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MIXED RESEARCH METHOD
Some researchers appreciate for both quantitative and qualitative research, allowing complement each other for better outcomes. For example, if your research aims to find out what the dominant human behavior is towards a particular event and at the same time you aim to examine why this is the case, it is good to make use of both methods.(1)
Many times a research projects often find they are not aware of the differences between qualitative research and quantitative research methods. Many mistakenly think the two terms can be used interchangeably. At first of researchers view have seen these two approaches of understanding seem to be contest and even contradictory. There are many publications and printing contribution to the elaboration of their differences. Gradually considerations of quantitative and qualitative methods are as two sides of one coin which cannot separate to complement one another in particular research phenomenon.
There are three broad classes of mixed methods research (Johnson, Onwuegbuzie, & Turner, 2007):
1. Quantitative approaches in which the research study is a quantitative study with qualitative data added to supplement and improve the quantitative study. Qualitative method adds more value and deeper, wider, and provides more complex answers to research questions. As quantitative research emphasized quantitative quality but qualitative data also not neglecting to be collected and analyzed.
2. Qualitative approach is the research study that qualitative study with quantitative method added to supplement and improve the qualitative quality.
3. Interactive or equal status designs emphasize both quantitative and qualitative data, methods, methodologies, and paradigms. This equal designua is often done by a group form with an expert in quantitative research, an expert in qualitative research, and an expert in mixed methods research. All three methods quality criteria are emphasized in this mixed method research. This use of multiple quality criteria is seen in the concept of multiple validates legitimating (Onwuegbuzie & Johnson, 2006; Johnson & Christensen, 2014).
In this multiple research, the researcher must identify and entitle all of the relevant validity issues facing a particular research study. Successfully addressing the applicable validity information and issues will help researchers produce the kinds of judgment that should be made in mixed research"(Johnson & Christensen, 2014; page 311). A similarity between mixed methodologies, qualitative and quantitative is that researchers need to maintain focus on the original purpose of their own methodological choices. A major difference between the two is the way authors differentiate the two approaches, proposing that there is logic inherent in one that is different from the other. Creswell (2009) points out that in a quantitative study the researcher starts with a problem statement, moving on to discussion of data collection, population, and data analysis. Creswell proposes that for a qualitative study the flow of logic begins with the purpose for the study, moves through the research questions discussed as data collected from a smaller group and then voices how they will be analyzed.(2)
COMPARISON BETWEEN QUALITATIVE & QUANTITATIVE
A comparison of quantitative and qualitative research can be carried out on various levels, like application domain, prerequisites, research process, etc. The main differences between the two approaches depend on underlying science models. These models differ in their uniqueness of study. Quantitative study aim for objective and prediction characterized the natural science model. Qualitative method aims the understanding of human behavior distinguish the human science model. Due to its precise, quantitative research stresses on the quantification of concepts and their relationships via measurement.
In compare and contrast, qualitative research attempt to reveal qualities of entities via text production and interpretation. Quantitative researchers study phenomena with a distant and objective science stance from the outside; whereas qualitative researchers are engaged in face to face interactions and role taking from the inside. The deductive nature of quantitative research implies a rather selective approach where a small number of key variables are researched. Qualitative research aims at a holistic view of phenomena, and more an inductive, exploratory approach. The last two differences refer to the research process and its impact on the segment of social reality. Quantitative methods allow for a static image of segment. Qualitative methods follow a more flexible, open-ended and circular process, so they allow a dynamic view of the segment. Despite these fundamental differences, both methodologies can be successfully combined into one research design.(3) In general, qualitative research creates rich, specific and valid process data that contribute to the in-depth understanding of a context. On the other hand, Quantitative research makes reliable population-based and generalizable data that is suited to establishing cause-and-effect relationships. Choosing a qualitative or quantitative research is ultimately relying on a philosophical question. Determination of selecting methods depends on the project that the researcher chooses, information of the demand context and possibility of resources such as financial capacity, time management and human resources. Using both qualitative and quantitative research is becoming more common for researchers. Every researcher should make value to keep in mind that these two different philosophies are not necessarily contradicted to each other instead both designs can use together in mixed-method research studies.(4) |
THE STEPS THAT NEED FOR BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
1. Goal or Aim of the Research Research method 3. Data Gathering Instrument
Data-gathering strategies used in qualitative research are individual depth interviews, both structured and non-structured interviews, focus groups, narratives, any kinds of documentary analysis, paper and participant observation. The tools that make use for quantitative research are surveys, questionnaires, measurements and other equipment to collect numerical or measurable data. 4. Type of Data The data that use for qualitative research can be any form like words, images (video records) and objects. Most likely qualitative research figures in the form of graphs where quantitative research appears tables containing data in the form of numbers and statistics. 5. Approach Qualitative research is primarily subjective approach to understand human behavior and reasons. Every qualitative researcher should have the tendency to immerse in the subject matter. Quantitative research is objective approach to precise measurements and analysis of target concept to answer the inquiry.(5) |
DETERMINING WHICH METHOD SHOULD BE USED
There is arguments use to appear among researchers either qualitative or quantitative research. But this debate is unceasing issues happening from the beginning of research work and researchers. The reasons is simple it has its own weaknesses and strengths depending upon research topic and researcher. Depend on the target of research; it can be qualitative or quantitative research. It is the researcher and his/her decision to select the appropriate method to accomplish the topic that he/she has chosen. Inquiring more on evidences and data need to be quantitative research method. Wishing to explain more on the case and event then it can be qualitative research.(6) In summary, the qualitative and quantitative approaches to research allow a different perspective of situations or phenomena. These two main approaches to research are highly revealing, especially if used in combination. Each approach has its benefits and detriments, and being aware of the methods used to gather information can help practitioners and policy-makers understand the extent to which research findings can be applied.(7) CONCLUSION Some studies make use of both Quantitative and Qualitative Research, letting the two complement each other to become qualify research. If our study aims to find out, for example, what the dominant human behavior is towards a particular event and at the same time aims to test why this is the case, it is appropriate to make use of both methods. REFERENCES http://chronicle.umbmentoring.org/on-methods-whats-the-difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-approaches/ https://explorable.com/quantitative-and-qualitative-research http://atlasti.com/quantitative-vs-qualitative-research/ https://www.google.com.pk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=summary+of+qualitative+and+quantitative+research http://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-qualitative-research-and-quantitative-research http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Qualitative-Research http://www.guidestarco.com/qualitative-and-quantitative-Survey-research.htm |