Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
MACC 713
GROUP MEMBERS
Chetty (2016) defined research approach as a plan and procedures that consists of the steps of
broad assumptions to detailed methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation.
According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) research approach is mainly grouped into
two that is quantitative and qualitative. However, in many cases as a way of compensating
for the shortcomings of the two methods, a combination of both can be applied (mixed
approach).
Qualitative research is defined as a market research method that focuses on obtaining data
through open-ended and conversational communication. It also involves looking in depth of
non-numerical data. Qualitative approach has the ability to provide a detailed analysis of
change that’s according to Kohlbacher (2016). The qualitative research methods allow for in-
depth and further probing and questioning of respondents based on their responses, where the
interviewer/researcher also tries to understand their motivation and feelings a unique character
which cannot be found in quantitative approach.
There is no doubt that qualitative research methods are designed in a manner that helps to reveal
the behaviour and perception of a targeted audience with reference to a particular topic. This is
further enhanced by the different types of qualitative research methods such as an in-depth
interview, focus groups, ethnographic research (the systematic study of people and cultures),
content analysis and case study research. The major advantage of qualitative methods is that
its results are more descriptive in nature and any inferences can be drawn quite easily from the
data that is obtained. Furthermore, qualitative research methods makes a it a lot easier to
understand a phenomena as it is more communicative and descriptive.
TYPES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
One-on-One Interview:
Conducting in-depth interviews is one of the most common qualitative research methods. It is
a personal interview that is carried out with one respondent at a time. This is purely a
conversational method and invites opportunities to get details in depth from the respondent.
Advantages of on Interview
Disadvantages of Interviews
Focus groups
One of the advantage of focus groups is, you don’t necessarily need to interact with
the group in person.
Nowadays focus groups can be sent an online survey on various devices and
responses can be collected at the click of a button e.g online petitions.
This method is very useful when it comes to market research on new products and
testing of new concepts.
Disadvantages
Focus groups are an expensive method as compared to the other qualitative research
methods. Typically they are used to explain complex processes.
Ethnographic research
This is the most in-depth observational method that studies people in their naturally
occurring environment.
It requires the researchers to adapt to the target audiences’ environments which could
be anywhere from an organization to a city or any remote location.
Here geographical constraints can be an issue while collecting data.
This research design aims to understand the cultures, challenges, motivations, and
settings that occur. Instead of relying on interviews and discussions, you experience
the natural settings first hand. This type of research method can last from a few days
to a few years, as it involves in-depth observation and collecting data on those
grounds.
It’s a challenging and a time-consuming method and solely depends on the expertise
of the researcher to be able to analyse, observe and infer the data. E.g. census.
Questionnaires
According to Kumar (2013) questionnaires are the list of questions that the researcher
would have made in an attempt to obtain data towards a specified goal. Boeije (2013)
postulated that questionnaires are an effective way of collecting data from a lot of
people at the same time.
Quantitative research methods are research methods dealing with numbers and anything
that is measurable in a systematic way of investigation of phenomena and their
relationships.
It is used to answer questions on relationships within measurable variables with an
intention to explain, predict and control a phenomenon (Leedy 2013). Quantitative data
is numerical in nature and can be mathematically computed Quantitative approaches
address the ‘what’ of the program.
They use a systematic standardized approach and employ methods such as surveys and
ask questions. It gives out the objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical,
or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or
by manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational techniques (Babie
2010). Creswell (2016) pointed out, that quantitative research focuses on numeric and
unchanging data and detailed, convergent reasoning rather than divergent reasoning,
that is, the generation of a variety of ideas about a research problem in a spontaneous,
free-flowing manner.
The objective of a quantitative research study is to classify features, count them, and
construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed.
Quantitative approaches have the advantage that they are cheaper to implement, are
standardized so comparisons can be easily made and the size of the effect can usually
be measured
The Quantitative data collection methods rely on random sampling and structured data
collection instruments that fit diverse experiences into predetermined response
categories. They produce results that are easy to summarize, compare, and generalize.
If the intent is to generalize from the research participants to a larger population, the
researcher will employ probability sampling to select participants.
The main goal in conducting quantitative research is to determine the relationship
between independent variable and dependent variable or outcome within a population
(Muijis 2010). Brians, Craig et al. (2011) states that, quantitative research designs are
either descriptive [subjects usually measured once] or experimental [subjects measured
before and after a treatment].
Before designing a quantitative research study, you must decide whether it will be
descriptive or experimental because this will dictate how you gather, analyze, and
interpret the results.
A descriptive study is governed by the rules which includes, subjects are generally
measured once, the intention is to only establish associations between variables, and,
the study may include a sample population of hundreds or thousands of subjects to
ensure that a valid estimate of a generalized relationship between variables has been
obtained (Babie 2010).
