Tasks---Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Qualitative and Quantitative Research

       What is qualitative research?

• Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts.
• Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, when. Hence, smaller but focused samples are more often used than large samples.

      (Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualitative_research)

    What is quantitative research?

• Quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or numerical data or computational techniques.

      (Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_research)

• The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena. The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships. Quantitative data is any data that is in numerical form such as statistics, percentages, etc.In layman's terms, this means that the quantitative researcher asks a specific, narrow question and collects a sample of numerical data from observable phenomena or from study participants to answer the question. The researcher analyzes the data with the help of statistics. The researcher is hoping the numbers will yield an unbiased result that can be generalized to some larger population. Qualitative research, on the other hand, asks broad questions and collects word data from phenomena or participants. The researcher looks for themes and describes the information in themes and patterns exclusive to that set of participants.

   VIDEO

               Relationship with qualitative methods

• Qualitative methods might be used to understand the meaning of the conclusions produced by quantitative methods (why,reasons). Using quantitative methods, it is possible to give precise and testable expression to qualitative ideas (accuracy, data). This combination of quantitative and qualitative data gathering is often referred to as mixed-methods research.

     (Resource: Youtube)

   What is the Difference between Qualitative and      Quantitative Research?

• Qualitative and quantitative research is opposite.
• Often the data presented from qualitative research will be much less concrete than pure numbers as data. Instead, qualitative research may yield stories, or pictures, or descriptions of feelings and emotions. The interpretations given by research subjects are given weight in qualitative research, so there is no seeking to limit their bias. At the same time, researchers tend to become more emotionally attached to qualitative research, and so their own bias may also play heavily into the results.

   VIDEO

                                 (Resource: Youtube)

                                                                           
Examples illustrating the use of both of the above.

• It will  discusses some of the underlying reasons why health researchers have historically had difficulty working collaboratively across qualitative and quantitative research paradigms and argues why it is imperative that researchers move beyond traditional adherence to particular methods of inquiry. Chronic illnesses are prime examples of conditions that by their very nature need to be studied from a combination of perspectives, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. We suggest that the success of health research on managing these conditions lies in the shared application of both qualitative and quantitative research perspectives, methods and tools.
• Combined method research approaches are particularly suited to the study of chronic disease and long-term illness.It is especially important to recognize the benefits of widening research efforts in relation to chronic diseases.
• Conventional biomedical research has not provided decisive information about the origins or management of the most prevalent contemporary medical problems, namely, chronic illnesses

• Six  measures

• TABLE 1 Potential combined uses of quantitative and qualitative methods

  Reasons for using quantitative and qualitative data

  1. To develop measures

  2. To identify relevant phenomena

  3. To interpret/explain quantitative data

  4. To interpret/explain qualitative data

  5. To gain equal/parallel value from both types of data

  6. To conduct effective multistage (longitudinal) analysis

1. The most generally accepted use of combined methods is to begin with a qualitative exploration of some little-studied problem so that measurement instruments can be developed for later quantitative research.
2. Persons coping with chronic conditions often rely on the effectiveness of medications to relieve or at least minimize painful, debilitating symptoms.  Quantitative research has identified drugs that are effective for this pain control.   The addition of qualitative study can often more fully identify and explain side effects or problems of compliance with drug regimes experienced by people living with chronic heart disease.
3. For example, when quantitative evidence points to a seemingly unexplained high prevalence of asthma in Alberta compared to other parts of Canada, qualitative analysis of the reasons for this is warranted.   Wainwright's study of chronic liver disease employs this approach, describing how qualitative research can lead to additional quantitative and qualitative appraisal of psychological adjustment to end-stage chronic liver disease.
4. Sometimes, these descriptive data on how people live with a particular chronic condition appear inconsistent according to gender or age differences.  In the context of a qualitative study, both sample size and method are inadequate to test the validity of any apparent distinctions. Only quantitative study can test these findings with sufficient and appropriate sampling.
5. Truly combined method approaches would purposely connect the study objectives and methodologies in the context of a single study or within a planned program of research in order to access a more comprehensive range of information and experience.
6. So, for example, a survey of persons living with HIV/AIDS, aimed at quantifying the difference that new treatments are making in relation to longevity, might be planned in the context of a follow-up study focused on qualitatively assessing changes in quality of life.   These study phases could, in turn, be followed by an experimental intervention designed to compare the efficacy of two different treatment regimes, over time and in relation to length and quality of life.

      (Resource: http://web.pdx.edu/~stipakb/download/PA555/Qual-Quan3.htm)