Quantitative and Qualitative Research Analysis

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Analysis
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Quantitative and Qualitative Research Analysis
Discussion of the Differences Between Quantitative and Qualitative Research
How does a research problem/question guide the determination to conduct a quantitative versus a qualitative research study?
Research questions are fundamental in determining whether a study is quantitative or qualitative. For instance, questions that identify causal relationships allude to the use of the former, while those that point towards exploring a phenomenon hint at the latter. Thus, this distinction is critical in differentiating the two study approaches.
Discuss the value of using a conceptual framework or theory (grand or mid-range) to guide a quantitative research study. Address the debate of the appropriateness of using a conceptual framework or theory to guide a qualitative research study.
Using a conceptual or theoretical framework in quantitative research is one of the techniques for strengthening the study and its findings. For instance, the theoretical assumptions statement in the framework provides a reliable platform for evaluating the study from a critical perspective. Polit and Beck (2010) also indicate that the framework connects the existing knowledge and the current research. It also informs the hypothesis and the appropriate research methods for the researchers. Finally, it clarifies the diverse variables in the study and provides the extent of generalization for a researcher.
Polit and Beck (2010) indicate that although quantitative studies often overlook conceptual frameworks, qualitative ones consider these tools fundamental to their tradition. The researchers value the principles they draw from the theories to guide their questions and research methods. As a result, they are critical for the success of these studies.
What specific types of research designs are used in quantitative research? What specific types of designs are used in qualitative research?
Although different quantitative research designs exist, the specific ones comprise quasi-experimental, experimental, and nonexperimental ones (Polit & Beck, 2010). The author also lists the case studies, ethnographic, phenomenological, and grounded research designs as the central qualitative ones. Other subcategories of these designs also exist.
What are the differences in determining sample size between quantitative and qualitative research studies?
Determining the sample size in quantitative is more thorough and precise than in qualitative research. Polit and Beck (2010) indicate that the researchers use different forms of equations to arrive at the most significant possible sample for a study. The argument is that larger ones translated to improved representativeness. However, the case is different for qualitative because researchers follow no rules and limit the size based on their need for information. In this context, they prioritize data saturation when the sample becomes sufficient.
Discuss the difference in methods of data analysis for quantitative research versus qualitative research studies.
While quantitative research focuses on quantifying numbers in its data analysis, qualitative ones rely on thematic categorization and expression of subjective elements of their findings. In this context, Polit and Beck (2010) report that the former uses analytical techniques such as descriptive and inferential analysis. It also conducts bivariate and multivariate statistical tests using different techniques. However, the latter focuses on interpretations of the thematic areas to make informed inferences about the results.
Discuss methods of ensuring scientific rigor in quantitative and qualitative research studies.
Rigor reflects the confidence or trustworthiness of research study findings. The methods used to establish this aspect differ slightly between qualitative and quantitative studies. For instance, the former emphasizes its results’ transferability, credibility, confirmability, and dependability (Johnson et al., 2020). However, Marquart (2017) indicates that quantitative studies rely on reliability, which is the consistency of measurements, and validity, representing the accuracy of the measurements for the intended aspects of an investigation.
Discuss the difference in the generalizability of quantitative versus qualitative research.
Researchers indicate that the primary difference between quantitative and qualitative research approaches to generalizability is that the former applies valuable-oriented models that draw from individual cases (Borgstede & Scholz, 2021). However, the latter use case-oriented techniques that abstract from the characteristics of the individuals. The approach in quantitative reflects deductive reasoning, while that of qualitative represents inductive reasoning.
Research Critique either one Quantitative or one Qualitative Research Study
Title Is the title good, suggesting the key phenomenon and the group or community under study? Comments
The article presents a concise topic that identifies opioid use disorder as a phenomenon. It also mentions adolescents as the study community and pediatric settings as the location. Abstract Did the abstract clearly and concisely summarize the main features of the report? Comments
The abstract is thorough because it summarizes the primary features of the report, including a reflection on the background, an illustration of the methods used, and the study’s results. It also provides a conclusion that ends with the implications of the findings. Research questions Were research questions explicitly stated? If not, was their absence justified?
Were the questions consistent with the study’s philosophical basis, underlying tradition, or ideologic orientation? Comments
The article fails to state the research questions explicitly. It also fails to justify their absence but instead goes on to address other elements of the report. As a result, it is impossible to determine whether the questions were consistent with the philosophical foundation of the research. Conceptual underpinnings Were key concepts adequately defined conceptually?
Was the philosophical basis, underlying tradition, conceptual framework, or ideologic orientation made explicit, and was it appropriate for the problem? Comments
One of the key strengths of the article by Levy et al. (2018) is that ...