The nature of quantitative research
Quantitative research has been criticised because:
The measurement process suggests a spurious and artificial sense of accuracy
The reliance on instruments and procedures makes it high in ecological validity
It underestimates the similarities between objects in the natural and social worlds
All of the above
The measurement process suggests a spurious and artificial sense of accuracy
Some critics of quantitative research see it as pretending that a photograph is a good representation of life, rather than being a ‘frozen’ instant of it. As a consequence, quantitative research is accused of assuming that social life is static, clearly not the case. Furthermore, the ontological basis of this kind of research obliges the social-science researcher to regard people in the same way that physical-science researchers regard nature and again, clearly there is a ‘world’ of difference. However, the measurement process, largely because of the need for all those tests of validity and reliability, does tend to leave quantitative researchers with a deep sense of accuracy of their research results. In the view of some critics, this confidence is misplaced, because among other things, it is unlikely that respondents will share a precise interpretation of the terms used with the researcher. Most of the criticism comes from proponents of qualitative research.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 166, 167
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 166, 167
The measurement process suggests a spurious and artificial sense of accuracy Some critics of quantitative research see it as pretending that a photograph is a good representation of life, rather than being a ‘frozen’ instant of it. As a consequence, quantitative research is accused of assuming that social life is static, clearly not the case. Furthermore, the ontological basis of this kind of research obliges the social-science researcher to regard people in the same way that physical-science researchers regard nature and again, clearly there is a ‘world’ of difference. However, the measurement process, largely because of the need for all those tests of validity and reliability, does tend to leave quantitative researchers with a deep sense of accuracy of their research results. In the view of some critics, this confidence is misplaced, because among other things, it is unlikely that respondents will share a precise interpretation of the terms used with the researcher. Most of the criticism comes from proponents of qualitative research.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 166, 167
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 166, 167
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The term ‘reverse operationism’ means that:A. The theories we devise will often hinder our attempts to measure concepts
B. The measurements we devise can sometimes help to develop a theory
C. Techniques such as factor analysis have no place in social research
D. Driving instructors always make you practice the most difficult manoeuvre
The importance of measurement in quantitative research is that:
A. It allows us to delineate fine differences between people or cases
B. It provides a consistent device or yardstick
C. It allows for precise estimates of the degree of relationship between concepts
D. All of the above
Written accounts of quantitative research rarely include the results of reliability and validity tests because:
A. Researchers are more interested in reporting their operational definitions
B. Researchers don’t really think that these tests are important
C. Journal editors have banned these kinds of articles
D. Researchers are more interested in reporting their substantive findings
The difference between measures and indicators is that:
A. Measures are unambiguous quantities, whereas indicators are devised from common sense understandings
B. Indicators have a more direct relationship to the underlying concept than measures
C. Measures are intuitively devised and then applied as if they were direct indicators of a concept
D. Indicators are unambiguous quantities, whereas measures are subjective and value-laden
Which of the following is not a form of measurement validity?
A. Concurrent validity
B. Face validity
C. Conductive validity
D. Convergent validity
One of the preoccupations of quantitative researchers is with generalization, which is a sign of:
A. External validity
B. Internal reliability
C. External reliability
D. Internal validity
An operational definition is:
A. One that bears no relation to the underlying concept
B. An abstract, theoretical definition of a concept
C. A definition of a concept in terms of specific, empirical measures
D. One that refers to opera singers and their work
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