechanical and a tedious set of rituals that are linked to unappealing scientific or objective routines and tasks which ultimately result in remote, dry and even aloof as well as impenetrable, reports, books, and academic papers. Although challenging, most forms of qualitative research are accessible, rewarding, relevant, and at times, enlightening.
Another characteristic of qualitative research is that it is personal and contains very little scientific terminology. For example, the researchers seek to understand human issues and problems or why humans behave in a certain manner. This type of empathetic approach in a quantitative research is a very unique in characteristic. Also, in a qualitative research, researches interact with the participants or sample, this is very important because they need to observe their behavior. As a result, it causes the research to be more up close and personal. This type of approach is what makes a qualitative research unique or different from quantitative research. (Smith &...
This study would throw light on the Comparative method of research and its importance on the field of Sociology. It would also involve its potential, advantages and disadvantages. It would also discuss the two methods of study i.e. the Cross-sectional method of study and the longitudinal method of study. This study would also include advantages and disadvantages of these methods of study and the problems faced in both the methods. This study would also include a case study to draw a comparison between both these methods of studies.
Striating from the research idea to the culmination of the findings, the research process entails many segments, all of which are imperative. By choosing the research methodology, the researchers can formulate the path to be used in conducting the study and reporting the findings. The methodology helps in the search of literature, development of research questions and the creation of the most suitable study design. It also assists in the interpretation of the results and the publication of the findings in journals.