Essay Sample on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Research and Experiments

Introduction

A research design is an effective tool in research and experiments. It helps researchers determine data collection techniques and analysis methods that will be used to draw conclusive inferences. The two main research designs are Qualitative research methods and Quantitative research methods. Qualitative methods are used in research to uncover trends in opinions and thought, and focus on the central issue. Qualitative research design tends to vary depending on their structure; semi-structured or unstructured methods. Quantitative research methods mostly focusing on participation, focus, and individual interviews. Some of the main qualitative research methods include observation, case study, record keeping, Ethnographic research, Focus group, and a one-on-one interview. Quantitative research methods are used in research to assess the relationship between various variables with the primary objective being to examine and represent the relationship between variables use. Quantitative research is used in scientific research problems. There are four main categories of research design include experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational and descriptive. This documentation will describe qualitative and quantitative research design, focusing on the description, methods, and application in real life examples. The documentation will also focus on the main differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods.

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Qualitative methods are used in research to uncover trends in opinions and thought, and focus on the central issue. Rather than beginning with theories of relationship or patterns and testing them in the real world, qualitative research focuses on specific observations or experiences (Alston & Bowles, 2018). Outcomes of qualitative methods are descriptive and the conclusion can be drawn from the data that is obtained. According to Padgett (2016), qualitative research techniques are generated in the behavioral and social sciences. Qualitative methods help researchers to understand people's perception and thoughts since it is more descriptive and communicative.

Qualitative research methods may vary depending on their structure; semi-structured or unstructured methods. Most methods focus on participation, focus, and individual interviews. Some of the main qualitative research methods. One method is the process of observation which describes a procedure of research which utilizes subjective methodologies to gather systematic data or information. Case Study research is a form of research method that has developed greatly over time and is fundamentally used to describe and explain an entity or an organization. Record keeping which makes use of existing literature as its main source of information (Taylor, Bogdan, & DeVault, 2015). Ethnographic research this one of the most in-depth observational technique which studies participants in their natural environment. Focus group is also a common qualitative research technique. This form of methods seeks to answer how what and why questions (Alston & Bowles, 2018). The final method is the one-on-one interview. The one-on-one interview is perhaps the most common qualitative research methods. This technique is basically conversational and presents opportunities to collect information from the respondent.

Data collection in qualitative research often focuses on non-numerical data. Data collection helps the researchers to explore how certain decisions were made and offer comprehensive insight. In order to draw conclusive inferences, the data collection technique must be holistic, nuanced and rich and findings to emerge through comprehensive analysis (Bryman, 2016). Researchers must have a clear method for sorting and compiling raw data in order to ensure that they only collect data that is relevant and essential to the study. After collecting data, the next step is conducting qualitative data analysis. Some key examples of qualitative data analysis include audio recording images, video, note, and text document analysis (Green & Thorogood, 2018). The most common type of qualitative data analysis technique is a text document analysis. A comprehensive data analysis method is central to any research because it helps the researcher draw references to either support or discredit the study hypothesis.

For example, qualitative research method can be applied to a bookshop that is looking for new strategies to improve consumer outreach and sales. Data is collected through an online interview. Fifty loyal customers take part in the interview and were asked the key question that affected the book store and they offered their response. Feedback from the interview is transcribed before the process of data analysis can start. The study uses document analysis to scrutinize the data and draw conclusive inferences. Inferences from the study suggest that the bookshop did not have enough reading materials for teenagers and children. The study also suggests that the study is suited for adults. The study also suggests that the bookstore has a poor advertisement plan and therefore was not able to reach a broad audience. Some of the recommendations that can be drawn from the study include conducting effective advertisement through social media platforms and website which will help them reach a broader consumer market, and the bookshop should include a book for different age groups. Applying these recommendations will help the bookshop reach a broader market and improve sales.

