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This post by the team of dissertationhelpservice.com would help students learn about difference between qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative and quantitative researches are the types of the research design. Both the research designs have different goals. Qualitative research is generally inductive and Quantitative research is deductive (Frankel & Devers, 2000). Quantitative research involves data collection, analysis and interpretation. It is mainly a statistical analysis method to solve the research problem, because data used in it, is mathematical and statistical form. Qualitative research is based on texts and images, pictures etc. (Creswell, 2003). Qualitative research includes focus group, in-depth interview, and observation to collect data and then it analyze for the study. It is subjective in nature and describes the problem of research in depth to find out its solution. Whereas quantitative research is objective and uses concepts, constructs, hypothesis which makes up a theory (Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research, 2011).

Qualitative research deals in the words, texts, picture so that it can be observed. It is more flexible in comparison of quantitative research, because it allows adaption of interaction between researcher and its participants. It also include case study to resolve the research problem. It describes whole problem and it uses theories, concepts and case study. It is a descriptive and analytical tool for the research, because it describes the problem deeply and then analyzes. It considers social activities like education, health, social work, administration in the social science. Quantitative research includes survey, sampling and census method to collect data. It requires the data in the numerical value, which can be count. A researcher use all these data on the basis of the way in which a number of people act, think and feel, because in this method number of interview are considered. There are many methods by which data can be collected like experiments, observational study, and survey. Qualitative researcher collects entire data for the research but in case of quantitative research researcher uses several mathematical and statistical tool to collect numerical data. A researcher knows clearly about the research before the quantitative research but in the qualitative research, researcher has a partial knowledge about that, he is doing. Qualitative research recommended in the earlier stage of the study, but in the case of quantitative research it is recommended after the study. Quantitative research uses numbers, and numerical values to summarize the whole study, and to look relationship between variable and participants of the research (Neill, 2007).

Qualitative research requires in-depth study of the human behaviour. It measures standard for research design and analysis (Howe, K., & Eisenhar, M. 1990). Qualitative research uses only rational and relevant data for policy and program evaluation. Both of researches have a major difference of the theoretical view, which affect the individual’s phenomenon perspective. A quantitative research begins with a hypothesis and test for confirmation and rejection of that theory. Qualitative approach is used with the aim of developing a theory. It includes psychological and behavioral science investigation. Quantitative research focuses on the measurement and amount of characteristics and behaviour of people (Thomas, 2003).

Qualitative research and quantitative research are contrasted to each other because one which considers the quantity of the respondent and another considers the quality of the study.

We hope that this post would be useful for students to understand about quantitative and qualitative research designs and how these approaches differ from each other. If you have any further or need help with your research design or dissertation help, please send us an email to info@dissertationhelpservice.com

References

Creswell, J. W. (2003) Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches ed. 2, USA: SAGE publication ltd.

Frankel R. M., & Devers, K. J. (2000) Study Design in Qualitative Research—1: Developing Questions and Assessing Resource Needs, Education for Health, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2000, p. 251–261.

Howe, K., & Eisenhar, M. (1990) Standards for Qualitative and Quantitative Research: A Prolegomenon: Educational Researcher, 19, (9), p.2-9

Neill, J. (2007) Qualitative versus Quantitative Research: Key Points in a Classic Debate [Online]. Available at: http://wilderdom.com/research/QualitativeVersusQuantitativeResearch.html [Accessed: 29 June 2011].

Qualitative vs Quantitative Research (2011) [Online]. Available at: http://www.snapsurveys.com/techadvqualquant.shtml [Accessed: 29 June 2011].

Ramanathan, M. (2006) Ethics in Quantitative Research Methods [Online]. Available at: http://www.icmr.nic.in/bioethics/cc_biothics/presentations/haryana/session61.pdf [Accessed: 29 June 2011].

Thomas, R. M. (2003) Blending qualitative & quantitative research methods in theses and dissertations, USA: Corwin Press.

