Qualitative Method in the Study - Essay Sample

Introduction

There are several strengths associated with qualitative method and which makes it to be the best approach to use in investigating anger/aggression resolution in a focus group discussion on domestic violence victims. One of the advantages of qualitative research is that it is based on human observations and experiences. The use of focus group discussion will ensure that most of the data collected is as a result of the observations and experiences of the participants in the focus group (Stenius, Makela, Miovsky & Gabrhelik 2017). The participants in the study group will be in a position to express their observation relating to anger in domestic violence victims and propose of ways through which the anger can be resolved.

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The structures that underpin qualitative research are fluid in nature and this is a positive characteristic when using focus group discussion. The moderator in these discussions can zero in on the interesting answers while giving little interest to answers and observations that appears to be off topic. The importance of this aspect is that time will be effectively used as only the important points will be discussed. A third advantage is that it enables the collection of high quality information (Kuper, Reeves & Levinson 2008). In focus group discussions, the participants are usually chosen due to their superior understanding of the research topic. As such, the opinions and deliberations that will come out of such discussions will be of high quality. Another advantage of qualitative research is that it incorporates the different experiences of humans. Two different people can have different perspectives on the same topic. As such the conclusions made when using this type of research are more accurate as they contain perspectives from different experts.

Weaknesses of Qualitative Method in the Study

Lack of statistical representation is one of the biggest challenges facing qualitative method in research. The process used in collecting qualitative data provides information from the perspectives of the participants making it to be useful for comparison purposes. The data obtained by use of qualitative method cannot be used in any statistical measurement as the data is not statistical in nature. This limitation makes it impossible for qualitative method to be used in researches where statistical data is required (Kuper, Reeves & Levinson 2008). The second weakness is that multiple sessions are required so as to come up with conclusions that can be generalized. The use of small samples in qualitative research studies particularly when using focus group discussions does not provide a representative population that can be used in making generalizations. As such, it becomes important to have multiple sessions to enable the researcher compare results and come up with inferences that can be relied upon.

Lack of reliability is another weakness that is associated with qualitative research. Since qualitative research is based on the perspective of the participants, it becomes almost impossible to replicate the results of a qualitative research. It is not uncommon for one person to have different perspectives on the same issue. There is also the possibility of a person changing his perspective on an issue and this can affect results in a qualitative research if the study was to be repeated using the same study group. Researcher bias is another weakness that has been associated with qualitative research. In focus study groups for example, the moderator can have his line of thinking which he thinks should be followed. As such, he will be encouraging discussions that follows his line of reasoning at the expense of those that deviates from his views.

Strengths of Quantitative Method in the Study

The ability to come up with generalizations is one of the strengths that are associated with quantitative research. In a quantitative study, it is possible to manipulate the sample size of the respondents in order to ensure that the number is representative of the actual population. The study respondents used in the research can be randomly adopted from people with different perspectives relating to the phenomenon being studied. The second strength of quantitative method is that it is possible for the researcher to establish cause and effect relationship that exists between the variables being studied by eliminating all other factors that influence the phenomenon and concentrating on just one phenomenon (Ulmer & Wilson 2003). The third strength is that quantitative studies make it possible for a hypothesis that is statistically sound to be formulated. Such hypothesis has no room for emotional design making the study to be free from bias. In such research, the researcher will have little influence on the result and his work will only be to interpret the data as presented.

Quantitative research can be conducted through evaluation of multiple datasets in an accurate way. The use of computer software in data analysis makes it possible for errors to be eliminated and precision increased. This software also reduces the amount of time required to analyze large sets of data.

Weaknesses of Quantitative Method in the Study

Quantitative method in research entails the use of data that is numerical form that is used in making statistical analysis. The importance of data in quantitative research has been seen as a major weakness as data collection is overemphasized at the expense of other important elements in the research. Proving the hypothesis is one of the greatest objectives of quantitative research and the researcher easily misses out on contextual details in the study. For example, the researcher will only indicate the values relating to a phenomenon but will not show the reason why the phenomenon existed (Spamann, 2009). The time used in carrying out quantitative research is another major weakness for this type of research. Quantitative research entails a lot of planning before the actual research can be carried out. Even after using a lot of time in planning for the research, the actual study also takes considerable amount of time to be completed. Even after the study is completed, more time is required to analyze and tabulate data.

