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Qualitative,quantitave,mixed methods

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Demonstrate your understanding of the nature of the three major research methods by describing and comparing the foundations of quantitative and qualitative research for the following element. Limit your response of each item to 100 words. Make sure to base your responses on at least two current scholarly sources, of which two are articles from peer-reviewed journals.

Use of data: testing hypotheses and theories versus generating hypotheses and building theory.

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Solution Summary

The solution provides a description of the 3 main research methods in the social sciences. A list of resources are included for further exploration of the topic.

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Dear Student,
Hi. I hope this solution gets to you in time. As I see it, you are very much limited to 100 words per items. As I see it, each of the methods - quantitative, qualitative and mixed must be discussed in relation to 'use of data' as explained above. If this is not the case, just let me know and I can amend it accordingly. If you have any questions, just let me know via the feedback section. Good luck with your studies.

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
--------------------------------------------

Use of Data

How is data used in research? This all depends on the particulars of the research and the nature of the data used. The best indication would be the research method employed. There are 3 major methods in social research and they are as follows: quantitative, qualitative and mixed, the latter combining elements of the former 2. Each of course follows the scientific form of enquiry, starting with a hypothesis, followed by design of research, operationalisation, data gathering, analysis and validation. The difference is in the aims - quantitative research aims to measure investigated phenomenon, qualitative research aims to find out as much details about the phenomenon as possible to present a good picture of what is being studied and mixed methods aims to measure and to investigate details, a little of each. So, knowing how each method's purpose affects the kind of research being done, one can also surmise that all of them utilise hypothesis and build up as well as test/utilise theories. The question of ' testing hypotheses and theories versus generating hypotheses and building theory' is really a matter of deduction vs. induction, one of proving/disproving vs. building up towards something that is emergent.

Quantitative Research

I am of the opinion that quantitative research is more geared towards testing of hypothesis and ...

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Xenia Rochelle Jones, MA, PhD (IP)
Education
  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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