Rearch in Social Sciences:
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
1Rearch in social sciences
Rearch in social sciences largely depends on measurements and analysis and interpretation of numerical as well as non numerical data. Quantitative rearch methods focus on statistical approaches and qualitative methods are bad on content analysis, comparative analysis, grounded theory, and interpretation (Strauss, 1990). Quantitative methods emphasi on objective measurements and numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires or surveys and qualitative rearch focus on understanding social phenomena through interviews, personal comments etc. Quantitative and qualitative methods are studied within the context of positivistic and phenomenological paradigms (, 2006).
●The applications of rearch methods could be studied in the context of business and ma
nagement or in social psychology to understand a social process. Some of the basic tools for qualitative or quantitative rearch are related to data collection methods which can be ca studies, questionnaires or interviews (Simon et al, 1985). Rearch methods in management focus on leadership studies and leadership issues are examined in accordance with contingency theory and organisational theory. The effects of leadership are best studied with the help of qualitative or quantitative rearch methods and analys of questionnaires nt to participants in management positions. Rearch methods are however focud not just on management issues but also on social process for example a study on the interaction between age, physical exerci and gender. Some disadvantages and possible flaws of such methods may be related to abu or misu of interview techniques, inadequacy of data collection methods and reliability of data. The methodological approach and data collection techniques are important in rearch and form an important aspect of study (Simon, 1985). The ca study approach is especially uful in analysis of business environments and perceptual mapping techniques are ud for marketing rearch. Focus groups and surveys are ud as other preferred methods of data collection, especially within business environments (, 2006).
●Interpretive rearch can be considered as an important aspect of qualitative analysis, although as with all qualitative data, subjective bias can be a deterrent in the validity of such approaches. In studying rearch methods, it would be necessary to highlight the differences betw语文优秀作文
een qualitative and quantitative methods although it has also been argued that an integrated approach to social analysis could clo in the gap between quantitative and qualitative methods and both the methods could be ud for social rearch studies. In fact there may not be a specified correct method of rearch as each method ems to have its strengths and weakness and the factors should be examined carefully before a particular method is lected or ud for studying a social process.
2What is the Difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Rearch?
Qualitative and quantitative rearch are the two main sc中国历史名人故事
hools of rearch, and although they are often ud in tandem, the benefits and disadvantages of each are hotly debated. Particularly in the social sciences, the merits of both qualitative and quantitative rearch
are fought over, with inten views held on both sides of the argument. It is generally agreed upon, however, that there are some phas of rearch where one or the other is clearly more uful than the other and so few people completely dismiss either.
●Quantitative rearch is probably the least contentious of the two schools, as it is more cloly aligned with what is viewed as the classical scientific paradigm. Quantitative rearch involves gathering data that is absolute, such as numerical data, so that it can be examined in as unbiad a manner as possible. There are many principles that go along with quantitative rearch, which help promote its suppod neutrality. Quantitative rearch generally comes later in a rearch project, once the scope of the project is well understood.
●The main idea behind quantitative rearch is to be able to parate things easily so that they can be counted and modeled statistically, to remove factors that may distract from the intent of the rearch. A rearcher generally has a very clear idea what is being measured before they start measuring it, and their study is t up with controls and a very
clear blueprint. Tools ud are intended to minimize any bias, so ideally are machines that collect information, and less ideally would be carefully randomized surveys. The result of quantitative rearch is a collection of numbers, which can be subjected to statistical analysis to come to results.
●Remaining parate from the rearch emotionally is a key aspect of quantitative rearch, as is removing rearcher bias. For things like astronomy or other hard sciences, this means that quantitative rearch has a very minimal amount of bias at all. For things like sociological data, this means that the majority of bias is hopefully limited to that introduced by the people being studied, which 工资总额包括哪些
can be somewhat accounted for in models. Quantitative is ideal for testing hypothes, and for hard sciences trying to answer specific questions.
