In this paper, the author will delineate the characteristics between qualitative and quantitative research, as well as their methodologies. The purpose of this paper is to give the reader a brief glimpse behind each research approach, by determining the strengths and weaknesses of both. The terms “subjective” and “objective” will be viewed in accordance with each research paradigm by considering the role of the observer and addressing how the researcher conducts his or her analysis using these approaches. The author will also describe the preferred approach given to each modality and how each model can be utilized in a study of aggression.
Qualitative and Quantitative are two differentiated paradigms of research, which operate under the assumption that measured outcomes, must be proven valid and reliable. However, the distinguishing element between each paradigm resolves to the role of the researcher. Although they can be explicated by the source of the data collected, qualitative being a semantic text and quantitative being in numerical form, in the qualitative paradigm, the role of the researcher is to be an active participant within the study, lending the subjectivity of interpretation to the final measured outcome (Denzien & Lincoln, 2000). However, the quantitative approach finds the role of the researcher as an outside, objective observer, where the possibility for researcher bias is reduced, and the final measured outcome is not subject to researcher interpretations (Patton, 1996).
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is a multi-dimensional method that utilizes an imperative and naturalistic approach. This design is associated with a phenomenological paradigm and is used by observing human behavior in...
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...ht eliminate the need for research participation by sending out surveys in the mail randomly. The qualitative methodology might use an example a focus group. Where the researcher is an active participant in asking open-ended questions, specifically to engage the participants and prompt interpretive answers reflective of emotionality.
When considering the manipulation of variables to alter conditions that are observable and measurable, quantitative analysis could include the manipulation of environmental factors, such as room temperature, lighting, etc, where the researcher is an outside, unattached observer. The qualitative paradigm would insist that the researcher be a participant of the factors of manipulation by using interruptive techniques, verbal commands, etc, and determine the measurable effects on the outcome through personal interpretation of data.
Pure qualitative research uses the idea that there are multiple realities that may shift or evolve due to changes in events and situations. In one sense, qualitative researchers might, as Tanya R. Berry reported in “Qualitative researchers as modern day Sophists? Reflections on the qualitative-quantitative divide” (2011), say “there is no reality – just experience.” Thus, qualitative research studies may produce glimpses of the more slippery version of “truth” that quantitative research would never real. However, the more structured and disciplined constructs used by quantitative researchers may also be necessary to nail down the trends, opinions, and ideas revealed through qualitative
Different styles of research are employed in research to safeguard that the facts are acquired to permit examiners to find resolution to the principal queries for the study correctly, therefore, evading uncertainty ( ). Acquiring relevant proof encompasses stipulating the type of proof mandatory in answering the query. Methodological designs encompass logical complications; therefore, matters of sampling, information gathering methods, and queries are secondary to the type of method used in research. Strategies are often compared with quantitative and qualitative research methods. Research and collective studies are often observed as principal specimens of quantitative research and are evaluated compared to the flaws and strong point of numerical, examination, and quantitative research methods ( ).
Qualitative researchers are engrossed in answering those why? Surely not saying that the quantitative data is irrelevant as it pertains to knowledge, however it cannot stand alone. Researchers may can say when put together qualitative evidence and quantitative evidence is mutually comprehensible and domineering. Regrettably it from time to time appears so dominant that it overpowers the opinions of individuals involved and threaten as a result we must keep a watchful eye .
The goal of qualitative research is explaining patterns and outcomes in individual cases whereas that of quantitative looks for common patterns that lead to the outcomes in large-N cases (Mahoney and Goertz, 2006). This means that qualitative research may select smaller cases to effectively explain the phenomenon being observed. As a result, the conclusions drawn from the qualitative research may apply to the cases being studied or may only provide partial explanation to what happened in some other cases. In contrast, quantitative analysis would generate broader arguments that could be commonly found in a wide variety of cases selected randomly but its arguments may not necessarily or satisfactorily explain every case in the study. Outliers and some deviations among cases may occur and by the time it happens, the quantitative model would either take out these outcasts and deviations or may add another variable to control their impact on the dependent variable. Such being the case, some patterns may be overlooked and the conclusions drawn from the quantitative analysis may not fully explain the situation for the study. Therefore, in order to generate more inclusive conclusion, these overlooks may be worth to be studied in qualitative analyses. In this way, the limitations between qualitative and quantitative analyses seem to be resolved by using both traditions
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...
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
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.
Gelo, O., Braakmann, D., & Benetka, G. (2008). Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Beyond the Debate. Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 42(3), 266-290. doi:10.1007/s12124-008-9078-3
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).
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
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.
Traditional research may use quantitative or qualitative research method. According to Hendricks (2009), quantitative research is a general conclusion based on hard data. Hen-dricks describe quantitativ...
Qualitative and Quantitative study designs both can be beneficial in research design. They both provide valuable options for researchers in the field. These techniques can either be used separately in a research study or they can be combined to achieve maximum information. This paper will define the terms qualitative and quantitative; describe the similarities and differences between each; discuss how qualitative and/or quantitative research designs or techniques could be used in the evaluation of my proposed research; and discuss why linking analysis to study design is important.
Marshall, C, Rossman, Gretchen B, (2006). Designing qualitative research, 4th edition, Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
Qualitative research was designed as a way to be directly connected with the subjects researched. Participant researchers may choose to merely observe and collect data or to be an active participant. Covert participation has the advantage of reducing the “reactive effects” of the social setting or group (Bachman & Schutt, 2012). Most researchers who use the participation method of research will often strike a balance between participation and observation. Through participation, an observer may gain the trust of the research subjects which can provide more fruitful results. Some research may however be unethical or a violation of law. A good researcher should use prudence beforehand when crafting their research design.