Research Approach

This blogpost by the experts of dissertationhelpservice.com would explain about research approaches. While working on a research project, it is very important to decide which research approach would be best for your research. In order to support the process of methodology description, it is essential to follow the research paradigm with appropriate research approach. There are mainly two kinds of research approaches deductive and inductive. Understanding to these approaches is essential to increase the efficiency of the research study. Both the approaches are completely different from each other (shown in Figure). Deductive research approach is associated with the positivism paradigm, whereas inductive research approach is associated with interpretivism. Understanding of both approaches is essential to support the choice of appropriate research approach.

Deductive research approach allows the research to establish a hypothesis by using theory. Variety of data and information is collected by the researcher to confirm or reject the hypothesis to resolve issue (Gill and Johnson 2010). In the given figure, various steps of using deductive approach are development of theory, hypothesis, observation through data and information and confirmation. On the other hand, inductive approach is totally reverse form deductive approach. Observation, pattern, tentative hypothesis and theory (see figure) are important steps of the inductive approach.

Inductive research is a flexible approach because there is no requirement of pre-determined theory to collect data and information. The researcher uses observe data and facts to reach at tentative hypothesis and define a theory as per the research problem. This helps the research to give inductive arguments (Mertens 2008).

Figure: Deductive Vs. Inductive Approach (Trochim 2011)


The deductive research approach is based on the general idea to reach at the specific situation and it is linked with the positivism paradigm, whereas, inductive approach works over a specific idea to generalize the situation as per the research topic, which is linked with the interpretivism paradigm (Crowther and Lancaster 2009). Saunders et al (2007) has asserted that by using both approaches it is very easy to estimate a logical and correct result but it is necessary for the research to combined correct piece of these approaches.

Inductive approach is highly associated with the interpretivism philosophy. Inductive approach allows the researcher to provide subjective reasoning with the help of various real life examples (Ridenour, Benz and Newman 2008). Deductive approach is linked with the positivism philosophy, which include hypothesis to prove assumptions. In this kind of approach it is necessary for the researcher to be general, but this research issue is specific and related to the development of human resources in the organization (Ritchie and Lewis 2003).

We hope that this post would have been useful for you to understand about the research approach. If you need have further or need help with research methodology or dissertation help, please do send us an email to info@dissertationhelpservice.com

This post by the experts of dissertation help service would explain you about what is research philosophy and research paradigm. Research philosophy can be defined as the development of the research background, research knowledge and its nature (Saunders and Thornhill, 2007). Research philosophy is also defined with the help of research paradigm. In the words of Cohen, Manion and Morrison (2000), research paradigm can be defined as the broad framework, which comprises perception, beliefs and understanding of several theories and practices that are used to conduct a research. It can also be characterized as a precise procedure, which involves various steps through which a researcher creates a relationship between the research objectives and questions.

According to the definition given by Gliner and Morgan (2000) “paradigm is a way of thinking about and conducting a research. It is not strictly a methodology, but more of a philosophy that guides how the research is to be conducted (p.17)”. Research paradigm and philosophy comprises various factors such as individual’s mental model, his way of seeing thing, different perceptions, variety of beliefs towards reality, etc. This concept influences the beliefs and value of the researchers, so that he can provide valid arguments and terminology to give reliable results.

Easter-by-Smith et al, (2006) have discussed about three different components of research paradigm or three ways to think about research philosophy.

>> Three Components of Research Paradigm (Source: Easter-by-Smith et al 2006)

Epistemology » Common parameters and assumptions those are associated with the excellent way to investigate the nature of the real world.

Ontology » Common assumptions that are created to understand the real nature of the society

Methodology » Combination of different techniques that are used by the researcher to investigate different situations.

It is necessary for the researcher to understand the philosophical position of research issues to understand the different combination of research methods. There are mainly three type of paradigm to understand the reality, Positivism, Interpretivism and realism.

Positivism:

The concept of Positivism is directly associated with the idea of objectivism. In this kind of philosophical approach, scientists give their viewpoint to evaluate social world with the help of objectivity in place of subjectivity (Cooper and Schindler 2006). According to this paradigm, researchers are interested to collect general information and data from a large social sample instead of focusing details of research. According to this position, researcher’s own beliefs have no value to influence the research study. The positivism philosophical approach is mainly related with the observations and experiments to collect numeric data (Easter-by-Smith et al 2006).

