Qualitative and Quantitative- Week 3 B.A.R

What is qualitative research?

Explores and provides deeper insight into real world problems with reflection- words not numbers, more in-depth with fewer participants.

• Provides understanding of experiences, perceptions, motivations, intentions, behaviours based on description/observation.

How does qualitative research build a hypotheses?

• Builds hypotheses in inductive manner- starting point is a situation a researcher can observe  

More subjective: describes a problem/condition from the point of view of those experiencing it 

• Can be valid and reliable: depends on skill and rigour of researcher 

What is the end goal of qualitative research?

Focus groups data is transcribed the statements are analysed and an analytical analyse is written and with quotes.  

End goal- Participants are comfortable with researcher, are honest and forthcoming which allows researcher to make robust observations

What are the methods used in qualitative research?

Focus groups, participant observation and semi-structured interviews  

What is quantitative research?

Based on numerical data and seeks to establish causal relationship and differences between variables. - involves observations measured numerically 

More objective: provides observed effects of an intervention or risk factor on a problem

What is the starting point used in quantitative research?

Starting point – testable hypothesis 

Statistical tests used for analyses- Can be valid and reliable: largely depends on measurement device or instrument used- more generalised 

What is the end goal of quantitative research?

End Goal- findings can be repeatedly tested by others. Variables are defined and statistical analyses test relationships and differences between groups.  

What are the methods used in quantitative research?

Methods used- surveys, randomised trials and laboratory trials  

What is Systematic review?

Contains search methods, assesses methods of other studies, interprets results, summarises findings into an overall description

What is meta analysis?

Converts data from studies into a standard metric to enable comparisons and statistical analysis to draw conclusions