Comm 3360 Quantitative Research Lecture Notes

A set of flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and definitions from the lecture notes on Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

Quantitative Research

Focuses on numbers and measurements; aims to measure things, find patterns, relationships, and test hypotheses.

Qualitative Research

Focuses on meanings, experiences, and descriptions; aims to understand opinions, feelings, and motivations.

Middle-range theory

Theories that explain specific social patterns by integrating multiple variables, rather than explaining all social behavior with a single cause.

Paradigm

A worldview or framework of beliefs, values, and methods that guide research practices.

Positivist/Scientific paradigm

A research approach grounded in the notion of cause and effect, suitable for quantitative research.

Interpretivist/constructivist paradigm

A qualitative research approach that seeks to understand human significance and meanings ascribed to life events.

Radical/Critical paradigm

Research aimed at changing unjust social conditions, focusing on social structures of power and inequality.

Post-structuralist paradigm

Analyzes how knowledge and power are constructed through discourse and social practices.

Data Saturation

The point in qualitative research when no new information is obtained from data collection.

Convenience sampling

A qualitative sampling method where participants volunteer to take part in a study.

Snowball sampling

A qualitative method where current participants recommend others who might want to participate.

Purposive sampling

A qualitative method where specific participants are selected based on their knowledge of the phenomenon being studied.

4 main paradigms in social science:

positivist/scientific, post-structuralist, interpretivist/constructivist, radical/critical

functions of a theory

1 = Explanation. 2 = prediction

Reference group theory

explains how people are influenced by groups they belong to or compare themselves to, and it helps researchers both guide data collection and develop new theoretical understanding.

Broad-range theorie

 Identifying a single cause as the main one. Why does Boudon calls these bad theorizing?

-              It can be too narrow. For example, calling video games the reason for shooting

When we conduct research, we are most likely:

-              Testing a theory

-              Expanding a theory

-              Writing a Theory

what is a theory?

a set of statements that organize a set of statements/predictions and relate them to observations well

what does the 4 paradigms do?

reflect the researcher’s beliefs about what is reality (ontology), knowledge (epistemology), the means to obtaining knowledge (methodology) and the values of the researcher (axiology).

ontology

reflect the researchers beliefs about what is reality

epistemology

knowledge

methodology

the means to obtaining knowledg

axiology

and the values of the researcher

Qualitative sampling

How we collect data for qualitative research

Sampling

  To get an idea of the whole by studying a small part of it

2 main types:

o   Random

o   Non-Random

o   Random sampling

(mainly quantative but can be used in qualitative research too)

• Every data point and/or participant has equal chance to be in the sample

Non-Random sampling

Go out of your way and go after specific data

What are we trying to do when we do qualitative research?

-              To understand social life

-              Not trying to predict social life

Justification

A reason or rationale for the choice of a research method or sampling technique. It explains how the method aligns with the study's goals and questions.