Question

Hi i need comment on my homework or something to add.

*Argue for and against quantitative and qualitative techniques respectively. Which ones would you lean towards when conducting an investigation and why?

 

Quantitative techniques, usually presented through surveys, are more practical, take less time, and can design samples in which any person or household of the target audience has the same probability of participating. However, the questionnaires must be carefully written by highly trained professionals, in such a way that they do not contain ambiguous or biased questions, that they are easily understandable by any member of the sample, and that they contemplate all the objectives of the research. Besides that they do not allow to deepen in the reason of the facts.

Qualitative techniques, on the other hand, are based on the observation of natural behaviors, discourses, open responses for the subsequent interpretation of meanings. Studying reality in its natural context can be extremely useful to learn more about the phenomenon studied. However, more specialization is required, they are not applicable to statistics, so it is not possible to make measurements, it entails a higher cost per studied population (which is also reduced), whose results do not necessarily represent the general population.

I believe that knowing the situation of the general population, through statistics is essential. In addition, because of the possibility of studying a much larger population in less time and with less amount of economic resources, I would lean towards quantitative research.

Answer 1

Answer: In order to answer this effectively, I'd need to know the topic of research. One cannot just assume that qualitative is better than quantitative (or the other way around). The type of research design used must fit the topic.

Step-by-step explanation:

Though sometimes questioned by scientific researchers, qualitative investigations can provide reliable data if a credible research technique is employed. There are some research topics for which qualitative methods are extremely well-suited. Social science and educational researchers use qualitative research methods to study various phenomenon because these techniques make it possible to reveal attitudes, opinions, and perceptions of a population.

On the other hand, quantitative research methods, which relies on the collection and analysis of statistical data to investigate a problem, may be more appropriate in some instances. Quantitative research offers some advantages in that it is based on statistics and, as a rule, free from bias.

A mixed design, using both qualitative and quantitative methods may be appropriate for some investigations. Some qualitative researchers point out that the strict use of quantitative research methods alone may unwittingly cause the researcher to omit vital information that would be best collected and analyzed via a qualitative design. Likewise, strictly quantitative researchers are quick to point out that there may be underlying biases in qualitative research.

The research design should align with the topic. Whichever model is selected, it is essential to strictly follow the research protocol for the selected design and make sure that all limitations of the research are noted is essential in reporting results. Additionally, if using quantitative methods, it is essential to review the data set to be sure that all of the assumptions of any statistical analysis used are met.