Interpretivism:

Interpretivism can be referred as the Social Constructionism in the field of management research. According to this philosophical approach research give importance to their beliefs and value to give adequate justification for a research problem (Easterby- Smith et al. 2006). With the help of this philosophical, researchers focus to highlight the real facts and figures according to the research problem. This kind of philosophical approach understand specific business situation. In this approach, researchers use small sample and evaluate them in detail to understand the views of large people (Kasi 2009).

Realism:

This research philosophy mainly concentrates in the reality and beliefs that are already exist in the environment. In this philosophical approach, two main approaches are direct and critical realism (McMurray, Pace and Scott 2004). Direct reality means, what an individual feels, see, hear, etc. On the other hand, in critical realism, individuals argue about their experiences for a particular situation (Sekaran and Bougie 2010). This is associated with the situation of social constructivism, because individual tries to prove his beliefs and values.

If you need any further clarification about research philosophy or research paradigm concepts or you need help with deciding what research paradigm to use for your research topic, please do visit our website www.dissertationhelpservice.com or write to us to info@dissertationhelpservice.com for dissertation help.




References:
Cohen, L. Manion, L. and Morrison, K.R.B. (2007) Research methods in education, 6th Edition. Routledge.
Cooper, D.R. and Schindler, P.S. (2006) Business Research Method, 9th Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Kasi, P. (2009) Research: What, Why and How? A Treatise from Researchers to Researchers, 1st Edition. Bloomington: AuthorHouse.
Saunders, M. et al. (2007) Research methods for business students, 4th Edition. London: Financial Times Prentice Hall.
Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R. (2010) Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building Approach, 5th Edition. Hoboken, N.J./Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.div>

This post on data collection for students doing their dissertations is provided by the writers of dissertationhelpservice.com Data collection is a very important aspect of completing a good dissertation. Data collection methods include structured/semi-structured interviews, self completion questionnaires, asking questions from the target population, structured observation, content analysis, secondary analysis and official statistics.

Structured Interviews:

Strcutured interviews are an important method of data collection. This is also called standardized interview. In this method, interviewer schedules the interviews and makes the fixed appointments with the interviewees. Questions that usually asked in these interviews are specific and same across different interviews. Questions and other interview stimulus should be same as much as possible for data to be more authentic and valid. Depending upon the research objectives, interviewer may give certain option to the interview for answers like close ended questions or fixed choice questions etc.

It is important in structured interviews that subjectivness and variability to be minimised as much as possible. Answers should be recorded by the interviewer. Before starting the interview, interviewer should introduce the research and discuss about confidentiality and ethical aspects.

Self Completed Questionnaires:

Questionnaires have their advantages and disadvantage both with respect to conducting interviews. Main advantage of the using self completed questionnaires is that a large population can be targeted using questionnaires in relatively less time. Questionnaires should be short, and of very simple design. Questions should be as specific and relevant to research objectives as possible. Closed questions are easier to answer than open questions so closed questions should be given preference.

Disadvantage of self completed questionnaires is that one cannot prompt and probe the respondent. Some other person can answer the questionnaire and questionnaire can be read completely without answering the questions in order. Through questionnaires, sometimes it becomes very difficult to ask lot of questions and response rate could also be low in many cases.

Open Questions Vs Closed Questions:

Open questions do not prompt certain responses from the respondents and can lead to sometimes unusual responses that a research might not have thought about. Respondent has more flexibility while responding to open questions. However, open questions require more time to complete from the respondent side and they may not complete it due to that. Open questions require more efforts from the respondent side.

Closed questions can be more easily answered vis a vis of open questions. Closed questions enhance answerability of the questions and these questions clarify further what is required to be answered from the respondent side. Another advantage of using closed question is that it reduces and almost eliminates the variable amongst the answers and thereby making it easier for the research to analyse the data.

There are some other methods of data collection like structured observations, content analysis, and secondary analysis. These methods would be explained in the next post. We hope that through this post, you would have got some basic understand of how to collect, data for your dissertation. If you are looking for dissertation help or have any query, please do send us an email to info@dissertationhelpservice.com