Research remains to be one of the most prominent avenues of not only acquiring information but also synthesizing it, deriving meaning from it and finally acting on the findings in a bid to achieve the research objectives. Furthermore, research serves as the primary means through which inspiring ideas that spark innovation emanate from. Although research is a fundamental tool that is invoked in many undertakings to gain an understanding about different phenomena, it is highly necessary to choose the type of research that matches one’s needs, and hence, will be most useful at the end of it all. In light of the above, there are various types of approaches that can be used to harness the different advantages connected to research. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed Methodologies are primary methods that can be invoked to help in the collection of certain information. Although they are all highly useful and have similarities that can make either of them to be used to fulfill certain research objectives, there are also disparities between them that set them apart from each other, and hence more or less useful when applied to get precise information. Besides, they all possess particular strength and weaknesses which can be harnessed or utilized depending on the specific needs of the researcher in question.
Qualitative Research
Patton and Cochran (2002) define qualitative research as a research approach whose aim is to probe and hence obtain answers that concern different aspects of life. This approach is based on aims that therefore, are precise in gaining an understanding of social issues. Obtaining concrete answers to the questions at hand by using the what how or why, other than placing an emphasis on quantifying aspects of the data to be collected is highly central to this approach. With the meaning given above, several approaches used in obtaining data are tied to the above methodology. Each of them uses a different media to gain information while remaining objective. A few of them include:
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• Direct observation – In this method, the researcher presents himself to check on the sample size in its natural setting. It could be ethnographic or participant observation, depending on the aim of the researcher.
• Interviews- They are varied and could be face to face, through teleconferencing a phone call among other electronic communication means. Here, predetermined questions, as well as those that might be triggered by the process, are directed to the interviewee by the interviewers with the aim of extracting specific information from the individual.
Quantitative Research Methodology
Quantitative research is a method with an inclination on the statistical aspect of data. Usually, it is a highly structured approach whose main is answering the hypothesis that concerns the research. Also, it involves predetermined questions or research guidelines that are likely to be the framework used to conduct the study (Patton & Cochran, 2002). There are different approaches that can be used in the collection of data. A few include descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental and experimental.
Mixed Research Methodology
This approach brings together both qualitative and quantitative approach means. The primary aim behind the combination of the two is to come up with a more explicit research framework that is likely to be more beneficial in comparison to taking qualitative or quantitative approaches individually (Johnson, Burke & Anthony, 2004). Aspects that pertain both approaches are either utilized sequentially or concurrently. Just as specific data collection methods characterize the first two methods, the mixed methodology also encompasses a few strategies that ensure the result suits the definition of both types. They include sequential explanatory, sequential exploratory, sequential transformative, concurrent triangulation, concurrent nested and concurrent transformative
Similarities between Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Research Methodology
These methods are similar in that the overall principle reason behind all of them is the acquisition of data that is later analyzed and meaning derived from understanding a given phenomenon.
Differences between Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Research Methodology
Each of the above approaches has aims which are different from that of the other. In qualitative research, for example, the aim is to understand social aspects of a given population by answering questions such as what and why. Quantitative research’s central objective is to obtain data that is quantifiable, and lastly, the mixed approach aims at bringing together both qualitative and quantitative approach and utilize them in a manner that individual discrepancies evident in them are removed or highly reduced.
Strengths of Qualitative Research
• It is considered relatively cheap in comparison to quantitative analysis which requires the collection of specific data.
• The above is not a fixed method of data acquisition. As a result, it can be altered depending on the population being examined so as to obtain the desired information. In interviews, for example, the question can be simplified if the interviewee seems not to understand it. This is not possible in quantitative research approaches such as questionnaires.
• Due to the inclination of the method in the interaction of the researcher with the population in question, he or she is likely to gauge the accuracy of the information given by the respondents. The possibility of even better understanding of the answers given exists since the researcher can also get information from non-verbal cues.
• It is possible to get information from a variety of individuals from a given population since in terms population where there might be a language barrier, a translator can be used in the case that interviews are utilized. Methods such as observation also allow one to collect information from a variety of individuals including those with disabilities related to sight, mental, among others.
Weaknesses of Qualitative Research
• In interviews and observation, it is possible that the researcher might influence the sample size into giving inaccurate information. An example is individuals acting to be who they are not when they are under observation to please the observer. Also, it is likely that the researcher’s perceptions might find itself in the data collected. Objectivity is, hence, likely to be lost (Bernard, Russell, & Harvey, 2012).
Bias that is as a result of the influence of the researcher is likely to have an effect on the results of a particular study.
Strengths of Quantitative Research
• Regarding the analysis of data obtained using the above means, one formula can be utilized in the analysis of multiple and varied types of data collected. The repetition aspect employed can assist in the creation of comparison between the data being analyzed. The above is not only insightful but it also makes work easier in the development of conclusion related to a given set of data (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015).
• Accessibility of quantifiable data is much is easier in comparison to the qualitative approach. The above is due to the fact that the primary focus of this methodology is to obtain information in that form.
• Because complex details during research are obtained from a small sample of individuals who can be reached through the available resources, the statistics obtained from small but representative groups can be used as a reference of the bigger population displaying such characteristics. The above method can hence be employed in carrying out studies in vast and diverse fields such as the human service segment in general (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015)..
• Bias is highly reduced by using this approach since data acquisition means such as questionnaires tend to remove the researcher’s emotional bias.
Weaknesses Quantitative Research
• It requires a lot of resources in terms of time and capital. It is not, hence, an economical approach.
Data obtained is likely to be more complex and hence, requires expertise to process. As a result, it can limit the researchers in completing urgent research undertakings(Bernard, Russell, & Harvey, 2012).
Strengths of Mixed Methodology
• It allows removal of discrepancies inherent in either qualitative or quantitative research approach (Choy, 2014).
In the data analysis aspect, it allows comprehensive synthesis of data since due to the presence of both types of data, it is possible to compare and contrast.
• It is a highly flexible method since any idea apparent in either approach can be utilized when necessary.
• It is highly objective since both methods complement each other and hence, aspects that are likely to give bias a leeway in qualitative research can be replaced with complementary but better approaches that are evident in quantitative method.
Weaknesses of Mixed Approach
• Although a variety of data can be collected using this approach, it renders the analysis of this data difficult and more complex due to the diversity of the information collected.
• Due to the diversity of the resources required in the collection as well as the analysis of data, it is likely to be an expensive approach. In addition, it is a labor-intensive undertaking since individuals with different skills sets are not only required in data collection but also in the analysis.
• In the study of data, conflict might arise due to the likelihood of obtaining different results in both qualitative and quantitative data. Delay in making a conclusion is hence, likely to be experienced, a factor that might make the approach time consuming and does not come handy in projects with shorter deadlines.
References
Bernard, H. R., & Bernard, H. R. (2012). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches . Sage.
Choy, L. T. (2014). The strengths and weaknesses of research methodology: Comparison and complimentary between qualitative and quantitative approaches. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science , 19 (4), 99-104.
Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational researcher , 33 (7), 14-26.
McCusker, K., & Gunaydin, S. (2015). Research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion, 30(7), 537-542.
Patton, M. Q., & Cochran, M. (2002). A guide to using qualitative research methodology. Medecins Sans Frontiers. Retrieved February, 14, 2014.
