Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative approaches to research This essay will compare and contrast the 3 articles below in relation to qualitative and quantitative approaches to research focusing on the design and methods used in each study including sampling, data collection and data analysis. The first chosen article by Winkens et al. (2006) uses a qualitative method to look at the manifestations of mental slowness in the stroke population. Toulotte, Thevenon, Watelain and Fabre (2006) uses a case comparison quantitative study to identify healthy elderly fallers and non-fallers by gait analysis under dual task conditions and the study by Girou, Loyeau, Legrand, Oppein and Brun-Buisson (2002) uses a randomised clinical …show more content…
The use of semi-structured questionnaires has many advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include the flexibility of the interviewer allowing them to follow up on any unexpected responses and to seek clarification on any answers. It also provides a depth of information as well as a breadth of information. The disadvantages of using semi-structured interviews are the analysis of data obtained is often complicated and time consuming and the data may contain irrelevant information. In this study it was identified that there could have been some bias when using semi-structured interviews as it enabled the interviewers to guide the interviews and therefore the patients answers, in the direction of preexisting hypotheses. The authors of this study did identify the reason for the use of this method and therefore they justified its use. They suggested that as the study was an explorative in nature it required a broad approach (Winkens et al. 2006). Using this approach can cause inconsistencies between the interviews and therefore can effect the outcome of the interview. Every effort should be made to keep the questioning similar. If a discussion is made in one interview then that topic should be made available to the next
Quantitative and qualitative research generates from two different perspectives, and it provide different types of crucial information from the research subject. Qualitative research corresponds more with comprehensive and thorough descriptions of events, whereas quantitative research creates statistical models to explain events. Several advantages and disadvantages in qualitative and quantitative research, depends upon the researcher's purpose and area of focus and information that will answer those research questions (Creswell, (2013).
“The semi-structured interview is a qualitative data collection strategy in which the researcher asks informants a series of predetermined but open-ended questions”(Ayres, 2008, p. 810).
1) Calcite and halite share many similarities such as being white to transparent, having three cleavage points, and also has roughly the same hardness (calcite has a hardness of three whereas halite has a hardness of 2.5). However, there are also some ways to differentiate between the two. One way to do this, although it is not highly recommended to do this without proper identification, is to taste it. Halite has a salty taste since it is salt. Another way to know what mineral is calcite and which mineral is halite is by looking at their cleavage points. Calcite has rhombohedral cleavage planes (75°) while Halite has a cubic cleavage point (90°).
One advantage of a semi structured interview is that in the case of participants who tend to answer questions briefly, the interviewer can ask more open ended questions and cater the structure of the interview for the participant. The interviewer has a choice of which order to ask the questions in and how to ask them. For instance, in the transcript for the interview, the interviewer is being provided with one sentence yes/no replies in the beginning. Then, a few questions later, the interviewer asks a more detailed question that asks the participant how they manage their diabetes and who helps them. This prompts a more detailed response from the participant, who has now been asked to speak more freely about their experience with diabetes. Furthermore, for semi-structured interviews, the interviewers can follow what the participants are saying and modify their questions accordingly. The interviewer can be prompted by something the participant has said, and explore that prompt further in their proceeding questions. For example, when the respondent states that they do their own finger prick blood test, the interviewer then explores that deeper by asking follow up questions such as what equipment the participant uses and the difference in their own materials versus the hospital’s. Furthermore, in a semi-structured interview, the participant might bring up interesting points the interviewer had not come across in their
The researcher asked participants to come to a private office to complete a semi-structured interview with the researcher. The interview guide approved by the IRB and used throughout all the interviews included the following questions:
The pilot study conducted in this research shows that there were a few problems within the overall design of the interview and therefore the researchers decided to make some minor changes to their design, these changes included altering the questions so they were open ended, they also made the interview less structured in able to gain more focused answers in which they could analyse.
There has probably been more energy spent on debating the difference, advantages and limitations between qualitative and quantitative research methods, it can be said that this issue has been debated to death with many spending years proving which methods is the best.
Semi-Structured Interview. Participants completed a semi-structured interview, and a semi-structured interview guide was used to gather data from participants.
The first interview was conducted as a pilot study, which whilst providing enriched data, was also proposed to determine any flaws and revisions which could then be implemented before continuing the research with the remaining participants and thus giving the overall study a more uniformed and viable approach (Kvale, 2007). However, following this pilot interview the researcher deemed all questions to be appropriate and they were included in the
We began the interview and recorded all their answers through a recording device for a more profound analysis in a better environment. We used a semi-structured interview study for our research. We conducted this type of interview because we wanted the patient to feel comfortable in the interview. But aside from that, we also wanted to follow the protocol during the interviews to gather all the information we needed. Consent was obtained from all the participants.
Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative methods on each of the elements listed. Please use scholarly, academic literature to support your response.
The proposed methodology is a primary qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews. This method has been chosen as the focus of this
Qualitative and Quantitative study designs both can be beneficial in research design. They both provide valuable options for researchers in the field. These techniques can either be used separately in a research study or they can be combined to achieve maximum information. This paper will define the terms qualitative and quantitative; describe the similarities and differences between each; discuss how qualitative and/or quantitative research designs or techniques could be used in the evaluation of my proposed research; and discuss why linking analysis to study design is important.
It also creates room for an easy comparison of outcomes, is very convenient for the respondents, and eliminates interviewer variability and possible social desirability as a result of the interviewer’s presence (Bryman & Bell, 2015). However, it is not without limitations as the use of self-administered questionnaires leaves no room for probing the respondents’ answers and the respondents also cannot ask questions in case of ambiguity; it also may not be appropriate for some kinds of respondents. However, the use of validated questionnaires enhances some of these
Researchers employ a number of research methodologies to carry out, test, analyze and describe phenomena they are interested in studying. Among the most widely used methodologies are quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method (Cozby & Bates, 2012, Garza & Landrum, 2015; Leedy & Ormrod, 2013; Creswell, 2013; Gergen, 2015). Qualitative and quantitative research designs, for example, are types of research approaches that provide clear directions on how to carry out a research plan (Creswell, 2013). The quantitative research design is profoundly deep-rooted in the discipline of psychology where it has been used through the perspective of post-positivist thoughts (Creswell, 2013). On the other hand, the qualitative research design is deeply- rooted in the field of Anthropology, where researchers have developed several naturalistic observational techniques to explain lived phenomena (Bates & Cosby, 2012; Creswell, 2013; Garza & Landrum, 2015). Quantitative and qualitative research designs share several similarities as well as differences in how they can be employed in conducting research procedures (Yilmaz, 2013).