An experimental design includes subjects measured before and after a particular
treatment, the sample population may be very small and purposefully chosen, and it is
intended to establish causality between variables.
Bernard and Bernard (2012) states out the key characteristics of quantitative research which
are mentioned stated below:
There are four main types of quantitative research designs which are descriptive,
correlational, quasi-experimental and experimental.
The differences between the four types primarily relates to the degree the researcher
designs for control of the variables in the experiment (Mcnabb 2008). Following is a
brief description of each type of quantitative research design, as well as chart comparing
and contrasting the approaches.
1. Descriptive Design
2. Correlational Design
3. Quasi-Experimental Design
4. Experimental Designs
It often called true experimentation, use the scientific method to establish cause-
effect relationship among a group of variables in a research study. Researchers
make an effort to control for all variables except the one being manipulated (the
independent variable). The effects of the independent variable on the dependent
variable are collected and analysed for a relationship.
The key factors to be considered when reporting the results of a study using quantitative
methods are:
Explain the data collected and their statistical treatment as well as all relevant
results in relation to the research problem you are investigating. Interpretation of
results is not appropriate in this section.
Report unanticipated events that occurred during your data collection. Explain how
the actual analysis differs from the planned analysis. Explain your handling of
missing data and why any missing data does not undermine the validity of your
analysis.
Explain the techniques you used to "clean" your data set.
Choose a minimally sufficient statistical procedure, provide a rationale for its use
and a reference for it. Specify any computer programs used.
Describe the assumptions for each procedure and the steps you took to ensure that
they were not violated.
When using inferential statistics, provide the descriptive statistics, confidence
intervals, and sample sizes for each variable as well as the value of the test statistic,
its direction, the degrees of freedom, and the significance level.
Avoid inferring causality, particularly in non-randomized designs or without further
experimentation.
Use tables to provide exact values; use figures to convey global effects. Keep
figures small in size; include graphic representations of confidence intervals
whenever possible.
Brian, Craig et al (2011) emphasize that, quantitative research has its strength and weaknesses
though it is good for data collection within a targeted area.
Allows for a broader study, involving a greater number of subjects, and enhancing
the generalization of the results.
Allows for greater objectivity and accuracy of results. Generally, quantitative
methods are designed to provide summaries of data that support generalizations
about the phenomenon under study. In order to accomplish this, quantitative
research usually involves few variables and many cases, and employs prescribed
procedures to ensure validity and reliability.
Applying well established standards means that the research can be replicated, and
then analyzed and compared with similar studies.
You can summarize vast sources of information and make comparisons across
categories and over time.
Personal bias can be avoided by keeping a 'distance' from participating subjects and
using accepted computational techniques.
Quantitative data is more efficient and able to test hypotheses, but may miss
contextual detail.
Uses a static and rigid approach and so employs an inflexible process of discovery.
The development of standard questions by researchers can lead to "structural bias"
and false representation, where the data actually reflects the view of the researcher
instead of the participating subject.
Results provide less detail on behaviour, attitudes, and motivation.
Researcher may collect a much narrower and sometimes superficial dataset.
Results are limited as they provide numerical descriptions rather than detailed
narrative and generally provide less elaborate accounts of human perception.
The research is often carried out in an unnatural, artificial environment so that a
level of control can be applied to the exercise.
Pre-set answers will not necessarily reflect how people really feel about a subject
and, in some cases, might just be the closest match to the preconceived hypothesis.
Little is known about a topic and it is necessary to first learn about what
variables to study through qualitative research, and then study those variables
with a large sample of individuals using quantitative research.
One wants to elaborate, clarify, or build on findings from other methods. For
instance, if a causal relationship has been established through experimental
research but one wants to understand and explain the causal processes involved
through qualitative research.
One wants to develop a theory about a phenomenon of interest and then test it.
Usually, qualitative research is more suitable to build theory, while quantitative
research provides better ways of testing theories.
One wants to assess complex interventions (Homer et al. 2008 and Nutting et
al. 2009).
When deciding what type of mixed methods design to use, it is important to take into account
the overall purpose of the research (exploration or generalization), the specific research
questions, and the strengths and weaknesses of each design.
This design involves the collection and analysis of quantitative data followed by the
collection and analysis of qualitative data.
The priority is given to the quantitative data, and the findings are integrated during the
interpretation phase of the study (the quantitative results are explained in more detail
through the qualitative data).
It is considered sequential explanatory because the initial quantitative data results are
explained further with the qualitative data.
