INDUSTRIAL SOCIOLOGY/GENERAL 311E RESEARCH LECTURE 01

What philosophy of science informs qualitative and quantitative research approaches

respectively? Furthermore, what are the data collection tools associated with
qualitative and quantitative research (give their names and describe how they work),
and lastly, include a concise description of the strengths of both research
approaches.

The students are expected to demonstrate sound knowledge of qualitative and quantitative
research approaches, and this must be demonstrated by students through both deep
understanding of the philosophies behind these approaches as well the instruments or tools
for collecting scientific data using the principles of the two research approaches. Lastly, the
answer requires that the students discuss the strengths of the two research methodologies
data collecting tools.

PHILOSOPHIES OF SCIENCE/META-THEORY

POSITIVISM

ASSUMES THAT THE NATURAL WORLD HAS LAW LIKE OR

UNIVERSAL PATTERNS WHICH CAN ARE USED TO EXPLAIN AND
PREDICT BEHAVIOUR.

POSITION IN SCIENCE PRACTICE

TO UNDERSTAND SOCIAL EVENTS, BEHAVIOURS, PRACTICES

AND OTHER SOCIOLOGICAL PHENOMEMONS WE MUST USE
NATURAL SCIENCES

RESEARCH METHOD ADVOCATED

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHOD: In natural and social sciences,

and maybe in other fields, quantitative research is the systematic empirical
investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical, or
computational techniques.
 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT OR TOOL

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DATA IS COLLECTED USING LAB

UQUIPMENTS, SURVEYS, STATISTICAL, MATHEMATICAL AND
COMPUTATIONAL TECHNIQUES. NUMERICAL DATA.

DATA ANALYSIS TOOLS

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS: Descriptive statistics describes

data (for example, a chart or graph) and inferential statistics
allows you to make predictions (“inferences”) from that data.
With inferential statistics, you take data from samples and
make generalizations about a population.

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS: Descriptive statistics are used to describe or

summarize data in ways that are meaningful and useful. For example, it would
not be useful to know that all of the participants in our example wore blue
shoes. Descriptive statistics are brief descriptive coefficients that
summarize a given data set, which can be either a representation of the
entire or a sample of a population. Descriptive statistics are broken down
into measures of central tendency and measures of variability (spread).

Strengths and limitations

Quantitative method
Quantitive data are pieces of information that can be counted and which are
usually gathered by surveys from large numbers of respondents randomly
selected for inclusion. Secondary data such as census data, government
statistics, health system metrics, etc. are often included in quantitative research.
Quantitative data is analysed using statistical methods. Quantitative approaches
are best used to answer what, when and who questions and are not well suited to
how and why questions.
Strengths Limitations
Findings can be generalised Related secondary data is sometimes
if selection process is well-designed not available or accessing available
and sample is representative of study data is difficult/impossible
population
Difficult to understand context of a
Relatively easy to analyse
phenomenon
Data can be very consistent, precise Data may not be robust enough to
and reliable explain complex issues

Qualitative method
Qualitative data are usually gathered by observation, interviews or focus groups,
but may also be gathered from written documents and through case studies. In
qualitative research there is less emphasis on counting numbers of people who
think or behave in certain ways and more emphasis on explaining why people
think and behave in certain ways. Participants in qualitative studies often
involve smaller numbers of tools include and utilizes open-ended questionnaires
interview guides. This type of research is best used to answer how and why
questions and is not well suited to generalisable what, when and who questions.
Strengths Limitations
Complement and refine quantitative Findings usually cannot be generalised to
data the study population or community
Provide more detailed information More difficult to analyse; don’t fit neatly in
to explain complex issues standard categories
Multiple methods for gathering data
Data collection is usually time consuming
on sensitive subjects
Data collection is usually cost
efficient
Learn more about using quantitative and qualitative approaches in various study
types in the next lesson.

PHENOMENOLOGY OR INTERPRETEVISM

The interpretive paradigm is concerned with understanding the world as it is

from subjective experiences of individuals. They use meaning (versus
measurement) oriented methodologies, such as interviewing or participant
observation, that rely on a subjective relationship between the researcher and
subjects.

POSITION IN SCIENCE PRACTICE

THESE RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THAT THE SUBJECTIVE

EXPERIENCE OF THE RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS ARE BASIS OF
KNOWLEDGE AND THAT RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS SINCE THEY
ARE NOT OF THE CREATED THE SAME AS ANIMALS-THEY ARE
MEANING MAKERS AND DEVELOPERS OF IDEAS.

RESEARCH METHODS ADVOCATED

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHOD: Qualitative research is a

scientific method of observation to gather non-numerical data. ...
Qualitative research is widely used by political science, social work, and
education researchers. This type of research "refers to the meanings,
concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and
description of things" and not to their "counts or measures".

DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS

IN THIS APPROACH, DATA IS COLLECTED THROUGH INTERVIEWS,

TEXTS, PARTICIPANT OBSERVATIONS (ETHNOGRAPHY) , STORIES,
FOCUS GROUPS, PHOTOS AND OTHER HUMAN PRODUCED
ACTIVITIES.

DATA ANALYSIS
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE

Thematic analysis (Vensim) Descriptive analysis

Content analysis SPSS