My First Year. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods Essay

It was a bit rushed and is missing a few things (like a conclusion :/) .. But it still got me a HD :) . So i'm happy!!


Qualitative research methods are conducted in a natural setting that allows for an in-depth analysis to find meaning and are taken in the form of words, sounds, pictures or objects. This allows for precise recordings of events and any consequences that may have occurred as a direct or indirect effect of such an event. Quantitative research methods are precise and focus on a specific topic at hand. It does this by largely depending on specific measurements, analysis and interpretation of numerical and non-numerical data. I will be comparing each type of research method and the different methods used within them, the differences between qualitative and quantitative as well as the methodologies, epistemologies, and ethical issues that are involved with the research methods.

When using qualitative research methods a precise question or hypothesis does not need to be in mind but a general topic of interest that you would like to conduct an experiment on (Willig, 2001). This may become a difficulty though as all research proposals are reviewed by special committees who like to know exactly what and why you are doing the particular experiment. This is why research is based on well thought out and justifiable principles that are relevant to the research. Qualitative researchers take an interpretative approach whilst being subjective. This allows the researcher to have an increased understanding of the meaning behind what is being observed and recorded. These methodologies contribute to the in-depth analysis to have a greater specificity of a smaller number of participants (Willig, 2001). Qualitative research does not require a large number of participants as it is rather exploratory and is not sure what it may uncover so may change as research continues. It is aiming to uncover the larger picture behind an event and is interested in the more humanistic point of view, opinions, experiences and attitudes of the participants rather than solid facts that can be used for generalisability (Willig, 2001). Qualitative research is often used as a starting point to look further into a topic, which may not be as well understood. Such topics like cultural values and social behaviour require in-depth interviewing and intense observation as such qualitative research methods should be used as it is capable of collecting sensitive data that quantitative data cannot.

Unlike qualitative research methods quantitative research methods use ‘The Scientific Method’ to systemically acquire information about behaviour and other phenomena to be researched. This method is done firstly by defining a question or hypothesis to be answered, then by creating a way of measuring or a way to prove the hypothesis, create a study plan for how the research will be conducted, decide on the sample that will be analysed, collect data, analyse data collected and interpret this data.

Qualitative methods are often associated with the aim for social development. Some qualitative research methods include observation, ethnography, interviewing, action research and participatory research. Observational research is used for most psychological research whether it be structured or unstructured. These experiments may be recorded, either video or audio which is an advantage as the researcher can play back and listen or watch recordings to find anything which may have been missed (Flick, 2009). Ethnography is concerned with gaining an understanding of people and communities in their environment and does this by observing, talking to people in these communities, asking questions and coming to conclusions. Interviews can be structured where all questions are specific and the researcher guides the researched, semi-structured where the researcher half guides the researched but allows for other input, and unstructured where the researcher allows the researched to have control over the interview and discuss what they like (Flick, 2009). Action research is motivated by a desire for social change, and often involves questions that relate to an entire community or even nation.

When qualitative researchers are analysing data there are five methods of analysis, which are grounded theory, content analysis, interpretive phenomenology, thematic discourse analysis and Foucauldian discourse analysis. Grounded theory is used to analyse what is said only and is organised into categories that are used for comparative analysis. From these categories and comparative analysis a theory is then created (Coffey, Atkinson, 1996). Content analysis involves looking at what has been said by who and the frequency of this occurrence to bring out significance. This data is now in the form of quantitative data is analysed and conclusions are made. Interpretive phenomenology is interpreting exactly what someone has said and finding meaning. Thematic discourse analysis infers meaning from text and interprets these findings. They then ask questions about the text and analyse trying to find answers, which allows conclusions to be made.

There are three types of research methods for quantitative research they are experimental designs, correlational designs and descriptive designs. An experimental design includes being able to manipulate an outcome, may have a control group but not always, participants are assigned to different groups or conditions on the basis of chance, it uses statistical analysis to confirm the hypothesis and the ability to replicate the experiment again and produce the same or similar findings. In some occasions a placebo may be used or a double-blind to prevent bias from occurring. Correlational designs or method is aimed to find to what extent or even at all if two variables are related. They determine correlations of data of experiments, case studies or surveys. Although it may or may not find a correlation this does not imply causation.

