Quantitative research and qualitative research are research methods that gather different types of data. Qualitative research at its core gathers non-numerical, diagnostic, and/or interpretive data (Experiment Resources, 2012). Quantitative research mainly gathers numerical data or data that can be measured (Experiment Resources, 2012). Each of these research methods describes different types of data and have different goals in their research (Experiment Resources, 2012). Qualitative and quantitative research use different tools for gathering data and tend to approach the data differently (Experiment Resources, 2012).
Using relevant research, discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the sociocultural level of analysis There are several different research methods used in psychology such as experimentations (lab, field and quasi), naturalistic observations, and studies (case, cross-cultural). The most favourable in SCLOA are naturalistic observations in order to achieve more qualitative research. This is important in social-cultural psychology as the aim is to investigate the influences of social environment on behaviour and thoughts and to do this most effectively high ecological value is desirable. Despite this, there has been some very famous research obtained through the experimental method. The experimental method is a study of cause and effect.
Qualitative research generates rich, detailed and valid data that contribute to in depth understanding of the context, quantitative researches generate reliable population based and generalised data. A particular strength of quantitative research is that it can be generalised to some extent, a sample that closely relates to a population is chosen. Qualitative researches do not choose samples that are closely related to a population. Quantitative researches allow the researcher to test hypotheses. Qualitative researches are more for exploratory purposes, the researches allow the data to take them on different directions.
This paper will evaluate the usefulness of the psychometric approach for understanding personality and human intelligence. Psychometric tests were first created in order to objectively measure intelligence and personality (Eysenck, 1994; Hayes, 2000; Hothersall, 2004; Engler, 2009). As such, it can be said that the psychometric approach for understanding personality and human intelligence is useful as it enables psychological researchers to quantitatively measure intelligence and personality in a scientific manner. Furthermore, such an approach allows for individuals be to placed in categories based on definable characteristics, which better allows psychological research on different subjects, as participants of psychological research can be more easily assigned to different groups or conditions. Thus, the psychometric approach for
Statistics are a method of finding the truth and psychologist use statistical methods to help them make sense of the numbers that collect during their experiments and research and is the essence of human evolution and psychology of science. With these statistics psychologist are able to see if there theory is correct or whether they need to do more research. There are two different types of statistics that are used to draw conclusions and to describe information and they are descriptive statistics and inferential statistics
Evaluate some of the research methods used in psychology In order to gather the research and finding there are a number of ways in collection data, three type to use. Laboratory method, field experiment then the natural or quasi experimental method this comes under experimental method next is the non-experimental method which consists of observation, survey method, case study method, interviews, ethnogeny, archival research and simulation and role play. Finally correlation a measurement of a relationship between two variables, the variables are controlled by the group not the experimenter, a correlation can be either positive were both variable increases and negative were one variable increases and the other decreases, in both cases this how there a link or relationship not how one variable affect another. Surveys can be used for researched this is when a questionnaire is given out to a sample of the population ,the questions used can be closed ended either yes or no which gives limited information but is the best answers for quantitative data which is all about facts and figures that’s represented in graphs and statistics, while opened ended question gives people the chance to put more of their opinions e.g. it was interesting, these question support qualitative data while is about words this gives a broader view but harder to represent in graphs.
Quantitative Versus Qualitative Essay Eva Hutchens Texas A&M University – Central Texas Quantitative Versus Qualitative Essay When conducting research using a quantitative method the author will identify a research problem based on current trends in a particular field of study. Researching a trend usually implies that the author will conduct a study to find out an overall tendency in people and how those tendencies vary among individuals. Also, in some quantitative studies it may be needed that the researcher explains how one variable affects another variable (Creswell, 2012, p.13). When using a qualitative approach to research it is usually because the variables are not known and there is a need to explore the research problem further. The qualitative research seeks to explore a problem and develop a thorough understanding of the central research problem (Creswell, 2012, p. 16).
Quantitative research gathers data in numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement. This type of data can be used to construct graphs and tables of raw data. Quantitative results are limited as they provide numerical descriptions rather than detailed storyline and usually provide less detailed accounts of human awareness. The research is often carried out in an unnatural, artificial environment so that a level of control can be practical to the exercise. This level of control might be different in the real world firm laboratory results to real world results.
A major goal in research design is to decrease or control the influence of extraneous variables as much as possible. Controlling extraneous variables enables the researcher to more accurately determine the effect of an independent or treatment variable on a dependent or outcome variable. Researchers attempt to recognize and control as many extraneous variables as possible in quasi-experimental and experimental studies, and specific designs and sample criteria have been developed to control the influence of extraneous variables that might influence the outcomes of studies (Burns & Grove, 2011). One way to do this is by narrowly defining the sampling criteria to make the sample as homogeneous (or similar) as possible to control for extraneous variables. Other methods include randomization or random assignment of subjects to groups; matching subjects on extraneous variables and then assigning them randomly to groups; application of statistical techniques of analysis of covariance; and balancing means and standard deviations of groups (Mcleod,
Quantitative data is data that is usually in the form of numerical or statistical data while qualitative data is a categorical measurement expressed not in the terms of numbers but rather by a means of a natural language description. One way to acquire quantitative data is surveys while participant and non participant observations , case studies and unstructured interviews to get qualitative data. If the researcher decides to use any of the quantitative research method , they should always consider the size, cost and the purpose of the research whereas with the qualitative, they should take into consideration how they would like to interact with the respondents may it be directly, them knowing that they are being researched on or indirectly, where they don't know and the researcher joins their daily activities pretending to be one of them. A common way of conducting qualitative research is by using a survey and they use usually involve filling in a questionnaire. An advantage of a survey is that you can get lots of data in a relatively short space of time and a disadvantage is that the responses may not always be specific.