Quantitative And Qualitative Approaches

Quantitative Research what to study, asks specific, narrow questions, collects numeric data from participants, analyzes these numbers using statistics, and conducts the inquiry in an unbiased, objective manner
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Qualitative Research relies on views of participants, asks broad, general questions, collects data consisting largely of words from participants, describes and analyzes these words for themes, and conducts the inquiry in a subjective, biased manner

Characteristics of Quantitative and Qualitative Research in the Process of Research

Identifying a Research Problem Quantitative research is used to study research problems requiring a description of trends or an explanation of the relationship among variables Variable- is an attribute or characteristic of individuals that researchers study.

 Television

Violence Study (Vooijs & Van Der Voort,1993) y Recorded the childrens test scores

on several instruments, such as readiness to see violence , and they described generally how students scored on these instruments. y Studied whether the special curriculum on crime influenced childrens view on violence television.

Qualitative Research is used to study research problems requiring an exploration in which little is known about the problem and a detailed understanding of a central phenomenon Central Phenomenon- is the key concept, idea, or process studied in qualitative research

 Gunman

Case Study (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995) y the authors seek to explore and gain a deeper understanding of how those on campus reacted to the incident

Reviewing the Literature In quantitative research, the literature plays a major role and justifies the research problem and creates a need for the direction (purpose statements and research questions or hypotheses) of the study

 Television

Violence Study (Vooijs & Van Der Voort,1993) y The authors cited extensive literature on at the beginning of the article (the literature establishes the importance of examining childrens sensitivity to violence) y The article identifies framework on attitude change and from studies of this framework, creates a need to study several variables, including ways in which children critically process information about television violence

In qualitative research, the literature plays a minor role and justifies the research problem

Gunman

Case Study (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995) y The article opens with references that support the importance of the problem of campus violence but in the next section of the study, the authors described the incident, and the literature does not appear until the final passages in the study in which the author describe the need for campus planning.

Specifying a Purpose for Research

In quantitative research, the purpose statement, research questions, or hypotheses are specific and narrow and seek measurable, observable data on variables

 Television

Violence Study (Vooijs & Van Der Voort,1993) y The authors selected their interest to a few variables. y They measured the childrens readiness to see violence or approved violence y They state specific questions they want answered, such as types of children who profit most from the lessons in the curriculum on crime

In qualitative research, the purpose statement and research questions are general and broad and seek to understand the participants experiences
Gunman

Case Study (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995) y The authors started with broad, open ended questions to obtain participants view about the incident (understanding the process of campus reaction to the gunman incident)

Collecting Data In quantitative research, the data collection consists of collecting data using instruments with preset questions and responses, gathering numeric data, and collecting information from a large number of individuals Instrument- is a tool for measuring, observing, or documenting quantitative data Examples are: survey questionnaires, standardized tests and checklist

Quantitative Television Violence Study (Vooijs & Van Der Voort,1993) yThe authors study a large number of children in six different school . They examined these large numbers of children so that they can obtain a good cross section of the students in the six schools. yThe authors identified instruments for assessing the childrens view toward television violence

In qualitative research, the data collection consists of collecting data using forms with general, emerging questions to permit the participant to generate responses, gathering word or image data, and collecting information from a small number of individual or sites Protocols- forms for recording data as study proceeds. Example: interview protocol (contains four or five questions) and observational protocol (notes about the behavior of the participants)

Gunman Case Study (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995) y The authors collected data from a few individuals on campus representing different constituents (e.g. administrators, counselors, experts) y They didnt use instruments constructed by other researchers, instead they developed their own forms for recording information- an interview protocol-during the project. This form contains general questions so that the constituents can provide their own responses to the questions y They also take observational notes about the classroom in which the incident occurred and collect campus newspaper reactions to the crisis.

Analyzing and interpreting data In Quantitative research, the data analysis is consisting of statistical analysis, involves describing trends, comparing group differences, or relating variables Its interpretation consists of comparing results with prior predictions and past research.

Television

Violence Study (Vooijs & Van Der Voort,1993) o The researchers collect responses from the children and assign numbers to each childs score. o They mathematically examine the numerical differences between the groups that experiences the curriculum and the group that not o They examine this difference using statistical procedures, such as analysis and covariance o The authors conclude the article with a discussion that compares their results with results from other studies.

In Qualitative research, the data analysis consists of text analysis and involves developing a description and themes Interpretation consist of stating the larger meaning of the findings.

Gunman o

Case Study (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995) They review their text data consisting of transcript from interviews, written notes from observations, and documents, including newspaper accounts. They have a videotape of a news conference filmed immediately after the incident. From this data, the authors first describe chronologically the events for two weeks following the incident. Then they identify themes or categories such as denial. Other themes mentioned were safety and campus planning. Finally in the discussion, at the end of the article, the authors interpret the boarder meaning of their description and themes. In the epilogue the authors introduce themselves into the study by commenting about the personal meaning of the incident.

