Quantitative Research

When I think Quantitative Research, my mind automatically jumps to NUMBERS.  I like the concept that numbers represent, black and white, no gray.  The downside of this would be the simplifying of great things.  When you look at numbers, things could go one of two ways, accurately or inaccurately.  There isn’t room for an in between which cause greater things to be crammed into something that could be summarized with a limited explanation.  Quantitative research focuses on the why of things, it’s looking for an explanation to things rather than then aim of the understanding of it. 

Quantitative research focuses on the elements that can be measured; something that can be qualified or measured. When reviewing the main elements of quantitative research, it reminded me of the scientific method.  You are to generate a hypothesis/idea.  Then the researcher devises up an experiment to test the hypothesis using both a controlled and manipulated variable.  During the experiment, the researcher collects as much data as possible to test the hypothesis.  After all of that is done, the researcher has to comprise an analysis of the information gathered to determine if the hypothesis/idea holds true.

When the researcher comes up with the experiment, there are a few things that they focus on.  The first element would be the description.  The researcher needs to devise an explanation for the reasoning behind the hypothesis.  They then look at the time dimension, how the research is going to be designed.  Next, the focus needs to be on whom they are targeting for the research, what is population is being looked at.  The researcher will then comprise how the data is being collected.  Finally, they will look at if there are any comparisons with the research findings.

Quantitative research compared to qualitative research really focuses on the why, the numbers behind the reasoning.  Where as, qualitative research is more flexible in the how, the understanding of things.  Both of these research types work together to help the idea be completely understood, they compliment each other.  

Qualitative Research

The definition for qualitative research is one that can be very difficult to set in stone.  After endless searches for this definition, Judith Preissle defined it best, “Qualitative research is a loosely defined category of research designs or models, all of the which elicit verbal, visual, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory data in the form of descriptive narratives like field notes, recordings, or other transcriptions from audio and video tapes and other written and pictures or films.”  The thing is qualitative research is done in the environment’s setting rather than the lab.  You are basing your studies on real things, rather than just focusing on the numbers, like quantitative research does.  The general sequence that is followed with qualitative research are: observe events/ask questions with open-ended answers, record what was said and/or done, interpret (this is where your thoughts/emotions can come out), return to the observed and ask additional questions, formulating the theory, and draw conclusions

Qualitative research focuses on three main things: the interviews should be open-ended, the observation should be direct observation, and the documents should be written with words or visuals, not numbers.  The three kinds of data that you can collect could be through interviews, observation and documents.  The three kinds of data would be quotations, descriptions, and excerpts of documents.  With this, you should have one resulting product of a narrative description, which can include charts and/or diagrams.

The second part of qualitative research is the sampling and selection.  With qualitative research the subsection of the population is really what’s being studied.  You are using a sampling of the population rather than every single person in that group.  The best is to choose a variety of individuals when conducting the study.  One major thing to remember is to keep extensive notes on how and why you conducted the study in the manner you did.

Part three of qualitative research focuses on the researchers’ roles in qualitative research.  These roles can be endless, you could be a book writer, friend, scholar/expert/teach, student, etc…the main thing that is important is to document the different roles you are seen as in the research.  Documentation seems to be a major part of qualitative research process.  You should be sure to keep your personal reactions in a separate journal from the one that is more relevant to the study at hand.

The forth area of qualitative research consists of data collection.  For qualitative research, the data is focused on words, rather than numbers, such as personal notes, methodology notes, theoretical notes, or field notes.  The notes can be logged any way you choose, whether it is with pen and paper, or by laptop; you just need to ensure that all of the notes are being jotted down.   It’s also a great idea to ensure that there is a margin on both sides of the notes that will allow you to come back later and annotate additional information.

Part five consists of data analysis.  There are 15 different methods of qualitative analysis:

1. Typology – classification system (patterns, themes, groupings)
2. Taxonomy – subcategories of the typology
3. Constant Comparison/Grounded Theory – look, compare, dissect
4. Analytic Induction – hypothesize
5. Logical Analysis/Matrix Analysis – outlines, flow chars, diagrams
6.  Quasi-Statistics – count the number of times something was mention in field notes, this will help you with determining if anything is tainted
7. Even Analysis/Microanalysis – finding precise beginnings and endings of events using specific boundaries
8. Metaphorical Analysis
9. Domain Analysis – examine certain situations to the different kind of domains
10. Hermeneutical Analysis – making sense of the written text
11. Discourse Analysis  - examine the flow of communication
12. Semiotics – analysis of body language and science signs
13. Content Analysis – examine the documents, text, or speech in search of themes that could emerge
14. Phenomenology Analysis – how individuals experience the world
15. Narrative Analysis – Study the speech looking at the context situation, core plot of the story, and basic actions.

Remember, qualitative research is what give you the meanings behind the research; it’s more open-ended.