Understanding Research Methods: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed

Posted on Feb 27, 2025 in Psychology and Sociology

Research Methods: Key Concepts

Research: Scientific inquiry or investigation; a way to find answers to questions. Research is an exploration of experience, sometimes formal and technical, but not necessarily so.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research:

  • Focuses on questions that are not easily quantifiable.
  • Often uses an interpretative approach.
  • Common in sociology.
  • Deals with complex problems.

Quantitative Research:

  • Relies on numerical data and analysis.
  • Seeks generalizable findings.
  • Often uses a naturalistic approach.

Threats to Validity in Qualitative Research:

  • Insipid data (individual).
  • Researcher bias.
  • Anecdotism.

Threats to Validity in Quantitative Research:

  • Participant mortality.
  • The Hawthorne effect.
  • Practice effect.
  • Maturation.
  • Participants meeting expectations.

Formulating a Research Question

A research question should be:

  • Interesting and catchy.
  • Relevant.
  • Integral to the research.
  • For quantitative research, often answerable with “yes” or “no”.

Conceptual Replication

Replication is crucial for any field of inquiry. It helps to verify results and ensure generalizability. The two main reasons for replication are verification and generalizability.

Primary vs. Secondary Research

Primary Research: Involves collecting original data. This can include qualitative methods, surveys, and statistical analysis.

Secondary Research: Involves using existing data. This often includes library research and literature reviews.

Qualities of a Good Researcher

A good researcher possesses:

  • Genuine curiosity.
  • Creativity.
  • Common sense.
  • Good ideas.
  • Responsibility.

Reliability in Research

Qualitative Reliability: Considers the beginning, problem, literature review, usefulness, framework, and deductive reasoning.

Quantitative Reliability: Often has a separate section dedicated to it.

Structure of a Research Report

A typical research report includes:

  • Title
  • Abstract
  • Body (Introduction, Method, Procedures, Results, Discussion)
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References

Designing Research

Research design involves considering both secondary and primary research approaches.

Contextual Factors in Systematic Literature Reviews (SLR)

Contextual factors include:

  • International context.
  • Professional context.
  • Institutional context.
  • Personal context.

Perspectives on Research

The division between quantitative and qualitative methods is not always clear. These methods are not mutually exclusive.

Creswell’s Research Designs

Creswell identifies three main research designs: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. These are based on philosophical worldviews:

  • Postpositivist: Quantitative, method-focused, empirical, determination, reductionism, objective, avoids bias, theory verification.
  • Social Constructivist: Qualitative, understanding, social and historical context, open-ended questions.
  • Advocacy and Participatory: Political, collaborative, qualitative, change-oriented.
  • Pragmatic: Focuses on consequences of actions, pluralistic, real-world problems, solutions, and what works.

Strategies of Inquiry

Strategies include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (sequential, concurrent, transformative).

Research Methods

Research methods are based on the nature of the research problem or issue being addressed and personal experience.

Creswell on Literature Reviews

Literature reviews should contribute to the research and follow design techniques. Key steps include:

  • Identifying keywords.
  • Using library resources.
  • Reviewing reports.
  • Choosing relevant literature.
  • Creating a literature map.
  • Drafting summaries.
  • Organizing the literature.

Abstract Writing

An abstract should:

  • Mention the problem.
  • State the central purpose.
  • Briefly state information.
  • Review key results.

Terminology in Research

The use of language varies:

  • Qualitative: Terms often defined at the beginning.
  • Quantitative: Terms often defined deductively.
  • Mixed Methods: Quantitative terms may have a separate section; qualitative terms may be defined throughout.

Myles on Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

SLA is systematic, involving states of learning and variability in rate (speed and outcome). Systematicity includes learning models like Universal Grammar, cognitive models, and interactionism. Teaching applications include Universal Grammar, communicative approaches, and cognitivism. Variability includes variability in route (interlanguage) and variability in rate and outcome (fossilization).

Doeney: Quality Criteria for Research

Key quality criteria include reliability, measurement validity, and research validity.

Qualitative Criteria

Qualitative research emphasizes *thick description*. No single reality is equally stable or correct.

Mixed Methods Criteria

Quality in mixed methods research depends on the rationale for mixing, the design, and the overall quality.

Taxonomy of Qualitative Criteria

Includes credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

Maxwell’s Taxonomy

Includes descriptive, interpretive, theoretical, generalizability, and evaluative aspects.

Research Ethics

Ethical considerations include:

  • Amount of sharing.
  • Relationship dynamics.
  • Data collection methods.
  • Anonymity.
  • Data handling.
  • Ownership of data.