Context of Educational Research
Scientific methodology is usually adopted for understanding the methods that are adapted to elaborate a scientific document like a dissertation or a manuscript. In order to elaborate a scientific work, a thorough study of the methods should be given prime importance (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2009).
It has been found that scientific methods can be taken as a key to explorer truths about the world or even for exploring theories and to perform, empirical validation (Easterbrook, Singer, Storey, & Damian, 2008). So, it can be said that one of the main objectives of scientific research is to find out facts that are somewhere penetrated deep inside the reality through systematic approaches. Scientific research is basically conducted with the help of two methods and it includes quantitative and qualitative.
It is to be noted that qualitative research is a concern only with the in-depth understanding of a problem rather than with numerical. A researcher acts as object and subject of his research work in case of the qualitative approach. Illustrative information can be procured from the use of a qualitative approach as it deeply delves into a problem.
Realistic point of view guides the qualitative method. In fact, in the qualitative method, an attempt is made to gain knowledge regarding the dynamic pertaining to social relations. It has been discerned that the qualitative method is only preoccupied with values, meanings, and aspirations and these ultimately corresponds with the phenomenon and processes which can well be minimized to the operation of the variables (Henwood, 2008).
Unlike qualitative data, quantitative data can be represented in numerical terms. The samples that are taken for quantitative research are generally large. The population is taken as a sample where a researcher gets an idea regarding the comprehensive view of the entire population. It can be said that for analyzing data both mathematics as well as statistics becomes an important arena. The prime focus of the quantitative method is objectivity and it becomes applicable in places whereby interferences and variables are collected from a population (Hoe, & Hoare, 2012). Data collection is conducted with the help of formal instruments and structured processes. An objective, as well as systematic perspective, is to be given importance for collecting data. Software like STATA or SPSS is used for analyzing the collected data (Muenchen, 2014).
For gaining a thorough understanding o the social circumstances, qualitative methods like interviews or observation are adopted for qualitative methodology. There are shifts encountered in Information technology and communication and this shift is towards organizational issue from technological ones. This has resulted in the rampant use of the qualitative approach (Denzin, & Giardina, 2018).
Differences between Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Nowadays, there has been increased in the use of qualitative methods in the different field of research work. This method comprises documents, the perception of the researcher, respondent observation and questionnaires. The qualitative method tries to analyze and interpret various phenomenons in a given setting for assisting people to know their meanings.
It is a common belief among researcher of ICT that a large number of dimensions are found in ICT (Somekh, 2008). The methodology is shaped by a number of factors like knowledge body, scope, the topic of significance and validity instruments. As per researchers, new approaches can be linked to interpretations whereas observation is related to traditional approaches.
The information that a qualitative researcher gathers are mainly derived from undertaking a direct communication with the participants and its aim is to gain insight into a problem. The data collection method generally include speaking or writing, however, other forms of communication an also be included like videotapes, diaries, artworks, literary works or even systematic observation of the people (Suzuki, Ahluwalia, Arora, & Mattis, 2007). Narratives try to inculcate interviews in the process of data collection. Nonetheless, it not always the case become there are times when direct contact is not established for gathering information.
One of the first approaches used by quantitative research is to differentiate people in relation to standard variables as people possess a varied standard of the variables like tolerance or intelligence. There is an analysis among the quantitative researchers regarding the variable distribution. The researcher even aims at establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between different variables. The difference among the classroom students can be mentioned in the form of pre-defined outcomes like number usage skills, using mother tongue and also understanding regarding historical concepts (Fischer et al., 2018).
According to some researchers’ viewpoint, the quantitative researcher tries to utilize empirical statement and methods (Gioia, Corley, & Hamilton, 2013). The empirical statement can be defined as dealing with the problems in the present situation than that of the future. It is generally represented in the form of numerals. Empirical evaluations are another important aspect of the empirical study. In this type of evaluation, a researcher tries to find out whether a particular policy has been able to empirical norms or not.
Empirical study always takes into consideration the mathematical tools for data analysis. Mostly, people are of the opinion that quantitative research is only associated with mathematics and statistical calculations, however, it is a wrong concept. One should understand the implication of appropriate data analyzing method as well as correct research design as well as the data collection method. To some people calculation or analyzing data through statistical function often brings a lot of complexities (Hoaglin, 2003).
Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Research in an Educational Setting
Quantitative research can be categorized into four different types and they are: 1) casual-comparative research 2) experimental research 3) correlation research 4) survey research. These different types of research have specific characteristics (Gelo, Braakmann, & Benetka, 2008). This can be explained with the help of survey research example.
In order to find out the characteristics of a population, scientific sampling is put into practice. Survey research is considered to be an effective tool for striking a comparison among the groups. This type of research is known offer estimate that is usually taken as a representative of the entire population (Seawright, & Gerring, 2008). One of the basic pre-requisites of this type of sampling is that it adopts a random sampling method. It simply means that each of the respondents will get the known probability for becoming a sample.
It is always advisable to take help of experts as research instruments can create a significant impact on the survey’s quality. One can get a scope to study varied phenomenon thereby attaching flexibility to quantitative research. Nonetheless, some limitations are associated with quantitative methods too. This is because researchers often find that some phenomenon can be better studied through qualitative research than quantitative.
Most of the people get confused while making choice regarding research method. The first guiding principle behind the choice of method is objectives. Some researchers put emphasis on the fact that research on information technology is not only limited to the studying behaviour instead it is concerned with a situation where interaction between behaviour and technology occurs. It sounds almost similar to that of chemical reaction that results in the formation of a component. Qualitative research is turning out to be a point of interest among the ICT researchers. Different methods of qualitative research have been studied in an annual international conference on ICT from the year 1991 (Shachaf, 2008). These discussion panels have help in finding out the implications of using qualitative methods in research works.
A lot of debate has been encountered in the arena of qualitative and quantitative methods. Some are of the view that qualitative method can assist a researcher to reach towards their research objectives. On the contrary, some other strongly opposes the use of the qualitative method (Barnett-Page, & Thomas, 2009). These contrasting opinions have compelled a researcher to name it as the paradigm war. It has been found that those who are involved in giving importance to qualitative approaches over quantitative are regarded as paradigm warriors. Both qualitative, as well as quantitative methods seem to be irreconcilable (Bryman, 2017). On the contrary, other researchers are of the opinion that quantitative methods are quite inefficient in analyzing data and so this method is almost unacceptable in today’s research scenario. Therefore, it can be said that qualitative research seems to be on the advantageous side.
Output of Research and Its Uses
Although the method cannot be judged in such a manner one thing can be said that the qualitative method are turning out to be more into use in the modern time than in past. One should note that for undertaking a research work it is quite essential that the researcher makes use of both quantitative as well as qualitative methods. Those research designs that consider both quantitative as well as qualitative approach have found that grounded theory seems to be readily applicable in either of the two methods (Polit, & Beck, 2010).
It can be discerned that both qualitative and quantitative methods are not rival rather both these methods offer critical insights into a research work. Data collection methods cannot be conducted without the use of these methods. Both of them are trying their best to establish their significance in research work. One can call them supplementary or complementary approach. Although each of these methods aims at providing a knowledge depth to existing stud however they have both merits and demerits.
The first and foremost advantage of using quantitative data analysis method is that it makes use of statistical tools which help the researcher to save both time and resources (Yilmaz, 2013). It is often said that the quantitative approach basically emphasizes on numerical for collection and analysis of data. With the use of statistical tools for data representation, it becomes easier for the researcher to reduce their effort of giving an explanation for the outcome of their research. Generalization is only possible in scientific methods of data collection which is possible only with this approach. It is quite easier for a researcher to generalize on the interaction that has undertaken with a group. Interpretation of data does not seem like a coincidence. Samples or patterns cam will be used for reflecting upon a particular problem. Researchers have to eliminate behavior of guessing because it is required to base the analysis or outcome only on the basis of certain set frameworks. One can easily get hold of the study and control groups. It has been found that most of the component of quantitative research is used for agricultural researches whereas traditional way of quantitative approach can well be applied to research based on insects or even with human beings. A researcher has demonstrated the fact that quantitative data analysis method is inefficient in determining a person’s behaviour as human beings are self-determining.
