of quantitative and qualitative or belong to only one paradigm. The approach is based
upon the rationale that for certain situations qualitative techniques are better and for
some others the quantitative. Hence, to get the best outcome for a research study you
need to combine both approaches or use more than one method.
The quantitative or structured approach is more appropriate to determine the extent of
a problem, issue or phenomenon, whereas the qualitative or unstructured approach is
predominantly used to explore its nature, in other words, the variation or diversity per se
in a phenomenon, issue, problem or attitude towards an issue. For example, if you want to
find out the different perspectives on an issue or the problems experienced by people living
in a community, then these are better explored by using unstructured enquiries. On
the other hand, to find out how many people have a particular perspective, how many
people have a particular problem, or how many people hold a particular view, you need
to have a structured approach to enquiry. If you need to look into these aspects, you will
need to use both approaches, that is, you will need to use the mixed methods approach.
Even if your interest is in finding out how many people have a particular problem or hold
a particular view, before undertaking a structured enquiry, in the author’s opinion, an
unstructured enquiry must be undertaken to ascertain the diversity in a phenomenon
which can then be quantified through a structured enquiry. Both approaches have their
place in research. Both have their strengths as well as weaknesses. Therefore, you should
not ‘lock’ yourself solely into a structured or unstructured approach.
The structured approach to enquiry, as you know, is classified as quantitative
research and unstructured as qualitative research, and the mixed methods approach
could be either entirely quantitative or qualitative or some sections could be qualitative
and some quantitative. The divide between the two is based upon the philosophies
of rationalism and empiricism and the difference in attitude towards acquiring
knowledge. Rationalism is based upon the belief that ‘human beings achieve knowledge
because of their capacity to reason’ and empiricism upon the belief that ‘the
only knowledge that human beings acquire is from sensory experiences’ (Bernard
1994: 2). Mixed methods, as mentioned earlier, can combine the attributes of both.
The distinction between quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research, in
addition to the philosophies underpinning them and the structured/unstructured
process of enquiry, is also dependent upon some other considerations which are
briefly presented in Table 1.2. The choice between the quantitative, qualitative and
mixed methods approaches should depend upon:
•• the aim of your enquiry – exploration, confirmation or quantification;
•• the use of the findings – policy formulation or process understanding.
A study is classified as qualitative if the purpose of the study is primarily to describe
a situation, phenomenon, problem or event, that is, if the information is gathered
through the use of variables measured on nominal or ordinal scales (qualitative measurement
scales); and if the analysis is done to establish the variation in the situation,
phenomenon or problem without quantifying it. The historical enumeration of events,
an account of the different opinions people have about an issue, and a description of
an observed situation such as the living conditions of a community are examples of
qualitative research.
On the other hand, the study is classified as quantitative if you want to quantify the
variation in a phenomenon, situation, problem or issue; if information is gathered using
predominantly quantitative variables; and if the analysis is geared to ascertaining the magnitude
of the variation. Examples of quantitative aspects of a research study are: how
many people have a particular problem, and how many people hold a particular attitude.
The use of statistics is not an integral part of a quantitative study. The main function
of statistics is to act as a test to confirm or contradict the conclusions that you have
drawn on the basis of your understanding of analysed data. Statistics, among other
things, help you to quantify the magnitude of an association or relationship, provide an
indication of the confidence you can place in your findings and help you to isolate the
effect of different variables.
It is strongly recommended that you do not lock yourself into becoming either
solely a quantitative or solely a qualitative researcher. It is true that there are disciplines
that lend themselves predominantly either to qualitative or to quantitative
research. For example, such disciplines as anthropology, history and sociology are more
inclined towards qualitative research, whereas psychology, epidemiology, education,
economics
of quantitative and qualitative or belong to only one paradigm. The approach is basedupon the rationale that for certain situations qualitative techniques are better and forsome others the quantitative. Hence, to get the best outcome for a research study youneed to combine both approaches or use more than one method.The quantitative or structured approach is more appropriate to determine the extent ofa problem, issue or phenomenon, whereas the qualitative or unstructured approach ispredominantly used to explore its nature, in other words, the variation or diversity per sein a phenomenon, issue, problem or attitude towards an issue. For example, if you want tofind out the different perspectives on an issue or the problems experienced by people livingin a community, then these are better explored by using unstructured enquiries. Onthe other hand, to find out how many people have a particular perspective, how manypeople have a particular problem, or how many people hold a particular view, you needto have a structured approach to enquiry. If you need to look into these aspects, you willneed to use both approaches, that is, you will need to use the mixed methods approach.Even if your interest is in finding out how many people have a particular problem or holda particular view, before undertaking a structured enquiry, in the author’s opinion, anunstructured enquiry must be undertaken to ascertain the diversity in a phenomenonwhich can then be quantified through a structured enquiry. Both approaches have theirplace in research. Both have their strengths as well as weaknesses. Therefore, you shouldnot ‘lock’ yourself solely into a structured or unstructured approach.The structured approach to enquiry, as you know, is classified as quantitativeresearch and unstructured as qualitative research, and the mixed methods approachcould be either entirely quantitative or qualitative or some sections could be qualitativeand some quantitative. The divide between the two is based upon the philosophiesof rationalism and empiricism and the difference in attitude towards acquiring knowledge. Rationalism is based upon the belief that ‘human beings achieve knowledgebecause of their capacity to reason’ and empiricism upon the belief that ‘theonly knowledge that human beings acquire is from sensory experiences’ (Bernard1994: 2). Mixed methods, as mentioned earlier, can combine the attributes of both.The distinction between quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research, inaddition to the philosophies underpinning them and the structured/unstructuredprocess of enquiry, is also dependent upon some other considerations which arebriefly presented in Table 1.2. The choice between the quantitative, qualitative andmixed methods approaches should depend upon:•• the aim of your enquiry – exploration, confirmation or quantification;•• the use of the findings – policy formulation or process understanding.
A study is classified as qualitative if the purpose of the study is primarily to describe
a situation, phenomenon, problem or event, that is, if the information is gathered
through the use of variables measured on nominal or ordinal scales (qualitative measurement
scales); and if the analysis is done to establish the variation in the situation,
phenomenon or problem without quantifying it. The historical enumeration of events,
an account of the different opinions people have about an issue, and a description of
an observed situation such as the living conditions of a community are examples of
qualitative research.
On the other hand, the study is classified as quantitative if you want to quantify the
variation in a phenomenon, situation, problem or issue; if information is gathered using
predominantly quantitative variables; and if the analysis is geared to ascertaining the magnitude
of the variation. Examples of quantitative aspects of a research study are: how
many people have a particular problem, and how many people hold a particular attitude.
The use of statistics is not an integral part of a quantitative study. The main function
of statistics is to act as a test to confirm or contradict the conclusions that you have
drawn on the basis of your understanding of analysed data. Statistics, among other
things, help you to quantify the magnitude of an association or relationship, provide an
indication of the confidence you can place in your findings and help you to isolate the
effect of different variables.
It is strongly recommended that you do not lock yourself into becoming either
solely a quantitative or solely a qualitative researcher. It is true that there are disciplines
that lend themselves predominantly either to qualitative or to quantitative
research. For example, such disciplines as anthropology, history and sociology are more
inclined towards qualitative research, whereas psychology, epidemiology, education,
economics
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