1. Qualitative versus Quantitative Research
a) Qualitative Research.
A qualitative research approach is aimed at realizing a deeper perception of a specific organization or an event rather than a surface characterization of a large representation of a population. Ordinarily, the intention of the qualitative research is to present a precise rendering of the structure, order, and also comprehensive patterns found among a participant sample group. An optional name of qualitative research is ethnomethodology or field research and it generates data about human groups in their social setting. Essentially it involves field study whereby the researcher observes and notes down the behavior of subjects and also the events as they are in their geographical location.
Furthermore, qualitative research endeavors to get a better understanding via truthful reporting, firsthand experience and also through quoting from actual conversations. Additionally, it intends to understand how the participants reap meaning from their surroundings and how their application impacts their day to day activities and behavior as well. Accordingly, a qualitative approach is used to earn a perception of their motivations, and viewpoints.
Unlike quantitative research, qualitative data gathering methods regularly vary using structured methods. In essence, observation is utilized as a form of data collection in qualitative research more than any other option. Observation refers to the selection and recording of participants' behavior in their surroundings. Besides, the value of an observation is realized when forming an in-depth description of organizations or events, for administering research when inadequacy is identified in alternate methods, and also for obtaining information that would have otherwise been remote. Besides this, other standard methods of data collection in qualitative research include group discussions, individual interviews and at times, the researcher participates in the activities conducted by subjects.
i. Participation: The researcher becomes part of the group by getting involved in the subject group and therefore gaining firsthand experience.
ii. Focus group: Focus group involves the researcher engaging a small structured subject group at the any given time.
Benefits of Qualitative Research.
Qualitative research allows the researcher to have an in-depth understanding of subjects' activities. Field research, for instance, is an effective alternative for studying changes in attitudes and their behavior. In fact, it is one of the most suitable methods for studying social processes over time. Subsequently, relative flexibility is ensured in qualitative approach as compared to alternative approaches. In general, the researchers can effortlessly make amendments to their research design methods any time to so as to suit their needs. Ultimately, the researcher does not need to prepare in order to conduct the research, unlike in quantitative research. Considering this, it is, therefore, imperative that qualitative research is a more suitable method at an organizational level. At a given human resource department, the management may want to know what motivates the employees at the workplace. Therefore, face to face interviews will be necessary.
Disadvantages of Qualitative research.
Firstly, qualitative research is not as effective as qualitative research as a means for working on statistical descriptions especially for larger samples. Secondly, it is at times a non reliable method of conducting research; hence one cannot solely depend on it to conduct a successful research. Basically, given that the observations and subsequent analysis of the outcome are subjective and personal, therefore the researcher is obliged to strive harder to prevent their feelings and also personal opinions from distorting the research outcome. (Anderson
b) Quantitative Research.
Quantitative research approach refers to use of sampling techniques whereby the verdicts may be expressed numerically and are docile to mathematical manipulation; thus enabling the researcher to estimate future quantities or events. Burns et. al,(2005) notably defines quantitative research as a formal, objective, methodical process in which numerical data are used to gather information about pursuits in the planet and beyond. Ordinarily, this method of research is used to define variables, examine the relationships among variables and further to determine the cause-and-effect correlation between variables.
Unlike qualitative research, quantitative research is used to quantify defined variables attitudes, opinions and reactions and to induce results from a larger sample subjects. Furthermore, this approach to research uses measurable data to express facts and reveal patterns in a research. To accumulate data, the quantitative research employs various types of a survey. In facts, these forms comprise but not confined to Surveys conducted online, surveys from mobile phones, and surveys written on paper. Basically, other means of data collections include face-to-face interviews, longitudinal studies, systematic observations, telephone interviews and website interceptors.
The Benefits of Quantitative Research.
Quantitative research is more reliable and objective when compared to the qualitative research. This is mainly because the data gathered is factual and is hardly influenced by the researchers opinions and feelings as in the case of field or qualitative research. Additionally, the researcher can easily use statistics to generalize an outcome. For instance, the numerical information can be graphically for further analysis and comparison (Higgins et. al 2009). This is not the case with qualitative research. Subsequently, this research approach often minimizes a complex multi-variable problem to a lesser-variable problem. Because of this, the data gathered is easily analyzed and compared.
Other advantages of this method of research are that it is able to look at the relationships between variables, and hence establishing cause and further effecting highly controlled circumstances. This method, further assumes that the sample is a representative of the whole population.
Quantitative research is ideal especially for conducting researches in a multinational corporation. In this case, an online questionnaire will be administered to employees globally. The questionnaire can be about finding out the level of satisfaction of employees at the organization. In this research, questions about the amount of income earned by the employees and their ages can be featured.
