...Running head: QUALITATIVE 1 Qualitative Research and Methods Maria A. Kithcart LEAD 870 January 29, 2012 Dr. Heewon Chang Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe in a reflective-analysis essay format about QL research methods and process that contains a discussion of the following four components. First, the author highlights how QL research orientation is different from QN research orientation. Next, the author explains methodological insights that have been gained through the interview and QL data analysis exercises. Considerations for designing a QL research dissertation based on the semester’s learning are discussed next. Last, the author shares what she needs to do or learn in depth to be able to design a sound QL dissertation. Introduction The world of academic research is one of constant change. With the advent of new technology and practices as well as emerging fields such as organizational leadership, researchers have more choices by which to capture data and analyze their findings. In addition, qualitative research (often designated as “QL” by researchers) is gaining momentum as an accepted methodology within the greater academic community. Whereas quantitative methods are essentially statistical measures used to describe phenomena as a means to bring about generalization, qualitative methods (including participant observation, intensive interviewing, and focus groups) are utilized to capture experiences...
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...There are three main types of research methodology: qualitative, quantitative and the mixed method approach. Qualitative research is collecting, interpreting and analysing data based on observing what people do or say. On the other hand, qualitative research refers to the meanings, definitions, metaphors, characteristics and description of things (Thomas, 2003). While, mixed research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods and blends the resulting data in certain ways (Jick, 1979). The design for this research is the use of a descriptive and interpretive focus group analyses through a mix method approach. The focus and purpose of the research is to analyze the usage of renewable energies throughout the Caribbean as an alternative energy...
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...form should be attached to the front of all work submitted for assessment. Name: | Chao Sun | Library card number: | 31434921 | Coursework Title: | Paper 1 Paper 2 Research Essay Consulting Project Dissertation Proposal Dissertation | Tutor: | Dr Valerie Stead | * All submissions for coursework assessment should be your own work. * Any copying from the work of others will be heavily penalized. * Allowing other students to copy your work will also be penalized. I hereby confirm that I have read and understood the University’s regulations relating to plagiarism (as summarized in the MA in Human Resources and Consulting Participant Handbook) and that the work to which this declaration is attached is my own. Signature of Student: | | Qualitative Research Methods Review Taking “The Supportive expatriate spouse” as a case Introduction This Review is aimed at analyzing the qualitative research methods used in “The supportive expatriate spouse” by Jakob Lauring and Jan Selmer (2010).The specific research elements will be discussed in perspectives of suitability, benefits, limitations and ethical issues in context of the authors’ research. Research Methods The research question of the above article is to investigate the positive influence of accompanying spouses on their business expatriates. Samplings elected are sixteen Danish female accompanying women in a...
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...The Qualitative Report Volume 8 Number 3 September 2003 447-461 http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR8-3/mccaslin.pdf The Five-Question Method For Framing A Qualitative Research Study Mark L. McCaslin University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA Karen Wilson Scott University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA The Five-Question Method is an approach to framing Qualitative Research, focusing on the methodologies of five of the major traditions in qualitative research: biography, ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, and case study. Asking Five Questions, novice researchers select a methodology appropriate to the desired perspective on the selected topic. The Method facilitates identifying and writing a Problem Statement. Through taking a future perspective, the researcher discovers the importance and direction of the study and composes a Purpose Statement. The process develops an overarching research question integrating the purpose and the research problem. The role of the researcher and management of assumptions and biases is discussed. The Five-Question Method simplifies the framing process promoting quality in qualitative research design. A course outline is appended. Key words: Qualitative Research, Five-Question Method, Biography Research, Phenomenology Research, Grounded Theory Research, Case Study Research, and Ethnography Research Introduction Planning a qualitative study for the first time tends to be an intimidating venture for graduate students just entering...
