Research Paradigm

Research, no matter what field, is often conducted and analysed in accordance with two basic approaches: quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative approach aims to test a hypothesis and examine the relationship through generating numerical data or other information that is than converted into numbers, whereas the qualitative approach is more exploratory, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the research subject. Through breaking down and examining the key features in each of these approaches it is evident that although they both begin with a problem the researcher aims to understand they fundamentally differ. The table below shows side by side comparisons, highlighting the differences that can be used to differentiate these approaches, described broadly across three main categories.

This paper primarily concerns qualitative research, but we were asked to compare both qualitative and quantitative methods. During comparison, there are many noted differences in both study designs, but not many similarities. Qualitative research uses a subjective approach with a large sample population. It collects non-statistical data, using an unstructured or semi-structured technique (Nieswiadomy & Bailey, 2018). Quantitative research uses an objective approach and large, random, sampling to ask opinions in a structured way. The findings of quantitative studies are conclusive and used to recommend a final course of action (Nieswiadomy & Bailey, 2018). While it is hard to see similarities between the two, both methods aim to find a solution to a problem or question, the researcher doing the study may affect the outcome and an analysis of the collected data must be done (Souza, 2017). What many don’t realize is the connection amongst the two. You can say, both types of research build upon one another, meaning quantitative studies can quantify results found in qualitative research (Souza, 2017).

Researchers often times are faced with the decision of choosing a methodology of research; either Quantitative or Qualitative that they think best fits their study and objectives. This choice is guarded by the topic of study, the advantages and disadvantages, and the strengths and weaknesses of using either one or the other type of the methodologies.

The method of qualitative research become key method in the human and social science and also in the education and health science. The definition of qualitative research is a research using methods such as participant observation or case studies which result in a narrative, descriptive account of a setting or practice. Sociologists using these methods typically reject positivism and adopt a form of interpretive sociology (Parkinson & Drislane,2011). It involves the research using data that do not indicate ordinal values. Furthermore, qualitative research includes the different kinds of data collection, techniques of analysis and diversity of theoretical frameworks (Guest; Namey & Mitchell, 2013). According to Creswell(2013) ‘’the final written report or presentation includes the voices of participants, the reflexivity of the researcher, a complex description and interpretation of the problem, and its contribution to the literature or a call for change.

Consequently, qualitative research approach emerges from the philosophical belief that truth is socially constructed and subjective to individual experiences associated with critical theory, constructivism, interpretatism, and naturalistic paradigms (Feilzer, 2010; Ponterotto, 2010; Ryan, Coughlan, & Cronin, 2007; Scotland, 2012; Venkatesh, Brown, & Bala, 2013; Vishnevsky & Beanlands, 2004). Paradigms are the philosophical underpinning that guides qualitative research methodology as result evaluating scientific merit slightly differs from the quantitative methodology. As a result, the scientific merit of qualitative lies in the credibility (trustworthiness), dependability (consistency), transferability (applicability), and comfirmability (verification/neutrality) of the data to answer the research question (Ellis & Levy, 2009; Horsburgh, 2002; Ponterotto, 2010; Ryan, Coughlan, & Cronin, 2007; Vishnevsky & Beanlands, 2004).

This paper involves the critical analysis of a quantitative study and qualitative study. The results, discussion and global issues are discussed here. The author tried to identify the validity and trustworthiness of the study by conducting the critique.

The approach of this study will take the epistemological position and a qualitative research design. Humphries (2008) asserts that qualitative research focusses on the subjective and recognises that the researcher will affect the data that is produced and therefore the outcome of the research. Denzin & Lincoln (2005:3) state that “Qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings attempting to make sense of, or to interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them”. Quantitative research on the other hand, claims to be objective, removing the researcher’s views and values from the study. While traditionally quantitative data has been deemed to produce more reliable or valid data, it does not suffice to capture the complexities of the human experience as it assumes a positivist epistemology.

Qualitative data collection instrument provided me the opportunity to interview the research participant in asking them question not fully illustrated in the quantitative research questionnaire this two methods help in understanding the viewpoints of research participants.

Since the purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical understanding of the conduct of research by clinical nurses, a grounded theory approach was used.

This template directs you to portions of the course text, Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research (Creswell, 2008). Each table includes chapter numbers

In this articles critique, two articles are evaluated; one using qualitative and the second using quantitative research approaches. Particularly, it contrasts information gathered because of using the approaches, advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches and a response to the claim that qualitative research is not real science.

The responsibility of law enforcement is to protect and serve the community as well as make sure the law is obeyed by all citizens. In many instances, civil order is implemented by specialized units. The objective of this assignment is to discuss how the United States handles issues relating to civil order control. In addition, this paper will compare and contrast procedures utilized by other countries.

Some of these weaknesses and limitations were caused by the way this particular project was set up, while others stem from the limitations of quantitative research in general. During the entire evaluation, there was no control group. This means that the evaluation cannot be attributed to the counselling service alone. It is likely that there were other factors unrelated to the school counselling service that influenced the participants’ mental health in some way. If this study were done again, it would be helpful and quite important to have a control group that does not use the counselling service for the duration of the study. This was mostly because of the pilot nature of this

In retrospective, qualitative research is of great significance to quantitative research because it contributes to it and provides background for the research. It assists in giving information on psych-social aspects of patient care and the provision of health services (Taylor & Bogdan, 1984). Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research has been regularly critiqued for not having a technique that can be used to evaluate its quality. According to research, qualitative research quality can be measured using several concepts (Miles & Hagerman, 1994). Taylor & Bogdan (1984) has researched on some of the concepts which are school of thoughts given by Dixon-Woods et al. school of thought. Taylor & Bogdan, (1984) further states that the quality of qualitative research can be measured by determining the validity,

Qualitative research is the technique that is used as a part of exploratory research and to derive the independent variables. There are different methods through which we can conduct the qualitative research. As a part of this study we have adopted the following methods: