Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and problem formulation

¶ … represented by different methodologies, describing the purpose of every methodology and providing an example of a research problem for every methodology. The ideas that will be discussed in this paper include exemplifying what encompasses a research problem and also making comparisons and contrasts between qualitative research and quantitative research with respect to their strengths and weaknesses.

Matrix

Experimental Research

Correlational Study

Grounded Theory

Ethnography

Quantitative

Quantitative Study

Quantitative Study

Qualitative Study

Qualitative study

Qualitative study

To enable the researcher manipulate one variable while measuring other variables and therefore making it possible to examine cause and effect of research problems

To measure the relationship or correlation that exists between two variables

To question and interrogate a massive group of people regarding their philosophies and standpoints on a certain phenomenon

To develop a theory or theoretical model where none exists in the literature in relation to the sample

To describe and interpret a cultural or social group of individuals to another culture or group

To develop a comprehensive analysis of a single case or manifold cases in which all of the conceivable internal and external relationships are taken into consideration.

Example of Research Problem

What is the effect of Adderall medication on the attention span of children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Is there a correlation between individual intelligence and academic performance?

Survey of retired individuals regarding their key worries on life without working

What fundamental theory

elucidates teacher's shifting

from customary assessment

philosophies and practices to unconventional, performance-based assessment philosophies and practices?

What is the nature of the difficulties a teacher faces when he starts utilizing a non-conventional method to teaching, subsequent to having taught for ten years using a very traditional method?

University response to to a shooting incident in which a student attempted to shoot at his fellow classmates

What Constitutes a Research Problem?

A research problem can be delineated as a definite or clear statement regarding a field of concern, a situation to be enhanced upon, a difficulty to be eradicated, or a disconcerting question that is existent in scholarly literature, theoretically, or within prevailing practice that points toward a necessity for significant understanding and measured investigation. It is imperative to note that a research problem does not proclaim how to undertake things, provide an ambiguous extensive proposition, or present a value question (Labaree, 2009). In research, a problem research is purposed to instigate the reader to the significance of the topic in study. This takes into account the importance of the study, the research questions, the hypotheses as well as any suppositions made. It is also purposed to place the topic into a certain framework that delineated the factors of what is to be examined. Lastly, the research problem offers the context for reporting the outcomes and points out what is conceivably needed to conduct the study and elucidate the manner in which the finding will present this information (Bryman, 2007). Research emanates with at least one problem or statement regarding one phenomenon of interest. The research problem facilitates a researcher to emphasize thoughts, manage endeavors, and select the fitting approach, or standpoint from which to make sense of every phenomenon of interest.

Compare and Contrast the Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research

Two of the most common approaches for conducting research are qualitative and quantitative research. Each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research takes into account investigative methods and approaches that are delineated as naturalistic or include observation. It lays emphasis on the significance of investigating variables in their natural environment. One of the key advantages of qualitative research is that the phenomenon or subject in question can be examined comprehensively and extensively. Secondly, the data that is gathered and used in this approach is reliant on human experience and therefore is deemed more convincing and potent in comparison to data collected through quantitative research. Another strength of qualitative research is that the surveys and interviews are not restricted to certain questions and can be directed and conducted by the researchers in real time (Choy, 2014).

Nonetheless, qualitative research does have its shortcomings. To begin with, the quality of the research conducted is largely reliant on the skills and competencies of the researcher and can be easily affected by biasness and individual eccentricities of the researchers. Secondly, taking into consideration that the researcher is included in collecting data from participants, it can easily influence their responses and in turn have an adverse impact on the validity and reliability of the entire research. The other weakness of this approach is that there is a huge amount of data and this makes interpretation and examination to be time-consuming (Creswell, 2013).