Research

-

 

INTRODUCTION

Research is defined as a careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or a problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed phenomenon. Research involves inductive and deductive methods.”

Inductive research methods are used to analyze the observed phenomenon whereas, deductive methods are used to verify the observed phenomenon. Inductive approaches are associated with qualitative research and deductive methods are more commonly associated with quantitative research. There exists a fundamental distinction between two types of data: qualitative and quantitative. The way we typically define them, we call data 'quantitative' if it is in numerical form and 'qualitative' if it is not.

MAIN BODY

Qualitative research

Qualitative research is a process of naturalistic inquiry that seeks in-depth understanding of social phenomena within their natural setting. It focuses on the "why" rather than the "what" of social phenomena and relies on the direct experiences of human beings as meaning-making agents in their everyday lives. Rather than by logical and statistical procedures, qualitative researchers use multiple systems of inquiry for the study of human phenomena including biography, case study, historical analysis, discourse analysis, ethnography, grounded theory and phenomenology.

The three major focus areas are individuals, societies and cultures, and language and communication. Although there are many methods of inquiry in qualitative research, the common assumptions are that knowledge is subjective rather than objective and that the researcher learns from the participants in order to understand the meaning of their lives. To ensure accuracy and trustworthiness, the researcher attempts to maintain a position of neutrality while engaged in the research process.

Qualitative research methods

Qualitative research methods are designed in a manner that they help reveal the behavior and perception of a target audience with reference to a particular topic. There are different types of qualitative research methods like an in-depth interview, focus groups, ethnographic research, content analysis, case study research that are usually used.

The results of qualitative methods are more descriptive and the inferences can be drawn quite easily from the data that is obtained.

Quantative research

Quantitative research gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement.  This type of data can be used to construct graphs and tables of raw data.

Methods of quantative research

These are experiments, observations and questionnaires.

Experiments typically yield quantitative data, as they are concerned with measuring things.  However, other research methods, such as controlled observations and questionnaires can produce both quantitative information.

For example, a rating scale or closed questions on a questionnaire would generate quantitative data as these produce either numerical data or data that can be put into categories (e.g., “yes,” “no” answers). 

Experimental methods limit the possible ways in which a research participant can react to and express appropriate social behavior.  Findings are therefore likely to be context-bound and simply a reflection of the assumptions which the researcher brings to the investigation.

Conclusion

Many times those that undertake a research project often find they are not aware of the differences between Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research methods.  Many mistakenly think the two terms can be used interchangeably.Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations while Quantitative Research is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or data that can be transformed into usable statistics. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined variables and generalize results from a larger sample population.

 

References

Denzin, N., & Lincoln. Y.(1994). Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications Inc.

Glaser, B. G., Strauss, A. L., &Strutzel, E. (1968). The discovery of grounded theory; strategies for qualitative research. Nursing research, 17(4), 364.

Minichiello, V. (1990). In-Depth Interviewing: Researching People. Longman Cheshire.

Punch, K. (1998). Introduction to Social Research: Quantitatie and Qualitative Approaches. London: Sage

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

International Law

-
    International Law The body of law that governs the legal relations between or among states or nations.To qualify as a subject under the traditional definition of international law, a state had to be sovereign: It needed a territory, a population, a government, and the ability to engage in diplomatic or foreign relations. States within the United States, provinces, and cantons were not considered subjects of international law, because they lacked the legal authority to engage in foreign relations. In addition, individuals did not fall within the definition of subjects that enjoyed rights and obligations under international law. so there are two types of international law which are public and private international law. Public International Law: Public International laws have been designed to examine the relationships between the countries and states and they govern the binding rules of the international community to avoid any dispute. Public International laws genera...
Read more
-
Image
 HARMORAPA   Since Artist Harmorapa has entered the music to start to be compared to an artist Harmonize, every time the rapper has been entered on the 'headline' wide and discussed by many artists the biggest in the country, others were pleased with his actions while others mocked him and see that he deserves to be a musician. He started as a joke has to be compared with the bright label WCB minor then starts to penetrate into the ears of love entertainment. We are referring here HarmoRapa  is predicted to major in music of bongo Fleva Time here. His first single not divide a passport is placed on the map and start to be known, though it did not properly market. This Time around HarmoRapa has come up with another hit in Town goes by the name "kiboko ya mabishoo" Many thought if Jokes but relatives had become serious now after signing a deal with a large imaging technology bongo Slides Visual less Mx Carter. Also contusion with producer p funk ...
Read more

KATIBA YA KIKUNDI

-
KATIBA YA VACK GROUP SEHEME YA 1. UTANGULIZI 1 JINA LA KIKUNDI VACK GROUP IBARA YA PILI: 2: TAFSIRI YA MANENO MBALIMBALI  2.1 Kikundi kina mkusanyikon wa watu 2.2 Wanachama wa kikundi wana mtazamo moja  2.3 Wanadhamira moja katika kujenga taifa IBARA YA 3. UTANGULIZI Wanachama wa kikundi cha VACK GROUP tumejipanga kufanya kazi kwa ushirikiano ili kufikia malengo yetu IBARA YA 4. KATIBA Katiba ni kanuni ya nchi au taasisi iliyopangwa kwa makubaliano maalumu yanayosimamia sheria kufuata miongozo yake bila kwenda kinyume.Kwenda kinyume cha hapo ni kosa. IBARA YA 5. JINA LA KIKUNDI Kikundi kinaitwa VACK GROUP  IBARA YA 6. LUGHA RASMI YA KIKUNDI Lugha rasmi ya kikundi ni Kiswahili na kingereza. IBARA YA 7. OFISI KUU Makao makuu ya kikundi yatakua ndani ya Mbinga mjini. IBARA YA 8. ENEO LA UTENDAJI WA KAZI  Itakuwa ndani ya wilaya ya mbinga IBARA YA 9. KANUNI ZA KIMAADILI  9.1 Kuheshimiana wenyewe kwa weny...
Read more