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Generally these types of studies fit within our understanding of qualitative and quantitative research.
Exploratory research involves qualitative studies (observation, interviews, and content analysis) Explanatory research involves quantitative studies and hypothesis testing. Descriptive studies most often involve quantitative research techniques or a combination of qualitative and quantitative method.
(Please note however, that Rossman & Rollis use the term descriptive to describe some types of qualitative research)
When researchers talk about different approaches to research, they talk about paradigms. A paradigm is a worldview or a set of assumptions about how things work. Rossman & Rollis define paradigm as shared understandings of reality Quantitative and qualitative research methods involve very different assumptions about how research should be conducted and the role of the researcher.
Lets talk about some of the assumptions or values that are part of qualitative or quantitative paradigms:
For example, do you think: That the truth can be determined in every situation? Can everyone agree on the truth?
Should the researchers personal experiences and values influence his or her research?
If so, how does the researcher prevent personal bias from influencing the study?
Rossman & Rollis identify 4 different paradigms but the two primary paradigms are:
Positivism associated with quantitative research. Involves hypothesis testing to obtain objective truth. Also used to predict what may happen at a future date. Critical realism is a subtype of positivism that incorporates some value assumptions on the part of the researcher. It involves looking at power in society. Researchers primarily rely on quantitative data to do this. Interpretivism associated with qualitative research. Used to obtain an understanding of the word from an individual perspective. Critical Humanism is a subtype of the Interpretive paradigm. The critical humanism approach is one in which the researcher involves people studied in the research process. Data is used for social change.
Two other important terms. Emic the insiders view and voice. Etic. The outsiders view and voice. ***Researchers are most often outsiders trying to understand a community, group, or individuals. Emic refers to the view of people in the community or the individuals studied. However, there are different approaches to qualitative research that vary in the amount of social distance between the researcher and people studied. Next week we will listen to an interviewer who became a part of the community he studied!