The Basic Building Blocks Of Quantitative Research Psychology Essay

The Basic Building Blocks Of Quantitative look Psychology EssayQualitative Research Methodology is gaining wide sp learn acceptance among Researchers in Social Sciences Circle but finds less acceptance among Basic Scientists and Engineers who prefer to use Quantitative (Statistical) Methods of Research.Statistics burn be defined as collecting, summarizing, and analyzing of info. Selection of a statistical analysis that is appropriate depends on whether the data for the variable under study are qualitative or quantifiable. Quantitative data consists of numerical information and a methodology when applying statistical/mathematical tools for analysis of such type of data is known as Quantitative Research Methodology. In contrast, Qualitative data consists of non-numerical information (such as text, images, and sounds) and a methodology of analysis of such kind of data when not relying on statistical/ mathematical tools is known as Qualitative Research Methodology 1. The main differe nce that describes whether qualitative enquiry is superior or three-figure seek is how they are able to contribute to bodies of knowledge. Qualitative query mainly focuses on the behaviors, cultures and defining characteristics of events, human nature, interactions and experience. Data is not transformed to numerical data. Qualitative explore methods emphasis on interpretation and by providing the analysts with complete views, environmental immersions and a depth of soul of concepts. Qualitative methods of research provide a depth of understanding of issues/problems which is not possible through the use of decimal methods (statistically-based investigations). The knowledge gained through qualitative research methods is more(prenominal) informative, richer and offers enhanced understandings in comparison to that obtained through vicenary research methods. Quantitative research is typically considered to be the more scientific approach that is concerned with number, or numeric al descriptions of things and their relationships 2.The basic building blocks of quantitative research are variables. Important types of variables use in quantitative research are categorical variable, quantitative variable, dependent variable and supreme variable. Three major types of quantitative research are proveal, non-experimental research and survey. The purpose of experimental research is to study relationship of cause and effect. It is only type of research where active manipulation of an independent variable is present. Random assignment to create equivalent groups is used in the strongest experimental research designs 3. Experimental research includes canvasing a hypothesis in a controlled environment while non-experimental research involves examining the already existing scenario in the world and trying to draw conclusions from the situation by using usually a cause-effect relationship. Social sciences, particularly history, archaeology, and political science, focus t he non-experimental research methods. Owing to the complexity of the situation there is no way to form a meaningful experiment for the majority of these fields. Though psychology and anthropology are much more inclined to experimental research for determining patterns 4. Testing of the hypothesis is done by any of the three tests z-test, t-test and p-value test 5. Quantitative analysis also includes descriptive and inferential statistics. Basic difference between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (or inductive statistics) is that descriptive statistics which aims to sum up a sample, rather than using the data to learn ab egress the population that the sample of data is thought to represent. They are not developed on the background of probability theory 6. Descriptive Statistics are the tabular, graphical, and numerical methods used to summarize data. Statistical inference is the process of using data obtained from the sample and to make estimates and test hypothes es about the characteristics of the population 7. Summarizing of quantitative data includes 8Frequency DistributionRelative Frequency and Percent Frequency DistributionsDot PlotHistogramCumulative DistributionsNumerical methods used to summarize the quantitative data are 9MeanMedianModeVarianceStandard DeviationCAQDASComputer Assisted Qualitative Data summary software program (CAQDAS) is the use of computer software for qualitative research. It helps in transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis and discourse analysis and so forth It is used in psychology, marketing research, ethnography, and other social sciences. A CAQDAS curriculum should haveContent searching tools,Coding tools,Linking tools,Mapping or networking tools,Query tools, composition and annotation tools.The advantages of using this software include avoiding from manual and clerical tasks, beat saving, managing huge amounts of qualitative data, increased flexibil ity, improved validity and auditability of qualitative research. Disadvantages include more and more deterministic and rigid processes, privileging of coding, and retrieval methods reification of data, increased pressure on researchers to focus on volume and breadth rather than on depth and meaning, time and energy spent learning to use computer packages 10. CAQDAS (Computer assisted qualitative data analysis software) is the good one technique in qualitative which helps us to find the true forecast and acceptable results in a specific study 11. A unique aspect of using CAQDAS vs. hand-coding/analysis is the ability