Astra - AudioResearch ParadigmsModule 4

Research paradigms
Module 4
Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods

Two types of research
 Quantitative
◦ Experimental
◦ Surveys (usually)
 Qualitative
◦ Sometimes referred to as ‘descriptive study’, ‘field study’,
‘participant observation’ or ‘naturalistic research’.
◦ Biography, phenomenology, grounded theory,
ethnography & case study
 Mixed methods
◦ Also called ‘multi-methodology’ or ‘Triangulation’.
◦ You can’t account for context with numbers
◦ The plural of anecdote is not data
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
 Quantitative  Qualitative
◦ Numerical, measurable ◦ Generally non-numerical
data data
◦ Traditional or positivist
◦ Typically anthropological
approach
 Clearly stated questions and sociological research
 Rational hypotheses methods
 Developed research ◦ Observations of a
procedures “natural” setting
 Extraneous variable ◦ In-depth descriptions of
controls situations
 Large samples
 Traditional, statistical ◦ Interpretive and
analyses descriptive
Qualitative Research
 Qualitative research involves the study, use and
collection of a variety of empirical materials – case
study, personal experience, introspective, life story,
interview, observational, historical, interactional, and
visual texts –that describe routine and problematic
moments and meanings in individuals lives.
 Qualitative research is multi-method in focus,
involving an interpretative, naturalistic approach to its
subject matter.
 Qualitative researchers study “things” (people and
their thoughts) in their natural settings, attempting to
make sense of, or interpret phenomena in terms of
the meanings people bring to them.
Qualitative research
approaches
 Grounded Theory
◦ an inductive technique of interpreting recorded
data about a social phenomenon to build
theories about that phenomenon.
◦ “Grounded” – means the theory developed from
the research is grounded or has it roots in the
data from which is was derived
◦ used to analyze vast sets of qualitative data
acquired through participant observation, in-
depth interviews, focus groups, narratives of
audio/video recordings, or secondary
documents?
approaches
 Phenomenology
◦ emphasizes the study of conscious experiences
as a way of understanding the reality around
us.
◦ concerned with the systematic reflection and
analysis of phenomena associated with
conscious experiences, such as human
judgment, perceptions, and actions,
◦ goal:
 appreciate and describe social reality from the
diverse subjective perspectives of the participants
involved, and
 understand the symbolic meanings (“deep
structure”) underlying these subjective
Mixed methods: Definition
 Mixed methods research – research in which a
researcher or team of researchers combines
elements of qualitative and quantitative
research approaches (e.g., use of qualitative
and quantitative viewpoints, data collection,
analysis, inference techniques) for the broad
purposes of breadth and depth of
understanding and corroboration.
 In combination, MM provide a better
understanding of a research problem or issue
than either approach alone.
approaches
 Historical Research
◦ Examines events of the past – Chronicling
events, deeds, victories and stories about
people and civilizations
◦ Primary question “Where have we come from,
who are we, and where are we going?”
◦ Aim
 To discovery new knowledge
 Seeks to answer questions concerning causes,
effects and trends relating to past events
 To shed light on present behaviors and practices
approaches
 Ethnography
◦ An interpretive research design inspired by
anthropology that emphasizes that research
phenomenon must be studied within the context of
its culture.
◦ The researcher is immersed in a certain culture over
an extended period of time (8 months to 2 years),
and during that period, engages, observes, and
records the daily life of the studied culture, and
theorizes about the evolution and behaviors in that
culture.
◦ Data is collected via observational techniques,
formal and informal interaction with participants in
that culture, and personal field notes.
Quantitative Research
 Quantitative methods are used to gather
quantitative data, data that can be sorted,
classified or measured.
 It is concerned with trying to quantify things; it
asks questions such as ‘how long’, ‘how many’ or
‘the degree to which’.
 Looks to quantify data and generalize results
from a sample to the population of interest.
The scientific method
 The analysis and interpretation of
empirical evidence (facts from observation
or experimentation) to confirm or disprove
prior conceptions.
 Systematic; cyclic; series of logical steps.
◦ Identifying the problem

◦ Formulating a hypothesis
◦ Developing the research plan
◦ Collecting and analyzing the data
◦ Interpreting results and forming conclusions
The scientific method
Experimental vs. Non-
experimental
 Experimental  Non-experimental
◦ IVs and DVs 1. Causal-
◦ Cause-and-effect comparative
◦ Extraneous 2. Descriptive
variable controls
3. Correlational
◦ 3 fundamental
characteristics 4. Historical
1. At least 1 active IV
2. Extraneous var
controls
IVs = independent
3. Observation of the variables
DV response to the
IV DVs = dependent variables
Mixed methods
 Advantages of each method complement the
other
◦ resulting in a stronger research design, and
◦ more valid and reliable findings.
 Inadequacies of individual methods are
minimized
Approaches
◦ threats to Internal Validity are realized and addressed
 Simultaneous triangulation:
◦ Use of both qualitative and quantitative methods at the
same time
◦ e.g., Survey methods and Case study
 Sequential triangulation:
◦ Results of one method are essential for planning the next
method e.g., Exploratory Pilot study precedes
Experimental design
Effectiveness of Triangulation
 In order for Triangulation to be used effectively,
four principles must be adhered to:
◦ The research question(s) must be clearly focused;

◦ Strengths and weaknesses of each method chosen must
complement each other;
◦ Data collection methods should be selected according to
their relevance to the nature of the phenomenon being
studied;
◦ A continual evaluation of the approach should be under-
taken during the study.

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Research paradigms

Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods

◦ Identifying the problem

◦ The research question(s) must be clearly focused;

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