Quantitative research and Qualitative research

Quantitative research (Qnr)and Qualitative research (Qlr)

Quantitative research Numbers-based Quantitative research refers to the manipulation of numbers to make claims, provide evidence, describe phenomena, determine relationships, or determine causation.

Deductive usually tests a hypothesis based on previous research. Numbers are important to determine when a hypothesis has been confirmed or not. You are looking FOR something.

Generalizable through statistical or mathematical modeling, can make predictions about future events Quantitative researchQuantitative research often starts with an expectation about what you are going to find and then tests that expectation.Follows a scientific method:Define the question Gather information and resources Form hypothesisDesign experiment Perform experiment and collect data Analyze data Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypotheses Publish results

Lets see an exampleQuantitative research on:

The influence of listening to English music in the listening skills of the students.The effects of the use of English literature on the reading skills of students. The effects of X on YDefining the question.Defining the question, often called your research question, determines the scope of what you are able to research. A good research question should be (FINER):Feasible is it a realistic question to ask?Interesting will we learn something from it?Novel have very few people done it?Ethical does it respect the participants?Relevant will we be able to do something with the findings?

Research PlanAs we follow this scientific method, recognize that it really is just a research plan, but in a more focused manner. You would still benefit much from working out the following BEFORE you conduct your study.

Research Question Method Plan TimelineQualitative ResearchQualitative Researchinvolves finding out what people think, and how they feel - or at any rate, what they say they think and how they say they feel. This kind of information is subjective. It involves feelings and impressions, rather than numbers

Qualitative ResearchQualitative research is multimethod in focus, involving an interpretative, naturalistic approach to its subject matter.

Qualitative Researchers study things (people and their thoughts) in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them.

Qualitative ResearchQualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical materials - case study, personal experience, introspective, life story, interview, observational, historical, interactional, and visual texts-that describe routine and problematic moments and meanings in individuals lives.

Lets see an exampleThe perceptions of students towards English Camps.

The characteristics of effective teachers for young learners. Mixed methodology researchFocused on research questions that call for real-life contextual understandings, multi-level perspectives, and cultural influences.

Employes rigorous quantitative research assessing magnitude and frequency of constructs and rigorous qualitative research exploring the meaning and understanding of constructs. Mixed methodology research Uses multiple methods (e.g., intervention trials and in-depth interviews).

Intentionally integrates or combines these methods to draw on the strengths of each.

Typical reasons for using mixed methodsTo view problems from multiple perspectives so as to enhance and enrich the meaning of a singular perspective.

To merge quantitative and qualitative data to develop a more complete understanding of a problem; to develop a complementary picture; to compare, validate, or triangulate results; to provide illustrations of context for trends, or to examine processes/experiences along with outcomes

Typical reasons for using mixed methodsTo contextualize the information, to take a macro picture of a system (e.g., a school) and add in information about individuals (e.g., working at different levels in the school).

To have one database build on another. When a quantitative phase follows a qualitative phase, the intent of the investigator may be to develop a survey instrument, an intervention, or a program informed by qualitative findings