Research Methods Essay (Essay Sample)

Quantitative and qualitative research
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Quantitative and qualitative research
Qualitative research is a systematic approach to understanding qualities of a phenomenon in a particular concept. Its design does not produce science based evidence. It generally involves observation and collection of samples using open ended questions. Quantitative research applies logic and data-led approach to measure people’s thought from a numerical and statistical and point of view CITATION Kei14 \l 1033 (Punch, 2014). Only measurable data is collected.
Qualitative Research Design
Biographical Study-The researcher reads a collection of previous speeches, interviews, other writings and pictures in order to get comprehensive information concerning what is researched on.
Phenomenology-This refers to what is used in order to understand a phenomenon. This can be individual’s perception, experience, reactions and feelings towards an event.
Grounded Theory-In this design interpretations are got from raw data and a story emerges. The theory is revised throughout the study phase.
Ethnography-This focuses largely on meaning after direct field observation. Researchers describe characteristic of a culture after becoming part of it.
Case Study-It is a depth analysis of events, people and relationships bound by unifying factors.
Quantitative Research Design
Descriptive research
This design aims at describing the current status of identifiable variable.
Correlation research-It tries to define the relationship that exists between two or more variables by use of statistical data.
Quasi-experimental research/Causal-comparative-The design tries to explain the cause of the relationship between variables and its effect.
Experimental research-The design uses scientific methods to determine cause-effect relationship among the variables that makes a study
The two research methods are similar in that data is collected and analyzed in order to make conclusions. Qualitative and quantitative research differs in different ways: Quantitative research is conclusive in nature while qualitative research is exploratory. Quantitative research uses tools like surveys, questionnaire and other methods to collect and measure data. Qualitative employs methods such as interviews, naratives, document analysis, observation and participation as methods of data collection. The aim of qualitative Research is to understand behavior of human and give reasons justifying those behaviors. Quantitative Research takes an objective approach and it aims at analyzing and measuring concepts to provide a solution to a problem. Qualitative research uses graphs and tables to present information while quantitative analysis uses figures and statistics.
Qualitative and quantitative research methods have strength and weaknesses. Q...