Week 1 Notes on Qualitative and Quantitative Research PDF

**Main Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research** **Aspect** **Qualitative Research** **Quantitative Research** --------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------...

**Main Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research** **Aspect** **Qualitative Research** **Quantitative Research** --------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- **Purpose** Explores experiences, meanings, and understanding. Tests hypotheses, measures variables, and examines relationships. **Data Type** Non-numerical (words, images, observations). Numerical (statistics, numbers). **Methods** Interviews, focus groups, observations, ethnography. Surveys, experiments, structured questionnaires. **Approach** Subjective and interpretive. Objective and scientific. **Focus** Context and depth of information. Breadth and generalization of findings. **Analysis** Thematic, narrative, or content analysis. Statistical or mathematical analysis. **Outcome** Detailed insights into complex phenomena. Generalizable findings about populations. **Examples** Understanding personal experiences of grief. Measuring the percentage of people experiencing grief. In summary: - **Qualitative** is about exploring \"why\" and \"how.\" - **Quantitative** is about measuring \"what,\" \"how much,\" or \"how often.\" **Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative and Quantitative Research** **Qualitative Research** **Strengths**: 1. **Deep Understanding**: Provides rich, detailed insights into people\'s experiences and perspectives. 2. **Contextual Focus**: Explores phenomena within their real-life context. 3. **Flexibility**: Adapts to changes during the research process. 4. **Captures Complexity**: Useful for studying complex or sensitive topics. **Weaknesses**: 1. **Time-Consuming**: Data collection and analysis take significant time and effort. 2. **Subjectiv3ity**: Researcher bias may influence findings. 3. **Limited Generalizability**: Results apply to specific cases and might not represent larger populations. 4. **Difficult to Replicate**: Findings can be unique to the specific study setting. **Quantitative Research** **Strengths**: 1. **Objective and Reliable**: Minimizes researcher bias by focusing on measurable data. 2. **Generalizable**: Results from representative samples can apply to larger populations. 3. **Statistical Analysis**: Provides clear, structured, and quantifiable findings. 4. **Tests Relationships**: Establishes cause-and-effect relationships under controlled conditions. **Weaknesses**: 1. **Lacks Context**: Focuses on numbers rather than the depth of individual experiences. 2. **Inflexibility**: Structured approach leaves little room for adapting to unexpected findings. 3. **Simplifies Complex Phenomena**: Reduces experiences to variables, losing nuanced understanding. 4. **Expensive Tools**: Often requires costly tools or software for data collection and analysis. **Summary** - **Qualitative** is strong in exploring depth but weak in generalizing findings. - **Quantitative** is strong in generalizability and objectivity but weak in understanding context and complexity. 4o **Workshop 1: What is Research and the Research Lens?** **What is Research?** Research is the systematic investigation into a specific topic to create or expand knowledge. It involves: - **Defining a problem or question**: What are you trying to learn or solve? - **Collecting and analysing data**: Using appropriate methods to gather evidence. - Concluding: Interpreting the data to provide answers or insights. **Types of Research** 1. **Primary Research**: - Involves collecting original data directly from the source. - Examples: Conducting interviews, surveys, or experiments. 2. **Secondary Research**: - Utilises existing data, such as books, articles, or statistics. - Examples: Analysing government reports or previous studies. 3. **Empirical Research**: - Focuses on observed and measured phenomena. - Typically uses structured methods like experiments or observations. **The IMRaD Structure for Research Articles** 1. **Introduction**: - Explains the background of the research and its objectives. - Discusses theoretical frameworks or previous studies. 2. **Methodology**: - Details of how the study was conducted. - Includes tools, techniques, and processes. 3. **Results**: - Presents findings, often as statistical data or qualitative insights. 4. **Discussion**: - Analyse the findings and explain their significance. - Suggests implications for future research or practice. **Lecture 1: Introduction to Researching Education** **What is Educational Research?** Educational research examines issues within education to improve practices, policies, and outcomes. This process involves: 1. **Developing Research Questions**: - Example: What teaching methods improve student engagement? 2. **Designing the Research**: - Selecting methodologies and frameworks suitable for the study. 3. **Collecting and Analysing Data**: - Using methods like surveys or classroom observations. 4. **Interpreting Findings**: - Drawing actionable conclusions to address educational challenges. **Key Components** 1. **Epistemology**: - Examines *how* knowledge is created and validated. - Example: Do we rely on observation, experience, or reasoning? 2. **Ontology**: - Investigates *what exists* or can be studied. - Example: Are we studying a group's behaviour or individual experiences? 