of the program to create visual representations of data-charts, graphs, trees-that help in analysis and potentially can help readers to more deeply understand the interpretations 12. CAQDAS potentially makes qualitative inquiry more logical, transparent and trustworthy. CAQDAS such as NVivo can help in all the six steps of qualitative data analysis which are 13Choosing a topicliterature reviewDevelopment of theoretical and conceptual foundations and research questionsResearch design, Sample, context and negotiating accessData collection and preparationData analysis and preaching and final write-upAll the CAQDAS packages provide these following features that make qualitative data analysis much easier structure of work, closeness to data and interactivity, explore the data, code and think of functionality, project management and data organization, searching and interrogating the database, writing tools and standard selection of output reports 14.Do I agree?I agree with the view that qualitative research methodology is gaining wide spread acceptance among researchers in social sciences circle but finds less acceptance among basic scientists and Engineers who prefer to use quantitative (statistical) methods of research. In my opinion neither school of research is superior. Both when carried out correctly provide good research results. The superiori ty of qualitative or quantitative research depends on the data under study and the fruitful additions to the knowledge made by either of the methods. The qualitative descriptive study is the method of alternative when straight descriptions of phenomena are desired. Such study is especially useful for researchers wanting to know the who, what, and where of events 15. Qualitative research covers a broad area of philosophical positions. engage in qualitative re-search is increasing in health department 16. The purpose of qualitative analysis is to achieve greater understanding and to attain a high level of conceptual or theoretical background than it can be achieved in any individual empirical study 17, 18. Quantitative research is depict by some as a quick fix, it involves very little or no contact with the field or people 19, 20.Method which I pass on useBeing an engineer I shall use quantitative research method in my research project because it will be carried out in a controll ed environment i.e. it will be experimental. Based upon the test results I will validate my hypothesis and further statistical analysis will be conducted. (Insha Allah)Refrences1 Haegeman, K., et al. (2013). Quantitative and qualitative approaches in Future-orientedTechnology Analysis (FTA) From combination to integration? Technological Forecastingand Social Change 80(3) 386-397.2 Richard Tewksbury (2009). Qualitative versus Quantitative Methods instinct WhyQualitative Methods are Superior for Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal ofTheoretical and Philosophical Criminology, Vol 1 (1).3 McMillan, J. H., Schumacher, S. (2009). Research in education Pearson Education.4 Neuman, W. L. (2005). Social research methods Quantitative and qualitative approachesAllyn and Bacon.5 http//statistics.about.com/od/HelpandTutorials/a/How-To-Conduct-A-Hypothesis-Test.htm6 Berenson, M. L. (1998). Basic business statistics Concepts and applications Prentice HallPTR.7 Bryman, A., Cramer, D. (2005). Quantitative data analysis with SPSS 12 and 13 A adoptfor social scientist. Routledge.8 De Veaux, R. D., Velleman, P. F., Bock, D. E. (2009). Stats Pearson, Addison-Wesley.9 Teddlie, C., Tashakkori, A. (2008). Foundations of mixed methods research Integratingquantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. SAGEPublications, Incorporated.10 Ann Lewins and Cristina Silver (2009). QUIC-Qualitative innovations in CAQDUS 6thedition11 Rudolf. R. S, Eva. A. A (2012). Facilitating the interaction between theory and data inqualitative research using CAQDAS Sage Publications, 109-13112 Linnea L. Rademaker, Elizabeth J. Grace, and Stephen K. Curda (2012). Using Computer-assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) to Re-examine TraditionallyAnalyzed Data Expanding our Understanding of the Data and of Ourselves as ScholarsThe Qualitative Report 2012 Volume 17, Article 43, 1-1113 Sinkovics, Rudolf R. and Eva A. Alfoldi (2012), Facilitating the interacti on betweentheory and data in qualitative research using CAQDAS, in Qualitative organizationalresearch Core methods and current challenges, Gillian Symon and Catherine Cassell (Eds.).London Sage Publications, 109-131.14 GarcaHorta, J. B., GuerraRamos, M. T. (2009). The use of CAQDAS in educationalresearch some advantages, limitations and potential risks. International Journal of Research Method in Education, 32(2), 151-165.15 Margarete Sandelowski (2000). Focus on Research Methods Whatever Happened toQualitative commentary? Research in Nursing Health, 2000, 23, 334-34016 Denis Walsh, Soo Downe (2005). Appraising the quality of qualitative researchMidwifery (2006) 22, 108-119.17 Rona Campbell, et al. (2003). Evaluating meta-ethnography a synthesis of qualitativeresearch on lay experiences of diabetes and diabetes assistance Social Science Medicine 56,671-684.18 Winter, G. (2000). A comparative discussion of the notion of validity in qualitative andquantitative research. The Quali tative Report 4(3) 4.19 Williams, F., Monge, P. R. (2001). Reasoning with statistics How to read quantitativeresearch (pp. 127-141). London Harcourt College Publishers.20 Bryman, A. (2006). Integrating quantitative and qualitative research how is it done?Qualitative research, 6(1), 97-113.