It should be used when one wants to; explain, interpret or contextualize quantitative
findings and examine in more detail unexpected results from a quantitative study
Strengths:
Easy to implement because the steps fall into clear separate stages.
The design is easy to describe and the results easy to report.
Weaknesses:
Requires a substantial length of time to complete all data collection given the two
separate phases.
In this design, qualitative data collection and analysis is followed by quantitative data
collection and analysis.
The priority is given to the qualitative aspect of the study, and the findings are integrated
during the interpretation phase of the study.
Strengths:
Easy to implement because the steps fall into clear, separate stages.
The design is easy to describe and the results easy to report.
Weaknesses:
Requires a substantial length of time to complete all data collection given the two
separate phases.
It may be difficult to build from the qualitative analysis to the subsequent data
collection.
3. Concurrent triangulation
In this design only one data collection phase is used, during which quantitative and
qualitative data collection and analysis are conducted separately yet concurrently.
The findings are integrated during the interpretation phase of the study.
Usually, equal priority is given to both types of research. It is best to develop a more
complete understanding of the topic and to cross-validate findings
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Requires great effort and expertise to adequately use two separate methods at the same
time.
It can be difficult to compare the results of two analysis using data of different forms.
It may be unclear how to resolve discrepancies that arise while comparing the results.
Given that data collection is conducted concurrently, results of one method (interview)
cannot be integrated in the other method (survey)
4. Concurrent nested
In this design only one data collection phase is used, during which a predominant
method (quantitative or qualitative) nests or embeds the other less priority method
(qualitative or quantitative, respectively).
This nesting may mean that the embedded method addresses a different question than
the dominant method or seeks information from different levels.
The data collected from the two methods are mixed during the analysis phase of the
project.
It is best used to gain broader and in-depth perspectives on a topic and to offset possible
weaknesses inherent to the predominant method.
Strengths:
Two types of data are collected simultaneously, reducing time and resources (number
of participants).
Provides a study with the advantages of both quantitative and qualitative data.
Weaknesses:
The data needs to be transformed in some way so that both types of data can be
integrated during the analysis, which can be difficult.
Inequality between different methods may result in unequal evidence within the study,
which can be a disadvantage when interpreting the results
Provides strengths that offset the weaknesses of both quantitative and qualitative
research. For instance, quantitative research is weak in understanding the context or
setting in which people behave, something that qualitative research makes up for. On
the other hand, qualitative research is seen as deficient because of the potential for
biased interpretations made by the researcher and the difficulty in generalizing findings
to a large group. Quantitative research does not have these weaknesses. Thus, by using
both types of research, the strengths of each approach can make up for the weaknesses
of the other.
Provides a more complete and comprehensive understanding of the research problem
than either quantitative or qualitative approaches alone.
Provides an approach for developing better, more context specific instruments. For
instance, by using qualitative research it is possible to gather information about a certain
topic or construct in order to develop an instrument with greater construct validity, i.e.,
that measures the construct that it intends to measure.
Helps to explain findings or how causal processes work.
Provides methodological flexibility. Mixed methods have great flexibility and are
adaptable to many study designs, such as observational studies and randomized trials,
to elucidate more information than can be obtained in only quantitative research
(Thomas 2011)
Most common Explore, discover and construct Describe, Explain, and predict
Research
objectives
Wide-angle lens; examines the breadth Narrow range lens; tests a specific
Focus and depth of phenomena hypothesis
Nature of Study behaviour in a natural Study behaviour under controlled
Observation environment conditions; isolate cause effects
Brians, Craig Leonard et al.(2011) Empirical Political Analysis: Quantitative and Qualitative
Research Methods. 8th ed. Boston, MA: Longman.
Chetty P (2016) Importance of research approach in a research. Project Guru: available online
on https://www.projectguru.in/publications/selecting-research-approach-business-studies,
accessed on 14/09/2019
Creswell, J.W., and Plano, V,L., (2011) Designing and conducting mixed methods research.
2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Homer, C. J., et al. A review of the evidence for the medical home for children with special
health care needs. Pediatrics 2008;122:e922–e937.
Mertens, D.M. (2009) Transformative research and evaluation. New York: Guilford.
Muijs, Daniel (2010). Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. 2nd edition.
London: SAGE Publications.
Nutting, P. A., et al. (2009) Initial lessons from the first national demonstration project on
practice transformation to a patient-centered medical home. Ann Fam Med;7(3):254–60.
Thomas, G. (2011). A typology for the case study in social science following a review of
definition, discourse and structure. Qualitative Inquiry, 17, 6, 511-521
Wisdom, G. et al. (2011). Research Methods for Health and Social Care Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Yin, Robert. K., (2009) Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Fourth Edition. SAGE
Publications. California.