Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research Method Issues

1. Quantitative vs. QualitativeResearch Method Issues Marian Ford Erin Gonzales November 2, 2010

2. Outline • Introduction – How to choose? • Quantitative Research • Disadvantages vs. Advantages • Qualitative Research • Disadvantages vs. Advantages • History and Trends • Mixed-Methods • So which is better?

3. Factors to consider • Field of study • Nature of study • Purpose of the study • Population of the study • Tools readily available • Method and design • Instrument • Amount of human interaction or characteristics to be studied • Desired implications and results

4. Quantitative • Positivist thought – can be verified by observation and experimentation • Distribution of variables that can be generalized to entire population • Less interaction between researcher and subjects – more objectivity • Four categories: • Descriptive design • Correlation • Casual comparative • Quasi-experimental

5. Disadvantages • Should only be used if data can be measured by numbers, results quantified • Instrument or method chosen is subjective and research is dependent upon tool chosen • Lack of independent thought by researcher when dependent on instrument or mathematics used to extract or evaluate data • Individuals’ decisions not evaluated based on their culture or social interactions • Decisions made without regard to individual human thought or choice to predict behavior • All individuals are measured same way • Experiences • Backgrounds • Intelligence • Ability to change decisions at any given point in time • Independent though

6. Criticism • Inefficient for formulating higher education planning, policy and decision making • Unable to create procedures based on results • Groups individuals as unemotional subjects (Keller, 1998) • Social influences of individuals needed • Limitations on generalizability • Particular point in time; no account for change of mind

7. Advantages • Observations are used throughout studies • Formulating hypotheses allows for speculation about outcomes; applicable instrument • Safeguards used to minimize or eliminate bias • Predicts correlation between objects • Systematic data collection and analysis • Generalizable to other institutions for further research • Recognized criteria for assessment and validity • More research conducted by this method

8. Qualitative • Investigates individual behaviors and characteristics to understand cause and solve issues • Inductive process to explore new perspectives on previously studied information not completely understood • Involvement of human subjects; dependent on interaction • Less generalizable to greater population • More accurate description of individuals and groups • Multiple types: • Interviews • Focus groups • Case studies • Ethnographic studies

9. Disadvantages • Strong dependency on sample population • Access • Honest and valid information • Time and resources needed for collection and analysis is intensive • Lack of objectivity and bias by researcher • Inferences made • Incorrect conclusions • Convenience sampling • Lack of training or knowledge about methodology • Lack of ability to produce and comprehend research • Not recognized

10. Advantages • Helps explain relationships in detail; individualistic • Can help validate quantitative findings by further investigation • Can help close gap between research and practice • Needs of individuals in institutions • Study problems more relevant to policy makers • Less dependent on instrument • Can bring change in institutions and society • In-depth • Personalized • Examines specific issues

11. History and Trends • Study of five leading higher education journals showed higher volume of quantitative methods vs. qualitative in 1986 and 1989 • Shift has reported increase in qualitative methods in organization and vocational psychology • 40-50 percent decrease in 1983-1988 of quantitative methods • 10 percent decrease in 1996-1999 • Qualitative methods increased from 15-18 percent of studies to 30-40 percent of studies

12. History and Trends • Discovery of Grounded Theory: Barney Glaser • Legitimized alternative methods and research designs • Emphasized the creation of theory out of qualitative data • No longer belief that research was solely to produce scientific knowledge • Comparative assessment for research still does not exists

13. How do you measure what’s best? • Need a standard of measurement to determine quality • Guidelines are needed to recognize validity of results • Barriers of many different approaches and types of research methods • Two methods can provide complementary results • Qualitative: • Rich description of issues in field • Lay groundwork for quantitative studies • Quantitative • Provides accurate data collection and analysis and utilization