Compare Qualitative And Pragmatic Approach

Research methodology and methodological approaches that is, the structured process of conducting research and the overall concepts and theories which underpin research respectively (Bryman, 2008), occupy a central position in the research process as they are both shaped by and translate the researcher’s epistemological position. Epistemology then refers to a researcher’s philosophical stance about the nature, derivation and scope of knowledge (Gilbert, 2008). These positions are seldom ‘spelt out’ but rather understood in the matter of research methodology and approach (Sarantakos, 2005).

28). Every aspect of the research process is influenced by epistemology, it guides the researcher in justifying the research methods (Carter & Little, 2007; Kramer-Kile, 2012), as it is asking what is knowledge, and how can that knowledge be acquired.

Kumar (2014) defines research methodology as the process used to collect data and information for the purpose of analysis and decision making. This chapter will discuss the philosophical foundations of the research which will explain the ontological and epistemological stance underpinning the study. It discusses the mixed-method design and the specific qualitative and quantitative methods adopted and how these challenges were resolved.

The meaning of the transformative paradigm is explained in four belief systems: axiology (ethics), ontology (reality), epistemology (knowledge), and methodology according to Mertens (2009). Furthermore, (Mertens, 2009) explains that axiology emphasizes human rights and social justice; ontology rejects cultural doctrine and acknowledges the impact and consequences of power and privilege in what is deemed real; epistemology advocates culturally competent relations between the researcher and community members; and methodology employs culturally

Therefore due to the social, personal and language related research required (Cottrell, 2014), a qualitative method of research was elected, as the quantitative method would have produced irrelevant and non-opinionated views (Denscombe, 2014; Hoepfl, 1997), although potentially any form of research method can cause limitations during research (Trafimow, 2014). Consequently the qualitative sample within the interpretive paradigm produced

Mehra (2002) explains further –‘A researcher's personal beliefs and values are reflected not only in the choice of methodology and interpretation of findings, but also in the choice of a research topic. In other words, what we believe in determines what we want to study.’

In particular, qualitative researchers tend to focus more on the social-constructed reality and the contextual influence, interaction and constraints between the researcher(s) and the participants. They are interested in finding answers to questions that focus on the “social construction of experience and how meaning is created” (Cooper & White, 2012, p. 15). However, quantitative researchers “emphasize measurement and analysis, and focus on product rather than process” (Cooper & White, 2012, p. 15). Quantitative researchers perceive reality as observable and external so that they are interested in conducting research which is based on measurement or calculation. Therefore, it is the ontological and epistemological beliefs that usually drive the methodological preferences, but what helps the researchers make their final decisions about research methods is the guiding research question(s). Sechrest and Sidani (1995) point out the commonality that both methodologies “describe their data, construct explanatory arguments form their data, and speculate about why the outcomes they observed happened as they did (p. 78)”. Both research methodologies need to address issues of either validity or credibility, make the data unbiased and the research design as rigorous as possible.

There are two types of research methods, which are qualitative, and quantitative each of which is focused towards diverse aspect. It is noticed that qualitative research method is used for the studies that are dependent on the use of theoretical data or content instead of collecting statistical or empirical evidence to support the discussion. The aim of this method is to consider the use of general data or theories to make sure that research aim and objectives are evaluated specifically (Taylor et al., 2015). While on the other hand, quantitative research method is used by the studies that are reliant on the utilisation of facts and figures in the numerical or statistical format in order to support the arguments or discussion. In this considered, the quantitative research method is emphasised as it will consider using numerical or empirical evidence to support the discussion. This depicts the fact that nature of the study is quantitative (Scruggs & Mastropieri, 2006).

Research paradigms are ‘the entire constellation of beliefs, values, techniques, and so on shared by members of a given community’ (Kuhn, 1970, p.175). The three most common paradigms are positivism, constructivism or interpretivism and pragmatism. Each of these can be categorised further by examining their: ontology, epistemology and methodology. Fundamentally, ontology is the nature of reality, epistemology describes the relationship the investigator has with their version of reality, and methodology is the various techniques and tools used to analysis their research.

It is evident from the definition above that paradigms guide how research problems are understood and addressed by researchers. Patton (as cited by Chilisa & Kawulich 2012:1) argues that ontology relates to whether we believe there is one verifiable reality or whether there are multiple, socially constructed realities. Epistemology concentrates on how we as individuals know what we know? It questions the nature of knowledge, truth and reliability of the knowledge. Methodology concentrates on the procedures and approaches we use to acquire knowledge. Therefore every paradigm fundamentally has its own ontological, epistemological and methodological assumptions which help to determine the assumptions and beliefs that frame a researcher’s view of a research problem and how he/she will go about investigating it and what methods he/she will explore to answer the research

Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies utilize questions with the objective of investigating and answering posed research questions through an evaluation-based method (Dobrovolny & Fuentes, 2008). This structured process enables a researcher to develop a systematic approach to facilitate the harvesting, evaluation and presentation of data (Dobrovolny & Fuentes, 2008). Even though both quantitative and qualitative research methods possess many of the same characteristics, the inherent differences of each method provides the researcher with a level of flexibility that enables them to determine the best approach for answering the questions they endeavor to explore.

An extensive body of literature on research methodology clearly indicates an inconclusive debate about the relative merits of qualitative and quantitative research strategies with the majority contending that both have advantages and drawbacks Fineout-Overholt & Melnyk (2011).

Examining research problem using qualitative methodology are basically non-numerical and show great diversity. It involves any form of human communication which could either be written, audio or visual. The qualitative methodology used in solving problems, or explaining what actually happened. However, using qualitative methods to examine the research problem involves two activities: developing an awareness of the types of data can be described and explained; and also the practical activities that assist with the kinds of data and the large amounts of it that needs to be examined (Gibbs, 2007).

There are two main subdivisions of research philosophies; ontological and epistemological research philosophies. Ontology involves using a nature perspective to establish how things work. On the other hand, epistemology involves assessing the interaction between the knowledge of the inquirer and the research (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2009). The nature of reality can thus be determined by reviewing the four primary research philosophies that are based on epistemology and ontology.

Research can be viewed as an undertaking to discovery or as a means to confirm or reject proposed hypotheses. It is an endeavor to understand and explain our environment, nature or societies as they are perceived by our senses and diverse viewpoints. Designs used to frame these studies are formed under three types of methodologies: qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method headings. These methodologies propose to answer the theories that underline the research design and each comes with its own set of strengths, limitations and guidelines. The goal of this paper is to succinctly and concisely explore and summarize these characteristics of each methodology to assist in highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.