Introduction

Introduction to the Blog

     Throughout this task, students learnt how investigators conduct a research; what to pay attention to, while analyzing data; to identify methods of research, to understand the qualitative and quantitative differences, and to make an educated decision while deciding what possibility is more true to their interest while researching.

     This kind of studies and exercises are invaluable to the students’ future, either to keep with their education, or while working. This knowledge is also important to understand the statistics basics that will provide students with the necessary skills to read, evaluate, and grab important technical information. Most importantly, students will develop their critical thinking and analytic skills.

Why analyze research?  

     There has been a consistently need to measure findings-data around the world.  Thus, researchers lean on either quantitative and qualitative research, or a mix, to design their research and to ensure accurate and trustworthy results.  Both methods have their advantages and limitations in their approaches, thus, it is the researcher’s criterion and needs which determine the method used.

What is Qualitative research?

     “Qualitative research is characterize as meaning, a concept, a definition, metaphors, symbols, and a description of things.” Berg and Howard (2012)

As the word itself expresses “Qualitative Research” focuses on quality of things (their nature, characteristics, concepts, descriptions, social behavior); it is done through interviews, with small samples. It is subjective.

What is Quantitative Research?

     “It is the research that places emphasis on numbers and figures in the collection and analysis of data.” Bryman (2001, p20).

     The word Quantitative means quantity of things, thus, the data takes the form of numbers.  It involves the use of large sets of data and samples. The tools used are surveys and experiments. It is objective, more reliable, and looks for relationships among variables.

Why to use a mix method?

     This is a very delicate situation researchers have to measure, as for the use of both, qualitative and quantitative methods have their own challenging issues.  First, to use both might be more time consuming, more difficult to manage. However, it has many advantages as well.

     “Researchers state mixed methods research is the only way to be certain of findings" (Coyle & Williams, 2000; Sieber, 1973).