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...Qualitative research is a different approach to problem solving than quantitative research. The primary difference is in how a problem is approached. In the qualitative realm the method is primarily exploratory in nature. The researcher gradually delves deeper into the subject until reaching a core of information that can be used to implement problem solving. Qualitative research often depends on in depth interviews with small groups of individuals where quantitative method can take vast amounts of information, sometimes from millions of people and quantify it into trends that can improve medical practices over the norm. The purpose of Qualitative research is to gain an understanding of underlying reasons and motivations as well as to provide insights into the setting of a problem, generating ideas and/or hypotheses for later quantitative research and to uncover prevalent trends in thought and opinion. The advantage includes testing and validating already constructed theories about how and why phenomena occur, testing hypotheses that are constructed before the data are collected. It is used to generalize research findings when the data are based on random samples of sufficient size and generalize a research finding when it has been replicated on many different populations and subpopulations. It is useful for obtaining data that allow quantitative predictions to be made. Data collection using some quantitative methods is relatively quick (e.g., telephone interviews). It...
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...Qualitative research is a different approach to problem solving than quantitative research. The primary difference is in how a problem is approached. In the qualitative realm the method is primarily exploratory in nature. The researcher gradually delves deeper into the subject until reaching a core of information that can be used to implement problem solving. Qualitative research often depends on in depth interviews with small groups of individuals where quantitative method can take vast amounts of information, sometimes from millions of people and quantify it into trends that can improve medical practices over the norm. The purpose of Qualitative research is to gain an understanding of underlying reasons and motivations as well as to provide insights into the setting of a problem, generating ideas and/or hypotheses for later quantitative research and to uncover prevalent trends in thought and opinion. The advantage includes testing and validating already constructed theories about how and why phenomena occur, testing hypotheses that are constructed before the data are collected. It is used to generalize research findings when the data are based on random samples of sufficient size and generalize a research finding when it has been replicated on many different populations and subpopulations. It is useful for obtaining data that allow quantitative predictions to be made. Data collection using some quantitative methods is relatively quick (e.g., telephone interviews). It...
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...SURGICAL NURSING Making patients better: a qualitative descriptive study of registered nurses’ reasons for working in surgical areas Carolyn Mackintosh BA, MSc, RGN, Pg Dip, PhD Senior Lecturer, Division of Nursing, University of Bradford, Unity Building, Trinity Road, Bradford, UK Submitted for publication: 13 May 2005 Accepted for publication: 16 December 2005 Correspondence: Carolyn Mackintosh Division of Nursing University of Bradford Unity Building Trinity Road Bradford BD5 0BB UK Telephone: þ44 1274 236546 E-mail: c.mackintosh@bradford.ac.uk M A C K I N T O S H C ( 2 0 0 7 ) Journal of Clinical Nursing 16, 1134–1140 Making patients better: a qualitative descriptive study of registered nurses’ reasons for working in surgical areas Aims. To explore the reasons and motivation identified by qualified nurses for working within the surgical area. Background. Little is known about the career decisions qualified nurses make, although it is clear that some areas of practice are more popular than others. This qualitative descriptive study considers one common area, surgery, and explores the motivation for decisions made by Registered Nurses (RNs) to work in this area. Method. A sample of 16 RNs working within surgical areas participated in semistructured interviews, using a thematic interview schedule. Findings were analysed using the framework suggested by Morse and Field. Results. Analysis of findings indicates that all participants actively...
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...QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS PAPER Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods Paper Obbie Brown University: Course: Tutor: Date: Appropriate Academic Research An appropriate academic research can be defined as the research and the experimental developments which comprise creative works which are conducted on a systematic basis with an aim of increasing the pool of an individual’s or a group’s knowledge. The knowledge could include the in-depth knowledge of mankind, culture and the society. The stock of knowledge is then used to devise alternative solutions to the existing problems (Brew & Lucas, 2009). Quantitative Research Quantitative form of research is predetermined and involves a large number of respondents. It involves objective measurements which are both quantitative and are statistically valid. Quantitative research entails hard and objective data. Quantitative research seeks to quantify data and generalize the results from the predetermined sample to the target population. It also aims at measuring the incidence of various views and opinions in a given sample (Balnaves & Caputi, 2001). Qualitative Research Qualitative research involves the collection, analysis and interpretation of data through the application of the observatory techniques as well as listening to peoples’ opinions. While quantitative research entails the counts and measures of phenomena, the qualitative research focuses on meanings...
