The Layers of Research Design

According to Yilmaz (2013) there exist two significant approaches to research with respect to studying the social and individual world. According to Creswell (2014) three types of design quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods should remain in consideration when choosing a research designs at the start of the process. The two methods exist a quantitative and

Research methodology is a way how the research is conducted step by step and in order. There are two methods used for data collection which is the primary data and secondary data. These data can be obtained and used many ways. The data is taken and analyzed in advance to produce a result that we can use for research and future reference. This study will relate to the objective we want to achieve and finding the answer to every objective we seek. In order to successfully achieve the objectives we seek, we must know

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.

Driscoll, Yeboah, Salib, & Rupert, (2007) discussed the advantages and disadvantages of qualitative and quantitative methods. For example, the benefit of qualitative is the researcher will get more detailed data with a lot of written descriptions because the respondent will have the freedom to answer. But the disadvantage is it will take a longer time to do. On the other hand, for the quantitative method the strength of this technique that the researcher can measure the data and analyze it by using statistics, but it has weakness such as it needs a large number of populations to reach to more accurate

This study will implement a mixed methods design to include both quantitative and qualitative methods.

There are two methods in research i.e. Quantitative and Qualitative. Both quantitative and Qualitative methods have their merits and choice between each method is often determined by the research strategy. Quantitative research is associated with experimental and survey research where as qualitative research is associated with a veriety of strategies , including action and case study research.

Mixed research methodology has been defined as the class of research approach whereby researcher combines both quantitative and qualitative research methods, techniques, concepts and approaches into a single set of study (Jhoson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004). Historically, the researchers have been using either quantitative or qualitative research approach in order to carry out their research. And, the main reason was due to the presence and wide differences between the supporters and followers of the both philosophies.

Research design is the approach that the researcher utilizes apparatuses of a study to collect, analyze, and interpret data. There are three types of research designs: (a) qualitative – captures the description of the event that is taking place by the means of interviews and observation; (b) quantitative – employs statistical measures to interpret data taken from surveys; and (c) and mixed method – uses both qualitative and quantitative designs for an more in-depth study (Creswell, 2014; Stangor, 2014). This paper will focus on the comparison and contrast qualitative and quantitative design in relation to the selected journals.

This chapter describes the methodology and research design of the study. The methodology describes the broad scheme or plan of the research and elaborates the tools of analysis. A methodology or a research design refers to approaches and research strategies, e.g. surveys; questionnaires etc. In a broader context methodology refers to a design whereby, the researcher selects data and analysis procedures to investigate a specific research problem (Cohen, Manion and Morrison; 2008). Research designs have been classified differently by different scholars. Some scholars (Bodgan& Biklen, 1982) discuss research methods under two broad headings: qualitative and quantitative. Gay (1987) indicates that while naturalistic researcher prefer qualitative methods, such as participant observation and in depth interviewing, rationalistic researchers tend to use quantitative methodologies such as random selection of subjects and administration of standardized instruments. While qualitative studies focus on subjective information, such as feelings, experiences or opinions: data that cannot be scientifically quantified. Quantitative research is the opposite, shunning subjectivity in favor of objectivity. Quantitative research focuses on statistics and quantifiable information.

Qualitative and quantitative methods allow researchers to investigate, explore and inquire the nature of the phenomenon being studied. It is important that the researcher develops a clear understanding of the problem and design a plan to investigate it (Cresswell, 1998, para. 1). There are a variety of research methods; nevertheless, it is important to consider which research method is appropriate for the study. Qualitative research focuses on human experiences while quantitative research relies on numbers, measurements, and testing. Nevertheless, qualitative and quantitative methods use similar approaches to conduct research and collect data. For example, observations and interviews are approaches used in both research designs;

Both of approaches have pros and cons, it is difficult to decide which research approach is appropriate for a specific research task. Excepting the selection of methods, the background information and the subjective consciousness of participants are main aspects to decide the quality of a given piece of research. Researchers should seriously consider the specific situation of the research. Meanwhile, researchers should synthesize the advantages between quantitative and qualitative research so as to effectively achieve the research aim by a mixed methodology.

A researcher has to choose a topic of interest to investigate and the topic usually determines what type of design to use conduct research. The two designs (quantitative and qualitative) that researchers will choose from depends on the research questions and hypothesis. In most cases the designs will contain some of the same elements but the data, and results will differ in the end. This paper will examine quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research design of the two articles.

Ontology: How the researcher views the world and the assumptions that are made about the nature of the world and of reality.

Quantitative research is considered to be the use of numbers. In the use of a quantitative study, the researcher test objective theories by examining the conjunction among variables. The variables used can be measured on instruments, so that numbered data can be used and analyzed (Creswell, 2008). Qualitative research is mainly used to explore and understand human or social problems. The process of qualitative studies includes questions and procedures; and the data is collected byway of participant’s settings. It allows the researcher to study an issue in great detail and depth, as well as not allowing data collection to be constrained by predetermined data. Mixed methods research combines quantitative and qualitative methods and it involves philosophical assumptions. This form of study includes collecting and analyzing data from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. It is believed that mixed methods research is a great method for practicing researchers who would like to bridge the schism between quantitative and qualitative research (Onwuegbuzie & Leech, 2004a). Even though these methods are different, they all involve philosophical assumptions and distinct methods or procedures (Cresswell, 2009).

When both research designs are used together, more information can be gathered. Mixed methodology uses the numerical portion of the quantitative study design in combination with the descriptive aspect of the qualitative study. There are many similarities between these two designs, which make them compatible with each other.