Research Methods



Research Methods |Qualitative versus Quantitative Research:

Key Points in a Classic Debate |James Neill

| |

|Features of Qualitative & Quantitative Research |

|Qualitative |Quantitative |

|"All research ultimately has |"There's no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is either |

|a qualitative grounding" by Donald Campbell |1 or 0" by Fred Kerlinger |

|The aim is a complete, detailed description. |The aim is to classify features, count them, and construct |

| |statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed. |

|Researcher may only know roughly in advance what he/she is |Researcher knows clearly in advance what he/she is looking for. |

|looking for. | |

|The design emerges as the study unfolds. |All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is |

| |collected. |

|Researcher is the data gathering instrument. |Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or equipment to |

| |collect numerical data. |

|Data is in the form of words, pictures or objects. |Data is in the form of numbers and statistics. |

|Subjective -- individual’s interpretation of events is important |Objective -- seeks precise measurement & analysis of target |

|,e.g., uses participant observation, in-depth interviews etc. |concepts, e.g., uses surveys, questionnaires etc. |

|Qualitative data is more 'rich', time consuming, and less able to|Quantitative data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, but|

|be generalized.  |may miss contextual detail. |

|Researcher tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject |Researcher tends to remain objectively separated from the subject|

|matter. |matter. |

 (the two quotes are from Miles & Huberman (1994, p. 40). Qualitative Data Analysis)

|Recommended Links |

|Qualitative versus Quantitative - - a table |

|(similar to above), summarizing characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research in more detail |

|Qualitative versus Quantitative Design - - another table (like |

|above) |

|The Qualitative versus Quantitative Debate - - |

|good overview, but the layout is flat and difficult to skim-read |

|Qualitative vs Quantitative analysis - - |

|reasonable overview, with linguistics focus |

Framework for Course Design:

I. Basic issues in qualitative research methods：

A. Sampling

B. Interviewing techniques

C. Data collection methods

D. Content analysis for grounded theory

II. Basic issues in quantitative research methods

A. Research questions and hypotheses

B. Questionnaires

C. Data collection methods

D. Data analysis for interpreting findings

III. Integration of qualitative and quantitative methods (mixed-method designs)

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