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Similarities between quantitative and qualitative approach
Similarities between quantitative and qualitative approach
Comparing and contrasting qualitative and quantitative methods
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The evaluation of the philosophical debate in the area of the mixed-methods approach does not only consider the data collection process, but rather covers the whole research process, beginning with the very conceptualization of the subject to be studied. This paper therefore describes what mixed-methods entails and the philosophical issues that must be dealt with as a researcher makes the decision to use this approach, as opposed to using either a quantitative or a qualitative approach.
As Leech and Onwuegbusie (2009) explain, mixed methods involves carrying out the whole research project, including collecting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data in the same study (p. 265). However these authors contend that the
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16). By taking a pragmatic approach to research and adopting the mixed methods approach, researchers would find that they are able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both qualitative and quantitative research, and can therefore eliminate the weaknesses and use the strengths that both have to offer.
Besides, mixed methods are also based on pragmatism. In the debate between the purists of the qualitative and quantitative, there are yet two other schools of thought. In the first school of thought, the situationalists “contend that certain methods can be used in specific situations,” but in the second school of thought, the pragmatists, who oppose the purists and who argue “against a false dichotomy between the qualitative and quantitative research paradigms”, advocate for the efficient use of both approaches” (Cameron, 2011, p.
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While the question may be asked as to whether a mixed methods research is possible in light of the two different paradigms, a researcher could resolve the issue through praxis, which Cameron sees as an important part of the mixed methods research. This debate over the ability to carry out such research process can be resolved by praxis, which Cameron describes as the mixed methods researcher becoming “knowledgeable, informed and familiar with the growing body of literature that forms mixed methods as a third methodological movement” (p. 102). Besides, not only must the researcher understand the discipline, but must also be familiar with the methodological and data integration in mixed methods research (Cameron, 2011, p. 102). In other words, debate over the practicality of mixed methods research can be addressed with the researcher recognizing the choices that are available to using mixed methods, and this is possible when mixed methods researchers become knowledgeable in both qualitative and quantitative research methods (Cameron, 2011, p. 104). The pragmatist approach in the research design and implementation phases allows for asking which techniques and procedures are best for the research problem. Knowing the principles underlying the different methods used in both qualitative and quantitative research
Although the mixed method gathering information is good, but I need to understand the procedure and technique needed to achieve the end results. Also, I will need to have a target schedule plan on how the research study can be achieve, which should be done in a more realistic pattern in concentrating on research topics that align to the study. Separate my findings from different ethnic groups about their perspective on intimate violent relationship, by avoiding generalize opinion of research participant, investigate and observe both first-hand and second-hand through the examination of external and internal
In statistics, a population is a collection of individuals, things, events, etc. The population is the topic that one wants to make inferences on, whereas a sample is a subset of the population that is being collected—to be studied. After the sample is studied in statistics, one draws an inference of the population. There are four general sampling methods used in statistics: representative sample, random sample and quasi-random sample, stratified and quota sample, convenience sample, and purposive sample. A representative sample should be unbiased and thus properly indicate a characteristic of the entire population. In a random sample nothing is biased; in other words, every individual, thing or event in the population has the same chance of being selected for the sample. Therefore, because of the randomness of the sampling, the selection of one item from the population in no way effects the selection of another item. A quasi-random sample is simply a number (nth), which is
There is no denying that students are bombarded daily with an exorbitant amount of data. It comes at them in every direction and it does not look like it will be lessening any time soon. As a matter of fact, I predict it will only get worse. More and more data is flung at them every day. With the Internet being a highly enriched source of information where one can find information about anything from cartoons to x-rays, determining what information is credible and what is not is a time-consuming task. It is like synthesizing iron from the iron core, where steps involved in the synthesis play a very critical role. So what is a student to do in this age of information overload when confronted with doing research? How do they sift through the enormous amount of information? This paper will discuss what criteria should be considered when gathering evidence. There are numerous pieces that any student can look for to deem a source reliable. Here are a few to mention and that will be discussed and compared: author’s qualifications, currency of the information, accuracy of information, the writing style, is there objective reasoning about the information and lastly intuition about information. After I explore these topics in depth and point out the pros and cons of each category, I will impress upon you the answer to this question: What is the best criteria to consider when looking for good credible information when writing a research paper?