3. **Methodology**: - The overall approach, such as qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. 4. **Methods**: - Specific techniques like interviews, focus groups, or experiments. **Lecture 1: Research Ethics** **What Are Ethics in Research?** Ethics govern how research is conducted, ensuring respect and fairness. Ethical research: - Protects participants' rights and dignity. - Avoids harm and promotes well-being. - Maintains transparency and honesty. **Key Ethical Principles** 1. **Care**: Protect participants from harm. 2. **Honesty**: Avoid deception or falsifying results. 3. **Confidentiality**: Safeguard participants' identities and sensitive data. 4. **Informed Consent**: - Ensure participants fully understand the research and agree voluntarily. **Why Ethics Matter** 1. Preserves the credibility of research findings. 2. Builds trust between researchers and participants. 3. Protects vulnerable groups, such as children or marginalised communities. **Ethical Challenges** - **Working with Vulnerable Groups**: - Examples: Children, refugees, or individuals with disabilities. - Requires additional care and consent protocols. - **Potential Harm**: - Researchers must minimise any risks to participants. **Best Practices (BERA Guidelines)** - Seek consent and ensure participants understand their rights. - Avoid stereotyping or misrepresenting communities. - Be transparent in data collection and reporting. **Lecture 2: Researcher Positionality** **What is Positionality?** Positionality refers to the researcher's background, beliefs, and biases and how these influence the research process. Factors include: - **Social identity**: Gender, race, class, religion. - **Cultural context**: Where the researcher is situated relative to participants. **Why Does Positionality Matter?** 1. **Acknowledges Bias**: - Encourages researchers to reflect on how their perspectives may shape interpretations. 2. **Builds Accountability**: - Ensures transparency in representing participants' voices. 3. **Strengthens Relationships**: - Helps researchers connect with participants and gain trust. **Insider vs. Outsider Perspectives** - **Insider**: - Shares the culture or background of participants. - Example: A teacher studying other educators' practices. - **Outsider**: - Brings a fresh, objective view but may lack cultural insights. - Example: A researcher studying an unfamiliar community. **Questions for Reflexivity** - How might my identity impact the research process? - How can I minimise bias while respecting participants' experiences? **Lecture 2: Pragmatism as a Research Lens** **What is Pragmatism?** Pragmatism is a flexible research paradigm that focuses on solving practical problems using a mix of methods. **Key Features** 1. **Problem-Cantered**: - The research question determines the methods, not vice versa. - Example: To study school performance, use surveys (quantitative) and interviews (qualitative). 2. **Empirical Focus**: - Relies on real-world evidence rather than abstract theories. 3. **Combination of Methods**: - Combines strengths of qualitative and quantitative approaches. **Strengths** - Encourages creativity and adaptability. - Suitable for complex research problems that require diverse perspectives. **Criticisms** 1. Integrating conflicting methods can be challenging. 2. Risk of prioritising practicality over theoretical depth. **Critical Theory** **What is Critical Theory?** A research paradigm that critiques power structures and advocates for social change. It often addresses issues like inequality, oppression, and marginalisation. **Applications in Education** - Examines how policies or systems disadvantage certain groups. - Examples: Racial bias in curriculum design or gender inequality in STEM fields. **Strengths** - Amplifies marginalised voices. - Encourages reform and justice. **Criticisms** 1. Too politically driven or subjective. 2. Findings may lack neutrality or generalizability. **Interpretivism as a Research Lens** **What is Interpretivism?** - Focuses on understanding how individuals perceive and interpret their experiences. - This contrasts with positivism, which seeks objective, measurable truths. **Key Features** 1. **Subjective Reality**: - Reality is socially constructed and varies across individuals. 2. **Emphasis on Context**: - Studies participants within their cultural, historical, or social settings. 3. **Rich, Detailed Data**: - Uses methods like interviews and participant observations. **Strengths** - Provides in-depth insights into human behaviour. - Highlights diversity in experiences and perspectives. **Criticisms** 1. Results may not be generalisable. 2. It can be overly descriptive and lacking analytical depth. **Positivism as a Research Lens** **What is Positivism?** Positivism emphasises objective, measurable truths using scientific methods. It seeks to identify universal laws that govern behaviour. **Key Features** 1. **Objectivity**: - Detached approach to minimise bias. 2. **Empirical Focus**: - Relies on observable and measurable data. 3. **Generalisability**: - Aims to produce findings applicable to broader populations. **Applications in Education** - Statistical analysis of student performance. - Measuring the impact of teaching strategies on exam scores. **Criticisms** 1. Overlooks subjective and emotional aspects of human behaviour. 2. Struggles to address complex social dynamics, like cultural influences.