2. Cross-Sectional versus Longitudinal Research
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal research studies are two alternative approaches that the researchers can appropriate to study the subjects. The intention of this research approach is to view a variable at a distinct timeline. On the other hand, longitudinal research necessitates undertaking multi-measures for a lengthy span of time so as to expose and observe changes in the long run. This is the principal difference between the two approaches.
a) Cross-Sectional Research
This approach of research study uses several subject groups which deviate in the variable of interest though they customarily share mutual aspects in other areas like educational background, socioeconomic status, and ethnic background. As an example, a researcher studying reasons for boredom by professional accountants in the workplace might select professionals who are exceptionally non-distinct in most areas but only age ( Burns et. al, 2006). Consequently, any discrepancy between professional groups can easily be attributed to the age difference rather than other variables.
Cross-sectional research studies are based on observations that take place in different groups at any given time. In fact, no experimental procedure is conducted; hence variables are manipulated by the researcher. Instead of an experimental procedure, the information observed is recorded from the groups examined. Because of this, a cross-sectional research study cannot be utilized in defining any relationship that may exist in a group but can only be used to describe the characteristics that exist in a group. Thus, this method is used to collect information only, which may then be used to develop other methods to investigate the relationship observed (Baraton 2006).
Cross-sectional research is an alternate approach that is naturally descriptive and does not provide a relationship between the subjects under study. In fact, this research approach is conducted mainly by observing the behavior of the subjects. Eventually, the researchers only gather data that is already available from the study subjects; however, they should not alter the variables to suit their needs. The main benefit of cross-sectional study design is that it allows the researcher to compare many different variables at the same time. The following are some of the traits of cross-sectional research:
i) All research study conducted in different groups occurs at a distinct time.
ii) The variables used in the research are not manipulated by the researchers.
iii) Cross-sectional research gives the researchers an opportunity to study numerous variables at once, for example, age, income and gender.
One of the main potential challenges to cross-sectional research is finding the participants who are similar in all aspects but only one variable. This is even despite the fact of its relative simplicity in its design framework. (Creswell, 2014). Additionally, subjects that are existent from a distinct timeline may mutually have certain remarkable historical experiences whereas those from an outlined geographical perspective can have experiences solely limited to their physical location. For instance in an organization, a research can be conducted that can look at the age of employees, their gender, their income levels and also their educational level in relation to their work.
b) Longitudinal Research
Longitudinal research refers to an alternative approach for exploring correlations among variables that is in no way associated with other numerous initial variables. In fact, this approach is observational in nature; hence necessitates a study mainly concentrated on one subject group for a lengthy stated timeframe. The initial data gathered can be re-collected periodically as the study continues.
There are three examples of longitudinal research approach. Firstly there is cohort study which is a type of longitudinal study that suggests selecting of subjects on the basis of mutual events, for example, their ages, geographical setting and/ or historical experiences that they have. Secondly, there is panel study. This study usually requires taking a sample of that cuts across the study subjects' variables. Finally, the retrospective study focuses on the past information of the study subjects such as bank account history.
One of the main drawbacks to this method of research is that; as the research is time-consuming, the cost of running and maintaining the research is relatively higher in relation to cross-sectional research. Therefore, the studies are confined to small groups of subjects, making it almost impossible to use the implement the study results to a general population. Additionally, participants can at times decide midway that they are not part of the study anymore. This in turn contracts the number of participants under study hence significantly limiting the content of information gathered (Arthur. et. al, 2012).
Benefits of Longitudinal Study.
The main benefit of this study is that unlike cross-sectional research, the researchers have the opportunity to observe changes transpiring to the subjects over time, which can actually last for up to several decades. An example where a longitudinal research can be undertaken is how aging of the staff affects their performance levels. Few staff members at their young ages can be selected as subjects of the research. Over time, their motivational levels will be observed and recorded. This will go on until they retire or are retrenched.
Longitudinal research allows social scientists to distinguish between short-term phenomena and long-term phenomena. For instance unemployment levels of a given country. A 15% unemployment rate at this point in time may mean that15% of the working population are always unemployed, or that the whole working population experiences poverty for 15% at the time. It is impossible to conclude which of these possibilities is the case using one-off cross-sectional studies ( Higgins ,1995).
Reference List
Baraton, K. C. Greenwich , Conn
Burns N, Grove S.K (2005) The Practice of Nursing Research: Conduct, Critique, and Utilization (5th Ed .). St. Louis Elsevier Saunders
Creswell, J. W. Thousand Oaks , California
Fenwick, T. J. Milton Park
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