ABE 139: Qualitative Methods in Agribusiness Research PDF

ABE 139: Qualitative Methods in Agribusiness Research Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research 30 August 2024 Intended learning outcomes 1. Discuss qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research What research method(s) are appropriate for you? Basic insights into...

ABE 139: Qualitative Methods in Agribusiness Research Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research 30 August 2024 Intended learning outcomes 1. Discuss qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research What research method(s) are appropriate for you? Basic insights into each research method How would you like to do your research? What research method should I use? o Qualitative research o Quantitative research o Mixed methods research Qualitative research o Experimental design may not be appropriate at all times in research o Provides survey participants to provide their perspectives o Demonstrates a variety of perspectives o Study participants’ knowledge and practices o In some cases, qualitative methods were developed as a critique of quantitative methods and research strategies Comparing qualitative and quantitative research o Kleining (1982) posits that qualitative methods live well without the use of quantitative methods, while the latter need qualitative methods for analyzing the relations they find o Cicourel (1981) views it this way: Quantitative methods: appropriate for answering macro questions Qualitative methods: for answering micro questions o All in all, the question on superiority of qualitative research depends on the level of research program and the appropriateness to the issue under study Comparing qualitative and quantitative research o Some quantitative research textbooks has a view that quantitative research is dominant (Flick, 2014) o Why? o Because quantitative data can be easily interpreted based on using a representative sample – quantitative data can thus lead to “generalized” results o On the other hand, using qualitative data will only have a more illustrative part in interpretation and analysis o However, qualitative data can hold more merit, according to some authors Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o Qualitative research + quantitative research = mixed methods research o Integrating both types can tap into the strengths of both research methods o For instance, triangulation can be used where results of qualitative research are checked against quantitative results. o Therefore, both research methodologies complement or support one another o Mixed methods research combines elements of both methodologies Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o How do you combine qualitative and quantitative research? One after the other Side by side Dominant approach Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o Flick (2014) offers some guiding questions in combining qualitative and quantitative research: 1. Are both approaches given equal weight—in, for example, (1) the plan of the project, (2) the relevance of the results, and (3) judging the quality of the research? 2. Are both approaches merely applied separately or are they really related to each other? For example, many studies use qualitative and quantitative methods rather independently, and, in the end, the integration of both parts refers purely to comparing the results of both. Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o Flick (2014) offers some guiding questions in combining qualitative and quantitative research: 3. What is the logical relation between the two? Are they only sequenced, and how? Or are they really integrated in a multi-methods design? 4. What are the criteria used for evaluating the research all in all? Is there a domination of a traditional view of validation or are both forms of research evaluated by appropriate criteria? Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o According to Halcomb (2014), mixed methods research has the following issues: 1. Consideration must be given when collecting both quantitative and qualitative data Mixed methods should only be used when combining both will fully answer the research question Combining both can provide a researcher an opportunity to corroborate findings across methods or expand the depth of findings Mixed methods can be used for development where one method informs sampling for the other approach Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o According to Halcomb (2014), mixed methods research has the following issues: 2. Design creativity Mixed methods allows researcher to creatively integrate qualitative and quantitative results to answer the research question Consider the degree of interaction or independence between the two methods What is the priority given to qualitative and quantitative data? Qualitative research is prioritized in exploratory studies Quantitative research is crucial in explanatory studies Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o According to Halcomb (2014), mixed methods research has the following issues: 3. Mixing of the data How the integration is made is lacking in the literature Integration may involve concurrent collection of both data and analyzed separately before integrated again in the interpretation part Connection involves one approach being built upon the findings of the other Embedding involves one type of data embedded within the other Such approaches must be considered in the planning of the research Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o According to Halcomb (2014), mixed methods research has the following issues: 4. Resource implications Mixed methods research entails a research team with qualitative and quantitative skills and experience The collection of different data means that data collection, management, and analysis is greater than a single research method Consideration for time is also crucial Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o According to Halcomb (2014), mixed methods research has the following issues: 5. Presentation of findings Data from qualitative and quantitative findings may be presented separately Present a combination of qualitative and quantitative data to provide detailed explanation of the issue Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o According to Halcomb (2014), mixed methods research has the following issues: 6. Evaluating mixed methods research It is clear that mixed methods research offers a quality beyond a solely qualitative or quantitative research Important that mixed methods research must be transparent, linked to the research question, has a clear rationale for using such method, explicit in the nature of the design, and has a clear description on the integration of the components Qualitative and quantitative research = Mixed methods research o What to do when your qualitative and quantitative research results conflict? Slonim-Nevo and Nevo (2008) suggests that: Inconsistent research findings using mixed methods approach is challenging There may be methodological limitations and problems This may point out to different aspects of the phenomena under investigation – inconsistency indicates greater complexity of that topic Limitations must be emphasized What research method should I use? o Flick (2014) offers key questions that you must consider in choosing your research methodology: 1. Is the issue you study, together with its features, your major points of reference for such a decision? 2. Which theoretical approaches have implications for selecting your methodological approaches? 3. What role does your concrete research question play in defining how you focus your issue conceptually and how you cover it empirically? 4. Is your methodological decision between qualitative and quantitative methods and designs derived from the points of reference just mentioned in this checklist? 5. Have you taken your available resources into account (time, your own methodological knowledge, and competencies)? What research method should I use? o “Scientists’ tools are not neutral” (Gigenrizer, 1991) o In a nutshell: research methodologies must be carefully considered Debrief o What have you learned from today’s class? Assignment o Read “Policy responses of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines: Impacts on the profitability of the agri-food supply chain” by Romo et al. (2022) o We will have a discussion this Wednesday, 4 September 2024 References Flick, U. (2014). An Introduction to Qualitative Research (4th ed.). SAGE Publications. Halcomb, E. J. (2018). Mixed methods research: The issues beyond combining methods. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75, 499-501. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13877 Romo, G. D. A., Sarmiento, J. M. P., Durano, F. L. A., Wahing, G. D., Traje, A. M., Patrick, I., & Baker, D. (2022). Policy responses of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines: Impacts on the profitability of the agri-food supply chain. Australasian Agribusiness Review, 30(5). 10.22004/ag.econ.335267 Slonim-Nevo, V. & Nevo, I. (2008). Conflicting Findings in Mixed Methods Research: An Illustration From an Israeli Study on Immigration. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 3(2), 109-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689808330621