Breaking down the quantitative/qualitative divide
Which of the following is not one of the contrasts that has been made to distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research?
Behaviour versus meaning
Numbers versus words
Traditional versus modern
Artificial versus natural
Traditional versus modern
The distinction between quantitative and qualitative research has been made in almost stereotypical ways, with contrasts between behaviour and meaning, numbers and words, artificiality and naturalism, being frequently cited. If we accept the “free-floating” nature of methods, though, we could view those contrasts as battles between researchers rather than as valuable differentiators of the methods’ focus. In the commercial world, quantitative and qualitative research often goes hand-in-hand, with results from one type developing testable hypotheses for the other. The over-riding question would seem to be “which type (if a choice must be made) will yield the richest data in my particular circumstances?”
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 626-629
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 626-629
Traditional versus modern The distinction between quantitative and qualitative research has been made in almost stereotypical ways, with contrasts between behaviour and meaning, numbers and words, artificiality and naturalism, being frequently cited. If we accept the “free-floating” nature of methods, though, we could view those contrasts as battles between researchers rather than as valuable differentiators of the methods’ focus. In the commercial world, quantitative and qualitative research often goes hand-in-hand, with results from one type developing testable hypotheses for the other. The over-riding question would seem to be “which type (if a choice must be made) will yield the richest data in my particular circumstances?”
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 626-629
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 626-629
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How does quantification help the qualitative researcher avoid being accused of anecdotalism?A. By allowing them to focus on extreme examples in the data and ignore the rest
B. By providing a structure to an otherwise unstructured dataset
C. By making it more likely that official statistics will be included in their report
D. By providing some idea of the prevalence of an unusual or striking response
Why does Bryman argue that research methods can be seen as relatively “free-floating” or autonomous?
A. Because researchers often change their minds about which method to use
B. Because most qualitative researchers are Hippies who believe in free love
C. Because there is no longer any meaningful distinction between quantitative and qualitative research
D. Because there is no inevitable connection between a researcher’s choice of method and their epistemological/ ontological beliefs
What does the term “quasi-quantification” refer to?
A. The use of words like “many”, “some” or “often” in qualitative research
B. A poor attempt at statistical analysis
C. The use of a survey instrument that has not been tested for inter-coder reliability
D. The way scientists talk about their data in numerical terms to enhance the credibility of their findings
What is “ethnostatistics”?
A. The study of the way statistics are constructed, interpreted and represented
B. The study of the way ethnic minorities are represented in official statistics
C. A new computer program designed to help lay people understand statistics
D. An interpretivist approach made famous by the work of Garfinkel (1967)
How is it argued that qualitative research can have “empiricist overtones”?
A. Semi-structured interview schedules are used to quantify behaviour
B. There is an emphasis on direct observation of people and social settings
C. Qualitative researchers prefer to conduct statistical analyses of their data
D. It typically involves testing a clearly defined hypothesis
Why is it argued that qualitative research may not really be “naturalistic”?
A. Because participant observation has to be overt and so causes reactivity effects
B. Because methods such as interviews and focus groups constitute artificial social settings
C. Because quantitative methods such as structured observation tend to take place in more naturalistic environments
D. Because it is concerned with the social world rather than the natural world
In what way does the thematic analysis of interview data suggest quantification?
A. It demands the use of computer programs like SPSS
B. It is based on numbers rather than text
C. It involves establishing the frequency of particular words, phrases or themes
D. It is usually followed by a stage of rigorous statistical testing
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