3. Methodology
There are three important research methodology paradigms : Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Method.
3.1 Quantitative Method (QUAN)
QUAN may, to put it simply, be defined as the techniques that involve the data gathering, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of numerical information in sequence order.
QUAN researcher is devoted to the principles of positivism – the view that “Explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics)”. Aliaga and Gunderson (2000).
One of the advantages of quantitative research is a shorter time requirement. That is: data can be collected in easier way, e.g. sending or receiving by e-mail or/and post, distributing or collecting by particular persons so that data can be analyzed fairly quickly. A survey in this method can also be quickly generalized to the whole population by statistically random samples. Quantitative can provide a trusted set of data that give confidence if the information is constant and reliable. The survey can be conducted in the way of anonymous when it is related to sensitive topic. It protects privacy. Certainly, the goal of generalizing findings in target group can be achieved.
However, quantitative research might be incapable to investigate problem while respondents answer in closed-end survey questionnaires. Even though they are willing to share experience or view, their answers might not useful to researchers. In worse, misunderstanding or inaccuracy creates potential bias in the study. It is unlikely to discover new information but the important attitude, if any, can be overlooked. In case the research study involves a great amount of samples, it might be costly.
3.2 Qualit...
... middle of paper ...
...ds counts per building or per square feet? Hence, the proportion of sampling in different types of real property is based on the perception from the team discussion. The selection criteria include: popular type of real properties, low-income group, often dealing with people (tenants, residents, occupiers, users and etc).
Self-reported data
Another limitation is the data collected for this research study hardly can be verified independently. That is: either interviewees or respondents of the questionnaires may contain some potential bias, That is, low level of perception from respondents (the target population is security guards who generally have low education level, their understanding of the terms in questionnaires may be not accurate. Hence, we would compare this QUAN data with the QUAL data. In case there is a significant different, something must go wrong.
For a long time, I was always interested in Police work or just wanted to be part of the team. Criminal Justice field is not the best paying job out there, but at the time I know it was interesting and it will be fulfilling to me. I always knew that the Criminal Justice Field is so big when it came down to occupation, so that IS why I had narrow down my decision to a SWAT Team division in a police force as an interest of occupation. The experience I had with a SWAT Team started last year from July to August. I spent a month with the Army 289th Military Police (Special Reaction Team) Company out of Washington D.C. A Special Reaction Team is a SWAT Team in the military world. I was assigned as the Platoon leader for about 10-20 soldiers. We
For future research it would help if the sample size was larger because not many people participated in the survey.
Also, the title of the article states the research is a “population study” which is a focus of a quantitative research and a component of a quantitative method. Furthermore, the authors specified a clear defined research purpose which often requires statistical methods to test the hypotheses as well as to look for the cause and effects of the variables so that predictions can be
The research is not without its limitations. One of the challenges that would be faced would be establishing the accuracy and bias in the various answers given by respondents. Some of the information may be dishonest, biased and unclear. This would render the report unreliable.
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 articles, published after 1996, contain varied methods of research attainment, but share similarities such as being a self-survey, having a small sample size, and being
The father of quantitative analysis, Rene Descartes, thought that in order to know and understand something, you have to measure it (Kover, 2008). Quantitative research has two main types of sampling used, probabilistic and purposive. Probabilistic sampling is when there is equal chance of anyone within the studied population to be included. Purposive sampling is used when some benchmarks are used to replace the discrepancy among errors. The primary collection of data is from tests or standardized questionnaires, structured interviews, and closed-ended observational protocols. The secondary means for data collection includes official documents. In this study, the data is analyzed to test one or more expressed hypotheses. Descriptive and inferential analyses are the two types of data analysis used and advance from descriptive to inferential. The next step in the process is data interpretation, and the goal is to give meaning to the results in regards to the hypothesis the theory was derived from. Data interpretation techniques used are generalization, theory-driven, and interpretation of theory (Gelo, Braakmann, Benetka, 2008). The discussion should bring together findings and put them into context of the framework, guiding the study (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). The discussion should include an interpretation of the results; descriptions of themes, trends, and relationships; meanings of the results, and the limitations of the study. In the conclusion, one wants to end the study by providing a synopsis and final comments. It should include a summary of findings, recommendations, and future research (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). Deductive reasoning is used in studies...
Quantitative analysis is the method in which the researcher has the opportunity to make use of statistical approaches for achieving reliable and effective results. The aim of quantitative analysis method is to illustrate the collected data all the way through gathering of primary data. This method works best with the data that is collected by surveys or interviews because it considers statistical approach for generating results. This method is not considered as accurate for the study
After participants answer the questions, researchers describe the responses given. In order for the survey to be both reliable and valid it is important that the questions are constructed properly. Questions should be written so they are clear and easy to comprehend. Qualitative research Qualitative marketing research is a set of research techniques, used in marketing research and the social sciences, in which data is obtained from a relatively small group of respondents, and not analyzed with statistical inferences (inferential statistics).
Survey research is defined as, "A research method in which an investigator asks questions of a respondent" (Beins, 2013). This type of research is particularly useful for numerous reasons, but also has drawbacks that threatens its validity. Some of these benefits include a large population to select a sample from, the ease of gathering data from the sample, as well as the ability to quickly come to a conclusion regarding the data at hand. However, there are more disadvantages present with survey research. Some such disadvantages include the type of question and its ambiguity, response bias, as well as ethical and cultural issues that present during a survey.
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
We believe it is clear that both qualitative and quantitative research have many benefits and many costs. In some situations the qualitative approach will be more appropriate; in other situations the quantitative approach will be more appropriate.
Quantitative studies are primarily numbers based. They deal with large cohort groups as well as analyze large amounts of data. “A quantitative researcher typically tries to measure variables in some way, perhaps by using commonly accepted measures of the physical world (e.g., rulers, thermometers, oscilloscopes) or carefully designed measures of psychological characteristics or behaviors (e.g., tests, questionnaires, rating scales)” (Leedy & Ormrod, 2010, p. 94).
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 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.