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...The key characteristics and differences of research methodologies The methodologies used in research include qualitative, quantitative, mixed, and action research. First, mixed methodology entails the combination of the compilation and analysis of both qualitative and qualitative statistics. Second, action research is an informal methodology that obliges all the partakers to be mutual researchers. Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies are the prevailing methods in research at present (Austin, 1978). Qualitative research methodology obtains an approach to evaluating information that looks at connotation rather than numbers. The statistics, therefore, normally consist of non-numerical data such as words or metaphors. Qualitative research is unbolt and receptive to its subject. There are various key characteristics of this research method. First, the perspective of investigation is not artificial; they are natural. Nonentity is undermined or taken for granted. Second, actions can be understood effectively only if they are spotted in context. Consequently, a qualitative researcher submerges in the setting. Under this method, interviews and observations are the most suitable strategies to be used. Quantitative research methods advance research in a different way and scrutinize the data based on figures and statistics, the consequential data is principally statistical (Trochim & Donnelly, 2006). It entails those methodologies, which include surveys, interviews, and...
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...Collection Methods Statistical Methods in Business & Economics (BUS405) Ching Sum Jessie Ha (80600402) Honolulu University 2015 Exploring Different Data Collection Methods Statistical Methods in Business & Economics (BUS405) Ching Sum Jessie Ha (80600402) Introduction Data is collected to learn the effectiveness of a particular tool in preventing defects or to look into the cause of a particular defect (Burrill, Ledolter, p.381). Data removes the trepidation and uncertainty of an unknown element. One reason for collecting data is to gain an understanding of the data by organizing and graphing the individual values (Albert, Rossman, p.1). Secondly, and most importantly, collecting data helps draw conclusions about a larger group of information (Albert, Rossman, p.1). There are other reasons to collect data. Data also helps people to understand the processes with which they work. Data can also be collected for the purpose of process control. Numerous manufacturing processes use feedback data to adjust an input, such as temperature, in order to keep the output at the desired level. Feedback data from quality control activities can be used to make adjustments that result in more products meeting their requirements (Burrill, Ledolter, p.381). Data can also be used to improve processes with the intent of increasing productivity. ‘Data is nothing, unless interpreted and turned into useful information.’ Data are usually collected through qualitative and quantitative...
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...Student Number: Word count: 1,289 There has been an ongoing paradigm debate between quantitative and qualitative research amongst social scientists for a number of years. Qualitative Research is a particularly new concept developed to obtain and analyse data however many researchers are yet to take a liking to this concept (Bryman, 1984). Qualitative research refers to studies that are conducted in natural settings and include participant observation, focus groups and in-depth interviews. (Whitley & Crawford, 2005). These techniques provide a strong insight into how participants view events and experiences to obtain a deeper meaning into the area being studied (Willig, 2001). Quantitative research focuses on the Scientific Method which is based on a series of steps that are followed systematically to acquire data such as experiments that are then analysed and presented into numerical form. This essay will examine both research paradigms while also determining the epistemological underpinnings that determines the methods used to collect and analyse data. Qualitative researchers are mainly concerned with the social world and the influence of events and experiences that has on an individual’s perspective of the world. These researchers are not concerned with answering a specific question, more so to develop a rich understanding of a certain topic mainly through the methods of in-depth interviews, participant observation and focus groups. In-depth interviews provide an arena...