To fulfill accuracy in this research, the main strategy that is used is the mixed methods, which lies under the post-positivist philosophy. This strategy is mainly the result of the combination of the positivist and the anti-positivist philosophies. In their book Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, Creswell and Plano Clark (2011, p. 5) state that the mixed methods technique “[…] involves philosophical assumptions that guide the direction of the collection and analysis of data and the mixture of qualitative and quantitative data in a single study or series of studies.”
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).
Researchers use this practical approach to make a direct impact on their field of study. This could take place in a classroom with the goal of improving methods of instruction. Stakeholders in this action research include teachers, students, and perhaps even parents. Mixed methods research refers to the use of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in this kind of study. While qualitative and quantitative research methodologies are used in both action and traditional research, there are some notable differences in how they are applied.
This essay is going to critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using surveys and questionnaires as a method of Socio-Legal research. When conducting socio-legal research, a number of methods can be used to collect useful information.
In social research, researchers are always confronting with a vast majority of options for opting the research methods. Among all of the existing research methods, quantitative and qualitative research paradigms appear to be the most celebrated methods for the majority of the social researchers. However, social researchers (e.g. David and Sutton, 2004; Johnson and Onwuegbuzie, 2004) have argued for many decades with regards to the differentiated nature and ideologies of the terms ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ within social research. Some researchers (e.g. Ayer, 1959; Schrag, 1992; Maxwell and Delaney, 2004) who advocate quantitative research uphold a ‘positivist philosophy’, that objective social science observation is desirable and that the determined scientific outcomes need to be valid and reliable (Johnson and Onwuegbuzie, 2004:14). In this sense, research quantitatively denotes that research intends to quantify the
Rather than hearing what individuals have to say, researchers are more likely to looking at numbers and making judgements off on them. Qualitative can measure and analysis relationships between the variables, but is unable to understand the processes of how the relationship is created. Denzin and Lincoln (2007) argue that qualitative research is a “triangulation” focused, meaning it only can show so many sides of a research. However, quantitative is a “crystal,” meaning that it has many different sides, shapes,
….both quantitative and qualitative research are important and useful. The goal of mixed methods research is not to replace either of these approaches but rather to draw from the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of both in single research studies and across studies.
Stejskal, S.M. (2010) Quatiative and Qualitative Research Methods are not and should not be Mutually Exclusive, Grinn Verlag.
The essential focus of this two-phase sequential mixed methods study is to determine if a relationship exists between a generation category (Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, etc.) and the number of incidences of bullying in secondary education. The study was proposed as a result of a significant increase of bullying in the news, more importantly, due to the recent suicides that resulted directly from bullying. In the first phase, quantitative research questions will focus on the statistical analysis between each generation category and the number of incidences of bullying during their secondary education. Research will be conducted with 25 participants at various locations. In the second phase, qualitative interviews will be used to better understand if there is any correlation between generation and number of bullying incidences. Further research will be administered to 15 participants who experienced the most incidences of bullying at various locations. The reason for following up with qualitative research in the second phase is to collect any generational themes based on characteristics that may provide further understanding and relationship of generation category and the number of incidences of bullying.
Qualitative and quantitative researcher’s exhibited conflicting ways of approaching a research. Some researchers prefer qualitative over quantitative and vice-versa. Also, it is common for qualitative and quantitative to be used together in a research. But, both methods when carried out correctly provide good research. Plus, both methods have their own unique differences and characteristics. In this paper I will define three of these characteristics in a quantitative and qualitative research design and discuss and compare their differences. (Smith & Davis, 2010)
Another option available to a researcher is mixed methods which focuses on collecting, analyzing, and mixing both qualitative and quantitative data in a single study; also, it is based on the premise that the use of quantitative and qualitative combination provides a better understanding of the research problem than either approach alo...
The Importance and Appropriateness of Utilizing Different Methodologies for Research. Introduction The process of research entails the logical as well as systematic search for useful data and information with regard to a specific topic (Jha, 2008). It is also comprised of the investigation of the best, most cost effective and appropriate solutions to both social and scientific issues, following an objective and logical analysis. Jha, (2008) defines research as the search for knowledge and the discovery of the truth. During this process, the data can be gathered from a wide pool of sources among them interviews, books, nature among others.The data can then be analyzed with the appropriate data analysis tools, so as to report the findings