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Chapter 14: Research Methodology - Coggle Diagram
Chapter 14: Research Methodology
Qualitative methodology (descriptive research)
Concerned with describing rather than explaining the relationship between variables
Elements in Qualitative Research Approach:
Purpose- A better understanding of complex situations. Often exploratory in nature. Use observations to build theory from natural settings
Process- More holistic and emergent. Specific focus, design, measurement instruments, and interpretations possibly changing along the way. Enter the setting with open words, prepared to immerse themselves in the complexity from the data, leading to "context-bound" information, pattern and/or the theories that help to explain the phenomenon understudy
Data collection- Reality is not easily divided into discrete, measurable variables. The bulk of data collection is dependent on their personal involvement in the setting. Tend to select a few participants who know best phenomenon under investigation. Collect verbal data and non-verbal. Data (such as drawings and videotapes).
Data analysis- Use inductive reasoning to make specific observations, draw inferences about larger and more general phenomena. Nature of data is more subjective in which they scrutinize the body of data in search of patterns-subjectivity-that the data reflect.
Reporting findings- Construct interpretive narratives from their data and try to capture the complexity of the phenomena under study. Use a more personal, literary style and include the participants' own language and perspective. Researchers must have sufficient skills to write clearly.
Strengths:
a) Identifying/ clarifying specific responses
b) Greater accuracy
c) Provide facts
d) Results more detailed
e) Deep understanding
f) Greater scope for prediction
g) Margin of error can be calculated
Weaknesses:
a) Slower
b) More expensive
c) More complicated
d) Low response rates
e) Intuitive
f) Unmanageable
g) Closed questions tend to force answers into limited categories
Quantitative methodology
Involves developing more systematic and sophisticated procedure to test, prove and verify hypotheses
Elements in Quantitative Research Approach:
Purpose- Study a crucial phenomenon and these findings can be generalized to other persons and/or places. Validate or confirm the relationship between variables
Process- Research represents particular mainstreams that are ideas or phenomena in the related literature. Research is conducted through structured guidelines.
Data collection- Identify variables that you want to study and collect data related. Develop and standardize methods of data collecting. Conduct validity and reliability analyses for variables.
Data analysis- Research derived from. a deductive approach. Conclusions are drawn from research hypotheses. Objective criteria and interpretations are used to evaluate the results of statistical analyses.
Reporting findings- Data should be presented via graphic techniques, means, medians, correlations and other summarizing statistics. Interpretations should be done based on the data. Report should use academic English, passive voice and impersonal language.
Strengths:
a) Relatively quick
b) Cheap
c) Simple
d) Offers useful review
e) Helpful as prelude to qualitative
Weaknesses:
a) Subjectivity
b) Higher levels of interpretation skill
c) Statistical accuracy can be reduced
d) Greater chance of bias through difficult
e) Interpretation of results
f) Not in-depth explanation
Triangulation (combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches)
4 basic types:
1) Data triangulation- involves using a variety of data sources
2) Investigator triangulation- several investigators are used to gather and compare data
3) Theory triangulation- multiple theories and perspectives are used to examine and understand a single set of data or problem
4) Methodological triangulation- multiple research methods are used to study a single problem
Advantages:
a. Enhance interpretability of data
b. triangulation of theories can reveal insights not evident from one data source , and research problems can be better formulated by using multiple methods
c. Increase validity and reliability of research findings
Disadvantages:
a. Methodological triangulation is not conclusive that quantitative techniques actually tap into same sort of information as qualitative ones.
b. Time-consuming and expensive