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...Quantitative Vs. Qualitative Research Name University Affiliation Course Tutor Date Quantitative research is a logically observed examination of observable phenomena through the mathematical and statistical approach. The quantitative research goal is to formulate and employ mathematical theories, hypotheses and mathematical models relating to the phenomena. Quantitative research central process is measurement as it offers the essential linkage involving relationships. The research has data that is in numerical terms like percentages and statistics. The researcher evaluates the data with the aid of statistics hoping the number will yield an impartial outcome that can be used in generalizing a huge population (Patten, 2009). Quantitative research is applicable in the studies interested in establishing the impact of a hand-washing curriculum on grade school children. It applies to such example because quantitative research tests theory, its cause and the effect of the theory correlation. Quantitative research is an outstanding approach to finalizing outcomes and attesting an assumption. The method is standard across numerous scientific field and discipline because its structure has not changed. The approach leads to a comprehensive solution that can be discussed and published subsequent to a statistical examination of results. The design experiments filter out exterior factors when appropriately structured leading to acquiring...
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...record and interpret the data, and do they agree? If you use the same methods again in the same situation, do you get the same results? No, when the experiment was replicated (better controlled) many of the errors in peoples recalling was not found even though the same kinds of errors remained. Validity: Methodological issues * Did not ask participants to be as accurate as possible * Didn’t care much about the environment in which the experiment was conducted Define qualitative and quantitative research, then compare and contrast them, strengths and limitations of qualitative research Quantitative: Explaining a phenomenon by collecting quantitative (numerical) data that are analysed using mathematically based methods such as statistics. Qualitative: Instead of testing, measuring, and experimenting, qualitative research aims at understanding the subject of study …the process of understanding a social or human phenomenon, based on methodological research traditions. Researchers aim at generating a complex, holistic view, at analysing and describing the standpoint of the subjects within a natural context. Quantitative; using numbers Qualitative; descriptions Strengths of Qualitative Research * Issues can be examined in detail and in depth. * Interviews are not restricted to specific questions and can be guided/redirected by the researcher in real time. * The research framework and direction can be quickly revised as new information emerges...
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...West Reflections Week Four Learning Team E The objectives for week four reflections are: Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative methods of research. Explain commonly used qualitative research designs and quantitative research designs. Select the appropriate type of research design in a given business situation. Team member Mandy discussed that qualitative research is a systematic subjective approach used to describe life experiences and give them meaning. This includes focus groups, in-depth interviews, and reviews of documents for types of themes. This most commonly used in Health Care. Quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process for obtaining the precise measurement of something. This includes surveys, structural interviews and observation, reviews of records or documents for numeric information. This is commonly used in Education research. If a clothing company sells blue jeans and they want to measure the impact of the company by changing the product from blue jeans to black jeans, this would be a causal research design. Further discussion within the subject by team member Joann consisted of the importance to understand the difference between qualitative and quantitative methods of research. In qualitative method of research is designed to know more about the subject’s feelings. This would be a type of research that could be used in determining how to motivate employees and increase production because it focus on information, such...
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... we have to go through reasoning and research. Qualitative research in a complex analysis and is characterized by mathematical calculations but no experimentally. Quantitative research however is carried out experimentally and relies and builds on mathematical techniques such as quality, frequency and amount etc. Qualitative analysis provides more details and is more focused and deep process. Qualitative analysis put emphasis on how and what meaning is given to a certain situation. Qualitative approach is subjective and has understanding nature. In this type of research, the researcher has to engage more with the subject under consideration. This type of research is also referred to as interpretative research, understanding and gathering information and interpreting it with respect to daily life. Quantitative research method involves the mathematical parameters such as height, weight and other parameters which have numerical value. The emphasis of this type of research is on the comparison between different variable of the system. So it depends on mathematical techniques and procedures such as mean, median, frequency and other statistical procedures. According to Kotler et al “Marketing research is a process that identifies and defines marketing opportunities and problems, monitors and evaluates marketing actions and performance, and communicates the findings and implications to managements.” This means that marketing research is the collection, evaluation and recording...
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