The nature of quantitative research
Written accounts of quantitative research rarely include the results of reliability and validity tests because:
Researchers are more interested in reporting their operational definitions
Researchers don’t really think that these tests are important
Journal editors have banned these kinds of articles
Researchers are more interested in reporting their substantive findings
Researchers are more interested in reporting their substantive findings
It should be obvious by now that developing measures that are valid and reliable is an extremely rigorous process. This can explain why researchers are often tempted into short-cuts, since they really are concerned with discovering things and reporting on them as urgently as possible. Although this means that a lot of fascinating research remains at the indicative level only, the underlying impulse can be understood. This does not provide an excuse for haphazard research methodology. On the contrary, it means that for your research to be taken seriously, you must pay great attention to the research tools you use. The more attention you give to development of your methodology, the less the criticism can be of your findings.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 167, 168
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 167, 168
Researchers are more interested in reporting their substantive findings It should be obvious by now that developing measures that are valid and reliable is an extremely rigorous process. This can explain why researchers are often tempted into short-cuts, since they really are concerned with discovering things and reporting on them as urgently as possible. Although this means that a lot of fascinating research remains at the indicative level only, the underlying impulse can be understood. This does not provide an excuse for haphazard research methodology. On the contrary, it means that for your research to be taken seriously, you must pay great attention to the research tools you use. The more attention you give to development of your methodology, the less the criticism can be of your findings.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 167, 168
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 167, 168
Related posts
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
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
Quantitative research has been criticised because:
A. The measurement process suggests a spurious and artificial sense of accuracy
B. The reliance on instruments and procedures makes it high in ecological validity
C. It underestimates the similarities between objects in the natural and social worlds
D. All of the above
Leave a Reply