Quantitative methods are used in research to assess the relationship between various variables with the primary objective being to examine and represent the relationship between variables use. Quantitative research is mostly used in scientific research problems. The main objective of quantitative research methods is to collect numerical data from a given population analyze the data and draw inferences and then use this data to generalize those results to a larger population in order to explain a certain phenomenon (Brannen, 2017). This form of research technique accentuates on objective instruments and the arithmetical, statistical, or mathematical analysis of data which is gathered using surveys, questionnaires, and polls or my altering current statistical data using computational techniques.

There are four core categories of quantitative research methods, they include experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational and descriptive. The main difference between these four methods of quantitative design relates to the degrees the researcher plans for the control of the variables in the study (Creswell, & Creswell, 2017). For instance, the descriptive design looks to describe the existing status of a given phenomenon or variable. In this type of design, the researcher will not start the experiment with a hypothesis, rather, they develop one after they collect data. For the descriptive experiment, data collection is usually observational in nature. A correlational design will focus on the association between variable employing statistical analyses (Bernard, 2017). This type of research design does not look for the cause and impact and as such. For the correlational experiment, data collection is usually observational in nature. The quasi-experimental design is also known as causal-comparative will look to set up a cause-impact relationship between different variables. In this design, the scholar will not allocate groups and does not control the independent variables. Control groups are recognized and exposed to the research variable. Subsequently, the researcher will compare the results of the experiment with those attained from the group not exposed to the variable (Creswell, & Creswell, 2017). The final research design is experimental design. This design is often called true experimentation as it uses scientific techniques to set up a cause-effect association between two or more variables in a research experiment. In this research design, the researcher will also make an effort to control all variables except the independent variable in the study. The researcher will subsequently collect the effect of the dependent variable and independent variable and analyze their relationship.

For example, a quantitative research method can be applied to research that testing the effect of a new drug on the blood pressure of patients. The sample size for the experiment will be 200. The participants will be separated into two groups. Group A will comprise of 130 participants while group B will comprise of 70 participants. Group A will be subjected to the drug while group B will be used as the control group. After collecting the needed data, the study will use ANOVA, as its data analysis technique. ANOVA will be used to analyze the data and determine if there is any significant difference in blood pressure for both groups. Finding from the study revealed that the new drug decreases blood pressure in patients. Therefore the drug can be used for people with high pressure.

Researchers must understand the key differences between qualitative research methods and quantitative research methods. Qualitative and quantitative research serve a vastly dissimilar purpose. The key difference between these two research designs can be categorized into two, conceptual and methodological. The conceptual difference between the two is, qualitative research design deals with comprehending human behavior from the respondent's viewpoint, on the other hand, concerned with unearthing facts concerning social phenomena. Another difference is qualitative research assumes negotiated and dynamic reality while quantitative assumes measurable and fixed reality (Bernard, 2017). The methodological difference between the two is, data is collected through participant interviews and observations while in quantitative research, and data is collected through measuring things. Another difference is data in qualitative methods are analyzed by themes from descriptions by respondents while in qualitative research data is examined through statistical reference and numerical comparison (Brannen, 2017). For qualitative research, data is reported in the language of the respondent while in the quantitative design data is reported in a statistical examination.

Qualitative and Quantitative research methods are effective tools in the research design. These tools are used to determine data collection techniques and analysis methods that will be used to draw conclusive inferences in research. They also highlight how people will make research make an observation and conduct the research. The two research processes are different. Differences between Qualitative and Quantitative research methods can be categorized into two, conceptual and methodological differences. It is important to note that one technique is not better than the other because both serve vastly dissimilar purposes. Qualitative research techniques are generated in the behavioral and social sciences while quantitative research is used in scientific research problems. Qualitative methods focus on understanding human behavior by focusing on respondent behavior while quantitative methods focus on investing facts concerning social phenomenon. Qualitative and quantitative research techniques help researchers plan and execute research effectively. The application of both research design is effective because they produce significant and correct conclusions. Qualitative and Quantitative research methods have contributed to the systematic observation of the research problem or question.

References

Bernard, H. R. (2017). Research methods in anthropology: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Rowman & Littlefield.

Brannen, J. (2017). Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.

Bryman, A. (2016). Social researc...