Planning a Research Project to Improve Teaching
However, the fact that quantitative research is unable to obtain the real essence of a person is not baseless. The correlation matrix is often put into practice for using quantitative methods. Mostly, students who conduct quantitative analysis face difficulties in hypothesizing an outcome. This results in ineffectiveness in finding out a desired outcome from the research work.
The qualitative method can be defined as the concept, symbol or even description of a particular component which is put under study. It clearly indicates the fact that qualitative method generally comprises of important components that help in resolving the problem (Durlak, & DuPre, 2008). The different forms of qualitative data collection include interview, observation and open-ended questions. Methods which are used for collecting qualitative data give a complete description of participants. Focus group seems to help in understanding the behaviour of the respondents in a more viable manner.
It has been found that the technique that helps in retrieving data for undertaking qualitative research is considered to be unique. This method generally emphasizes collecting data in a non-numerical way that include picture or words given by the researcher who was involved in the study. It helps in inculcating factuality into the research work.
One of the main advantages of this approach is that here theory can be propounded from the data (Qiu, Donaldson, & Luo, 2012). In order to reflect upon the originality of this approach, researchers often denote words like ‘bottom-up, investigative’ and many more. The researcher gets the immense scope to construct theories based on the data that they have collected. It obviously attaches a level of reliability to such data.
Social context forms the basis of analyzing the behaviour of the human beings in a qualitative approach. It is known to take into consideration a large number of the phenomenon for understanding the human behaviours. A study of human behaviour requires in-depth study; so holistic approach is basically used for understanding the influence of reasoning, norms, interaction and thought (Hargreaves, 2011).
Some of the German researchers have aimed at exploring mathematical laws, the objective in regards to human behaviour. Their approach had the capability to clear out confusions regarding human behaviour. Mathematical laws seem to have set the guidelines for interpreting human behaviours.
The main pre-occupation of the approach is to express data numerically. Instruments have been made for measuring data and also analyzing the outcome. Galton was the one who had invented an instrument that helped in quantifying the degree of its performance (Gagné, 2010). He has also focussed his research on the closeness among the family members. This researcher has even propounded the idea of what we now term as a correlation for defining relationships among different variables. The Pearson Product correlation coefficient was developed by his peer Karl Pearson.
Exploring Social Relations
Conclusion
It can be discerned that the benefit of qualitative and quantitative research is basically based on the ways in which a researcher designs the study. Integrity is completely based upon the ethical considerations and these ethical considerations are basically related to regulations of codes and conducts that a researcher has to abide by while dealing with the participants. It is to be noted that a study that is completed with the proper follow up of ethical consideration can become a success. Mostly, a research works fail by harming human beings either psychologically or physically (Koffka, 2013). So, a researcher’s main concern should be the safety of the participants. Both qualitative, as well as quantitative methods are composed of different kinds of strategies and these strategies can well be linked to ontological, theoretical or epistemological issues. The method of data collection generally determines the type of approach. The students of secondary school science education should be concern enough regarding bias in collecting data. Although these two methods are preferred by the researchers, however, the quantitative approach seems to dominate studies.
The present study has made a successful attempt in finding out the implications of the two data collection and analysis methods which is qualitative and quantitative respectively. Nonetheless, this study has not been able to identify the method for dealing with the problem-solving ability in science. This study has also failed to discuss the contribution made by each of the approaches to understanding problem-solving skills in the science curriculum.
In this study, the brief discussion has been held on identifying the limitations and strengths of these two methods. It has been found that the quantitative approach is used for analyzing data through statistical interpretation whereby qualitative data is preoccupied with non-numerical data.
Most of the researchers try to adopt a pragmatic approach and makes use of the quantitative method in a situation whereby they intend to conduct a hypothesis (Ormston, Spencer, Barnard, & Snape, 2014). When a researcher is trying to get an in-depth study then he/she always take assistance from the qualitative approach. This approach is known to provide you with the thorough interpretation of a given context. In some cases, a combination of these two methods brings success to a research work.
References
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Scientific Methodology and Elaborating a Scientific Document
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