Reporting and evaluating research In Quantitative research, the research reports use standard, fixed structures and evaluative criteria Researchers take an objective and unbiased approach.

Television

Violence Study (Vooijs & Van Der Voort,1993) o The authors subdivided the research into standard sections typically found in the qualitative studies. o The headings reflect this division: research questions, method, results, and discussion. o The entire study conveys an impersonal, objective tone, and they do not bring either their biases or their personal opinions into the study. o They use proven instruments to measure variables and they employ complex statistical procedures to build objectivity into the study.

In Qualitative research, the research reports used flexible, emerging structure and evaluative criteria Researchers take a subjective (reflexive) and biased approach.

Gunman Case Study (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995)

The authors use a structure that is more scientific than storytelling. However, they do not order the scientific parts in the sequence typically found in the quantitative inquiry. o The authors introduce findings early in the study when they chronicle the events following the incident, rather than report them late in the study. o They also end with an epilogue consisting of personal pronouns referring to themselves frequently o The extensive use of quotes from individuals also accentuates the personal approach in this study.
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Similarities of Qualitative and Quantitative research

Both forms of research follow the six steps in the process of research In the section in the research problem-found in the introduction to a study-both quantitative and qualitative research can be similar in the topics addressed, such as conveying a problem, and justifying a need to study the problem. This does not mean that the type of the problem is the same, only the format for reporting the problem In both quantitative and qualitative research, you collect data using interviews, observations, and documents. However, later we shall see a difference between the types of interviews or observations used in these two approaches.

What are the Research designs associated with Quantitative and Qualitative research?

Experimental Design (intervention studies or group comparison studies)

procedures in which the investigator determines whether an activity or materials make a difference in results for participants researchers assess this impact by giving one group one set of activities (intervention) and withholding the set from another group

Correlational Design

procedures in which investigators measure a degree of association (relationship) between two or more variables using the statistical procedure of correlational analysis. relationships are expressed in numbers which indicates whether the two variables are related or whether one can predict another to accomplish this study, a single group of individuals is studied, rather than two or more groups in an experiments.

Survey Design

procedures in which you administer a survey or questionnaire to a small group of people (sample) in order to identify trends in attitude, opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of a large group of people (population).

Grounded Theory Designs

a systematic procedure in where the researchers need to generate a general explanation (ground theory) that explains a process, action, or interaction among people the procedures for developing this theory includes collecting primarily interview data, developing and relating categories (themes) of information, and composing a figure or visual model that portrays the general explanation

Ethnographic Design

procedures for describing, analyzing, and interpreting a cultural groups shared patterns of behavior, beliefs, and language that develop over time in ethnography, the researcher provides a detailed picture of the culture-sharing group, drawing on various sources of information

Narrative Research Design

procedures in which researchers describe the lives of individuals, collecting and tell stories about these individuals lives, and write narratives about their experiences

Mixed Methods Design

procedures for collecting, analyzing, and linking both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study or in a multiphase series of studies in this process, researchers need to decide on the emphasis you will give to each form of data (priority), which form of data you will collect first (concurrent or sequential), how you will mix the data (integrating or connecting), and whether you will use an advocacy lens to guide your study

Action Research Design

procedures used by teachers (or other individuals in an educational settings) to gather quantitative and qualitative data to address improvements in their educational settings, their teaching, and the learning of their students. In some action research, you seek to address and solve local, practical problems, such as a discipline classroom issue for a teacher

Choosing Whether to use Quantitative or Qualitative Approach

Match your approach to your research problem the most important factor when deciding what research to use for quantitative research are problems in which trends or explanations need to be made for qualitative research are the problems need to be explored to obtain a deep understanding a combined design seeks both trends or explanations, exploration, and a deep understanding

Fit the approach to your audience deciding involves the audience for whom you are writing the research report Quantitative research may be more familiar to educators today who are trained in experimental research, survey designs, and statistical procedures. However, qualitative research now draws a substantial following. And through books, articles, conferences, and workshops, educators can obtain a much firmer grasp of qualitative inquiry than they could a few years ago.

Relate the approach to your experiences

Choose your approach based on your personal experiences and training. Conducting research in either quantitative or qualitative research requires skills in conceptualizing research, conducting research, and writing the study. A quantitative research typically has taken some course or training in measurement statistics, and qualitative data collection approaches, such as experimental, correlational, or survey techniques. Qualitative researchers need experience in field studies in which they practice gathering information in a setting and learn the skills of observing or interviewing individuals.