Research Methodology: Qualitative Methods

Research Methodology

Qualitative Methods

• Focus on gaining in-depth understanding of social phenomena through non-numerical data
• Methods:
  • Case studies
  • Content analysis
  • Ethnography
  • Focus groups
  • Interviews
  • Observations
• Data collection:
  • Text, images, videos, and audio recordings
  • Field notes and memos
• Data analysis:
  • Coding and theme identification
  • Memoing and data display
  • Pattern and theme identification
• Strengths:
  • Rich, detailed insights into social phenomena
  • Flexibility and adaptability
• Weaknesses:
  • Limited generalizability
  • Time-consuming and labor-intensive

Quantitative Methods

• Focus on numerical data and statistical analysis to test hypotheses
• Methods:
  • Experiments
  • Surveys
  • Correlational studies
  • Quasi-experiments
• Data collection:
  • Numerical data from surveys, questionnaires, or experiments
• Data analysis:
  • Descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode)
  • Inferential statistics (t-tests, ANOVA, regression)
  • Hypothesis testing
• Strengths:
  • High generalizability
  • Objectivity and precision
• Weaknesses:
  • Limited depth of understanding
  • Risk of oversimplification

Data Analysis

• Process of interpreting and making sense of data
• Types:
  • Descriptive analysis (summary statistics)
  • Inferential analysis (hypothesis testing)
  • Exploratory analysis (pattern identification)
  • Predictive analysis (modeling)
• Techniques:
  • Data visualization
  • Data mining
  • Statistical modeling
  • Machine learning
• Importance:
  • Informs decision-making and policy development
  • Identifies patterns and trends
  • Tests hypotheses and theories

Survey Design

• Process of creating a survey to collect data from a sample of participants
• Types:
  • Self-administered surveys (online, mail, or in-person)
  • Interviewer-administered surveys (telephone, in-person, or video)
• Components:
  • Questionnaire (questions and format)
  • Sampling plan (participant selection and recruitment)
  • Data collection plan (mode and timing)
• Considerations:
  • Survey length and complexity
  • Question wording and bias
  • Response rates and non-response bias
  • Data quality and reliability

Research Methodology

Qualitative Methods

• Gain in-depth understanding of social phenomena through non-numerical data using methods like case studies, content analysis, ethnography, focus groups, interviews, and observations
• Collect non-numerical data such as text, images, videos, and audio recordings, as well as field notes and memos
• Analyze data using coding and theme identification, memoing and data display, and pattern and theme identification
• Strengths: rich, detailed insights into social phenomena, flexibility, and adaptability
• Weaknesses: limited generalizability, time-consuming and labor-intensive

Quantitative Methods

• Focus on numerical data and statistical analysis to test hypotheses using experiments, surveys, correlational studies, and quasi-experiments
• Collect numerical data from surveys, questionnaires, or experiments
• Analyze data using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and hypothesis testing
• Strengths: high generalizability, objectivity, and precision
• Weaknesses: limited depth of understanding, risk of oversimplification

Data Analysis

• Interpret and make sense of data through descriptive analysis, inferential analysis, exploratory analysis, and predictive analysis
• Use techniques like data visualization, data mining, statistical modeling, and machine learning
• Importance: informs decision-making and policy development, identifies patterns and trends, and tests hypotheses and theories

Survey Design

• Create a survey to collect data from a sample of participants using self-administered or interviewer-administered surveys
• Components: questionnaire, sampling plan, and data collection plan
• Considerations: survey length and complexity, question wording and bias, response rates and non-response bias, and data quality and reliability