Choosing methods

advantages of qualitative methods

-It enables more complex aspects of a persons experience to be studied -Fewer restriction or assumptions are placed on the data to be collected. -Not everything can be quantified, or quantified easily, Individuals can be studied in more depth -Good for exploratory research and hypothesis generation -The participants are able to provide data in their own words and in their own way

disadvantages of qualitative methods

-It is more difficult to determine the validity and reliability of linguistic data -there is more subjectivity involved in analyzing the data. - "Data overload" — open-ended questions can sometimes create / lots of data, which can take along time to analyze -Time consuming

The difference between quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods

-Quantitative research methods are primarily concerned with gathering and working with data that is structured. -Qualitative research methods are primarily concerned with stories and accounts including subjective understandings, feelings, opinions and beliefs. -Mixed methods can best be thought of as combining qualitative and quantitative methods in a way that is best for a specific research project.

Qualitative approaches to data collection methods

-Semi-structured/unstructured interviews which enable research participants to talk about a set of questions or topics in their own way -Focus groups - a semi-structured facilitated discussion with a small group of people -Gathering documents relating to the research questions and asking questions of the documents -Narrative - gathering people's stories to analyse how the story is told -Participant or non-participant observation of a situation or social context

Quantitative approaches to data collection methods

-Surveys and questionnaires which ask the same questions of usually large numbers of people or cases -Secondary quantitative data which is available for further analysis -Quantitative Content analysis - counting the number of cases of different words or ideas in written or spoken material -Observation - counting the number of occurrences of different events -Case records/formats with ready structured information

When to use mixed method design

1. When both quantitative and qualitative data, together, provide a better understanding of your research problem. 2. When you want to build from one phase of a study to another

disadvantages of quantitative methods

1.The context of the study or experiment is ignored. 2.Quantitative research does not study things in a natural setting or discuss the meaning things have for different people. 3.A large sample of the population must be studied for more accurate results

Quantitative method was derived from the physical sciences. These predicate that:

1.The world has a physical reality. 2.It is possible to measure all occurring phenomena. 3.The results of such experimental measurements will be the same when repeated

________________helps in checking the validity of your data

Triangulation

Qualitative methods can be used after quantitative :

each type of data contributes to answering either the same or different research questions

Qualitative methods can be used before quantitative :

enables exploring concepts in more depth. it is useful in researching a topic that is unfamiliar, or less research has been done. Operational definitions can be tested or developed.

Qualitative methods can be used along side quantitative :

explores some of the issues raised in the quantitative data in more depth

The choice of methods depends on

the type of data needed to be collected to test the hypotheses or in answering the research questions.

Features of Qualitative methods

-assumes that reality is a social construct -Research questions may be developed using subsidiary questions -The research question can be answered by describing and explaining events and gathering participants' understandings, beliefs and experiences. -Research design/strategy may be fluid and evolutionary -Researcher may only have a general idea of what he is looking for -Subjective (researcher is involved as a social being) -Usually no use of tools: the researcher can be seen as the main instrument for collecting data, data can be in any form -Not usually possible to generalize from the data

Features of Quantitative methods

-assumes that the social world is real -Research questions may be set out as testable hypotheses -The research question can be answered by counting events and using statistical analysis, data is often represented by numerical or named codes -Researcher normally knows what he is looking for -Research design/strategy is usually fixed before data collection, often uses tools (such as surveys or questionnaires) to collect data -Objective (researcher is not part of the research) -It may be possible to generalize from the data

Qualitative approaches gather and work with data that is:

-constructed by the research participant in their own way. -interpreted and structured by the researcher as part of the analytical process.

advantages of quantitative methods

1. Quantitative research allows the researcher to measure and analyze data. 2.The researcher is more objective about the findings of the research. 3.Quantitative research can be used to test hypotheses in experiments because of its ability to measure data using statistics.

weaknesses of mixed Method Research

1.Training is required in both quantitative and qualitative research methods 2.Greater cost of time and money 3.Not all audiences are open to mixed method studies

Strengths of mixed Method Research

1.helps to provide a complete picture of a research problem 2.It is a means to incorporate qualitative data into a qualitative study

________________ data constructed by the participant in their own way Interpreted and structured by the researcher as part of analytic process

Qualitative data

________________ data is structured by the researcher - the researcher decides on both the questions that are asked, and the type of answers that can be given.

Quantitative data

Triangulation

the use of multiple methods to study one research question, using two different ways to gather quantitative / qualitative data.