26 Questions
What is the primary purpose of QUAN research?
To test objective theories by examining relationships among variables
What is a characteristic of QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?
A priori categorization
Which of the following is a strength of QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?
Can generalize research findings to bigger populations
What is a limitation of QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?
Might miss out on phenomena
What is MIXED METHODS RESEARCH?
A combination of QUAN and QUAL research either at the data collection or at the analysis levels
What is an advantage of using quantitative research designs?
Data collection is relatively quick
What is a characteristic of QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH data collection procedures?
Result primarily in numerical data
Which of the following is a goal of QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?
To test theories, hypotheses and generalize findings to a larger population
What is a research design according to Thyer (1993)?
A detailed plan for how a research study is to be conducted
What is a characteristic of qualitative research?
It captures rich and complex details
What is an advantage of qualitative research?
It explores and understands the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to social or human problems
What is a limitation of qualitative research?
It is labor-intensive
What is a type of qualitative research design?
Case study
What is a characteristic of quantitative research?
It uses statistical methods for data analysis
What is a benefit of mixed methods research?
It provides a comprehensive understanding of the research problem
What is the purpose of a research design?
To identify and develop procedures to conduct the study
What is a strength of qualitative research?
It provides a rich understanding of the research context
What is a limitation of quantitative research?
It produces thin and superficial results
What is the core assumption of mixed methods research?
The combination of QUAL and QUAN approaches provides a more complete understanding of the research problem.
Which of the following is a characteristic of quantitative methods?
Instrument-based questions and performance data.
What is a strength of qualitative research?
Flexibility and context-sensitivity in research design.
Which of the following researchers would likely advocate for the integration of QUAL and QUAN methods?
Pragmatists
What is a limitation of quantitative research?
Inability to capture contextual and nuanced data.
What is an example of a mixed methods research design?
Consecutive and interrelated questionnaire and interview studies.
What is a characteristic of quantitative data analysis?
Statistical analysis and interpretation.
What is a strength of mixed methods research?
Ability to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.
Study Notes
Mixed Methods Research
- Combines both qualitative (QUAL) and quantitative (QUAN) approaches to provide a more complete understanding of the research problem
- Typical example: consecutive and interrelated questionnaire and interview studies
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
- QUAN research offers a structured and highly regulated way of achieving a macro-perspective of the overarching trends in the world
- QUAL research presents a flexible and highly context-sensitive micro-perspective of everyday realities of the world
Positions Regarding Qual-Quan Distinction
- Purists: QUAL and QUAN methodologies are mutually exclusive
- Situationalists: Both approaches have value if applied in the appropriate research context
- Pragmatists: Integration of the two methodologies can be beneficial to corroborate, elaborate, or initiate findings from the other method
Research Design
- A plan for searching answers for research questions
- A broader meaning, encompassing the complete research scheme
- Two main functions: identifying and developing procedures to conduct the study, and ensuring the objectivity and validity of those procedures
Qualitative Study Designs
- Case study
- Phenomenology
- Narrative analysis
- Basic qualitative study
- Grounded theory
- Ethnography
Characteristics of Qualitative Research
- Emergent research design
- Research design and questions are kept open and flexible
- Data collection procedures result in open-ended, non-numerical data
- Data is analyzed primarily by non-statistical methods
- Focus on individuals' subjective opinions, experiences, and feelings
- Small sample size
- Interpretive analysis
Strengths of Qualitative Research
- Exploratory nature, effective for exploring new and uncharted areas
- Making sense of complexity
- Answering why questions
- Broadening our understanding of human experience
- Longitudinal examination of dynamic phenomena
- Flexibility when things go wrong
- Rich material for the research report
Weaknesses of Qualitative Research
- Sample size and generalizability
- Researcher role
- Lack of methodological rigor
- Too complex or narrow theories
- Time-consuming and labor-intensive
Quantitative Research
- Tests objective theories by examining relationships among variables
- Data collection procedures result in numerical data, analyzed primarily by statistical methods
- Emphasizes measurement and objective techniques
- Uses methods that involve testing theories, hypotheses, and generalizing findings to a larger population
- Views research as systematic and open to replication by other investigators
Characteristics of Quantitative Research
- Uses numbers
- A priori categorization
- Focuses on variables rather than cases
- Uses statistics and the language of statistics
- Standardized procedures to assess objective reality
- Quest for generalizability and universal laws
Strengths of Quantitative Research
- Can generalize research findings to bigger populations
- Data collection is relatively quick
- Data analysis is relatively less time-consuming
- Useful for studying large numbers of people
- Has higher credibility
Weaknesses of Quantitative Research
- Might miss out on phenomena
- Might be too abstract and general for direct application to specific local situations, context, and individuals
Mixed Methods Research
- Involves different combinations of QUAN and QUAL research either at the data collection or at the analysis levels.
This quiz covers the basics of mixed methods research, which combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a more complete understanding of a research problem. It explores the use of consecutive and interrelated questionnaire and interview studies.
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