The methods of analysis for quantitative data are statistical analysis both descriptive and inferential statistics, which include the standard deviation, T-test, correlation, chi-square, mode, mean, and median which are used for central tendency. The researcher must also be aware that participants may not have filled out such things like surveys or answered truthfully, which can lead to possible flaws and inadequacy of data collection and reliable data.

From a qualitative perspective the positivism approach is taken, that meaning exists in the world and that our knowledge is a reflection of reality. Positivist research involves predicting general patterns of human activity by empirical observations of individual behaviour. Whereas, when analysing data quantitative researchers use an interpretisvism approach where our meaning comes from the way we interpret the world. What we know can only come from our interpretations of what we have discovered. As quantitative data is in the form of numerical data this interpretation of the results is much more reliable but only if our interpretations are correct.

Some of the differences between the two types of methods are that qualitative research is in-depth, larger amounts of information is collected from each subject, captures and discovers meaning once the researcher becomes immersed in the data, that concepts are in the form of themes and generalisations, measures are often specific to the individual setting or researcher, data are in the form of words and images from documents, observations and transcripts, theory can be casual or non-casual, research procedures are particular and replication is unlikely, analysis proceeds by extracting themes or generalisations from evidence and organizing data to present a coherent consistent picture. Whereas quantitative research is concerned with breadth, smaller amounts of information collected from each subject, tests a hypothesis that the researcher starts with, concepts are in the form of specific variables, measures are systemically created before data collection and are standardized, data is numerical, theory is largely casual and is deductive, Procedures are standard and is replicable, analysis proceeds by using statistics, and tables or charts and discussing how what they show related to the hypothesis.

As quantitative research methods use ‘The Scientific Method’ the methodologies are to keep the method as plausible as possible. These five methodologies are objective measurement, generalizability, reliability, and validity. Objective measurement requires a solid way to determine the value of a variable. Generalisability is the ability for the results to be applied to the entire population, which had been researched. As a population tends to be a significant number of people an experiment tends to look at a sample that should represent the entire population. Reliability is the ability to produce consistent measurements over time.  To check reliability is to see if results give similar values if the same participant does it numerous amounts of times. Inter-rater is when a number of testers who rate the same person on the same criteria and give similar ratings to the participant. Validity is whether or not the experiment measures the variable of interest. Internal validity is whether or not the experiment procedures was conducted correctly, and external validity is whether or not the experimental situation resembles a real situation or the ‘real-world’. Standardisation is having each participant experience the same experience to ensure there is no bias or interference from the researcher.

Researchers of both qualitative and quantitative methods must be respectful for the basic rights of humans and animals when conducting research. As all proposals are reviewed by special committees researchers must be aware of the ethical issues that come into play when conducting and experimental research project. This includes having an understanding of informed consent and being aware that participants need to understand any potential risks and benefits of the study and consent to participate as well as provide a signed statement. Any risks to the participant must be minimised and deception to the participant strongly considered. Although some studies may require the participant to be deceived as to not bias the results there are strict guidelines, which have been made by the Australian Psychological Society (2007) Code of Ethics. At the end of the study all participants are required to be debriefed and informed of any deception, which has occurred. It is also in the Code of Ethics that all participants must not be coeheresed in any way and must be a voluntary participant (Flick, 2009).

Reference List

Coffey, A., Atkinson, P. (1996). Making sense of qualitative data: complementary research strategies. Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications

Flick, U, (2009). An Introduction to Qualitative Research. Thousand oaks, Sage publications Ltd

Willig, C, (2001). Introducing qualitative research in psychology: adventures in theory and method : ISBN    0 335 20535 6

Wolf, M. F., Meta-analysis: Quantitative methods for research synthesis. Sage Publications