Unlike qualitative research that can be carried out almost anyone with basic research skills, quantitative research can only be done by people who are highly skilled (Ulmer & Wilson 2003). This is a major disadvantage for this type of research as it limits the number of people who can conduct it. The skills required in carrying quantitative research spans across many complex disciplines which are hard to monitor for an average person. Another weakness is that quantitative data can be biased to favor those who fund the research. Some researches that are expensive to conduct and can be funded by parties who have an interest in the study findings. Some studies can be altered to meet predetermined conclusions that favor the financier.

Importance of Using Mixed Methodology

Mixed methodology is an important approach in research as it helps in addressing some of the weaknesses that are associated with either qualitative or quantitative research. In the research on focus group discussion in aggression resolution, the research will basically be based on qualitative method. The data collected in the research will be the outcome of the discussions and deliberations of the focus group. Being a qualitative research, there are many weaknesses that will affect the quality of the research findings. These challenges can only be addressed by integrating quantitative research so as to offset the noted weaknesses.

The problem of reliability that has been identified as a major weakness of qualitative research can easily be addressed by using the mixed method approach. The lack of reliability is caused by relying too much on the perspectives of the respondents which can change with time. As such, when the same research using the same focus group is repeated, the results can be totally different. Using quantitative research to complement the qualitative research can help in addressing the issue of reliability (Small, 2011). Quantitative research will allow for a lot of data to be collected from many respondents using data collection tools such as questionnaires. With adequate data, it will then be possible for analysis to be made which can lead to solid conclusions being arrived at. Since the data collected through quantitative method cut across the board, it integrates perspectives from across the entire population as opposed to just a small portion of the population as is the case with focus group discussions.

The inability to make statistical measurements using qualitative data is another reason why using mixed method research would be important in this study. The data obtained through qualitative method is only suitable for making comparisons but cannot be used in measuring the distribution of the phenomenon. In research, measurements are as important as the comparisons (Bernardi, 2011). As such, using the mixed method will generate better research findings and give better meaning to the research findings. Data presentation is an important element in research as it makes it possible for the findings to be expressed in ways that can be understood at a glance. With qualitative research, it is not common for graphical representations to be used due to the unavailability of numerical data. With quantitative research, however, it is possible for graphical representations to be used since the numerical data available can be tabulated and presented using graphs and charts.

Researcher bias is another common weakness that is associated with qualitative research. With the use of focus groups, the moderator has a total control of the discussion and the views that he holds relating to the topic of discussion can dictate the course that will be taken by the research. The moderator can decide to probe those points that resonate with his personal views on the topic while giving little attention to the points that deviate from the views that he holds (Small, 2011). The discussion will, therefore, be based on a course that has been chosen by the moderator as opposed to a natural course that the discussion would follow if the moderator was impartial. Integrating quantitative research in the study will ensure that this bias is eliminated as the researcher will not have direct control over the responses made by the respondents.

References

Bernardi, L. (2011). A Mixed-Methods Social Networks Study Design for Research on Transnational Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73(4), 788-803.

Kuper, A., Reeves, S., & Levinson, W. (2008). Qualitative Research: An Introduction to Reading and Appraising Qualitative Research. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 337(7666), 404-407.

Small, M. (2011). How to Conduct a Mixed Methods Study: Recent Trends in a Rapidly Growing Literature. Annual Review of Sociology, 37, 57-86.

Stenius, K., Makela, K., Miovsky, M., & Gabrhelik, R. (2017). How to Write Publishable Qualitative Research. In Stenius K., Miovsky M., Babor T., Pates R., O'Reilly J., & Candon P. (Eds.), Publishing Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed (pp. 155-172). London: Ubiquity Press.

Spamann, H. (2009). Large-Sample, Quantitative Research Designs for Comparative Law? The American Journal of Comparative Law, 57(4), 797-810.

Ulmer, J., & Wilson, M. (2003). The Potential Contributions of Quantitative Research to Symbolic Interactionism. Symbolic Interaction,