Overview of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods

Quantitative Research

Research involving counting or measuring data.

Statistical Tests

Methods applied to detect or confirm trends.

Questionnaire

A popular tool for collecting quantitative data.

Numerical Parameters

Data presented through numbers and statistics.

Systematic Investigation

Organized approach to studying a phenomenon.

Empirical Research

Research based on observed and measured phenomena.

Analytical Methods

Techniques for examining data critically.

Objective Research

Unbiased and logical approach to investigation.

Hypothesis

Proposed explanation for a phenomenon to test.

Original Work

Research that contributes new knowledge or insights.

Good Research Characteristics

Systematic, controlled, and empirical investigation traits.

Research-oriented

Focus on discovering new knowledge or insights.

Efficient Researcher

Ability to achieve results with minimal resources.

Scientific Method

Systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation process.

Effective Researcher

Produces reliable and valid research outcomes.

Creative Researcher

Innovative in approach and problem-solving.

Questionnaire Survey Steps

Process for designing and conducting surveys.

Study Population

Group of individuals targeted for research.

Sample Size

Number of participants selected for a study.

Pretest Questionnaire

Trial run to refine survey questions.

Follow-up Letter

Reminder for non-respondents to participate.

Questionnaire Advantages

Broad coverage and anonymous responses benefits.

Questionnaire Disadvantages

Limitations like low response rates and ambiguity.

Factual Questions

Inquiries about demographic information of respondents.

Informative Questions

Questions about respondents' knowledge on topics.

Attitudinal Questions

Gathering opinions and beliefs from respondents.

Self-perception Questions

Comparative inquiries about personal skills or actions.

Standard of Action Questions

Predictive questions about future behaviors.

Projective Questions

Indirect questions revealing feelings or attitudes.

Unstructured Questions

Open-ended questions allowing free responses.

Structured Questions

Fixed response options for respondents.

Dichotomous Questions

Questions with two possible answers.

Multiple Choice Questions

Respondents select from several options.

Contingency Questions

Determine respondent qualification for subsequent questions.

Likert-type Scale

Numeric ranking showing opinion differentiation.

Semantic Differential Scale

Bipolar adjective pairs for rating performance.

Rank-order Scale

Respondents rank items by preference.

Opening Questions

Easy questions to start the survey.

Sensitive Questions

Asked after trust is established.

Qualitative Research

Focuses on understanding rather than testing hypotheses.

Data Collection Methods

Interviews, observations, and content analysis.

Response Categories

Developed post-study in qualitative research.

Exploratory Studies

Examine various dimensions of a problem.

Response Rate

Percentage of respondents participating in a survey.

Scaling Responses

Assigning values to measure opinions or frequency.

Qualitative Designs

Frameworks for conducting qualitative research.

Research Questions

Questions guiding the focus of a study.

Detailed Information

In-depth data from qualitative methods.

Trust Development

Building rapport before sensitive questioning.

Logical Flow

Sequencing questions according to research topic.

Personal Data

Demographic information collected from respondents.

Exploratory Research

Investigates new areas without predefined hypotheses.

Intervention Effectiveness

Rarely assessed in qualitative studies.

Perceptions and Feelings

Focus on participant experiences and emotions.

Case Records

Documents used for qualitative content analysis.

Grounded theory

Developing theory from data analysis.

Ethnography

Studying cultures through immersive observation.

Phenomenology

Exploring lived experiences of individuals.

Field research

Collecting data in natural settings.

Depth of understanding

Comprehensive insights into complex phenomena.

Flexibility

Adaptability in research design and methods.

Subjectivity

Influence of personal bias in research.

Suggestive, not definitive

Findings indicate trends, not absolute truths.

Limited generalizability

Results may not apply broadly to other contexts.

Mixed methodology

Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Structured interview

Pre-determined questions in a fixed order.

Semi-structured interview

Guided questions allowing for open responses.

Unstructured interview

Open conversation without a set format.

Informal conversational interview

Casual dialogue to gather insights.

Interview protocol

Guidelines for conducting interviews systematically.

Standardized open-ended interview

Consistent questions allowing varied responses.

Closed, fixed response interview

Limited answer choices for participants.

Thick description

Detailed account capturing context and meaning.

Field notes

Researcher's observations recorded during fieldwork.

Self reflective comments

Researcher's personal insights on observations.

Observations in Ethnographic Research

Primary data collection method in ethnography.

Role of Gatekeeper

Facilitator for researcher access to groups.

Obtrusive observation

Researcher presence may influence participant behavior.

Unobtrusive observation

Researcher does not interfere with the setting.

Access to site

Gaining permission to observe a location.

Descriptive notes

Factual details about observed events.

Reflective notes

Personal reactions and interpretations of observations.

Tension in field notes

Balancing detail with participant confidentiality.

Participant observer

Researcher engages while observing the group.

Unobtrusive observer

Researcher observes without participating.

Participant Observer

Engages in group while also observing.

Unobtrusive Observer

Observes without influencing the group.

Benefits of Participant Observation

In-depth understanding of participant experiences.

Drawbacks of Participant Observation

Potential bias from researcher involvement.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Iterative process of interpreting qualitative data.

Coding

Process of categorizing qualitative data into themes.

Themes

Categories of information identified by the researcher.

Data Reduction

Condensing data into manageable themes or codes.

Data Representation

Presenting findings through narratives or visuals.

Raw Data Management

Organizing raw data into meaningful units.

Data Cleaning

Removing unusable or irrelevant data.

Chunking

Breaking data into smaller, manageable pieces.

Clustering

Grouping similar codes into larger themes.

Iterative Process

Repeatedly refining themes through continuous review.

Biography Research

Analyzing personal stories and life transitions.