1. Quantitative and Qualitative Research Approaches
Lecture 4
Research Methods
Geog 316
JA Yaro

2. What is a research strategy
Research strategy means the general orientation to the conduct of social research
A research strategy is a plan of action that gives direction to your efforts, enabling you to conduct research systematically rather than haphazardly.
Quantitative research can be construed as the research strategy that emphasizes quantification in the collection and analysis of data – numeracy
Qualitative research can be construed as the research strategy that emphasizes interpretation rather than quantification in the collection and analysis of data

3. What is qualitative research?
Concerned with words rather than numbers
Inductive view of the relationship between theory and research
Adopts an interpretivist position
Stress is on the understanding of the social world through an examination of the interpretation of that world by its participants
Constructionist in that social properties are outcomes of the interactions between individuals, rather than phenomena

4. Features of qualitative research
Data can come in the form of words, images, impressions, gestures, or tones which represent real events
The word “qualitative” implies an emphasis on process and an in-depth understanding of perceived meanings, interpretations, and behaviors,
Qualitative data collection and analysis are labor intensive
The general rule in qualitative research is that you continue to sample until you are not getting any new information or are no longer gaining new insights.

5. An outline of the main steps in qualitative research
1. General research questions
2. Selecting research sites and subjects
3. Collection of relevant data
5b. Collection of further data
4. Interpretation of data
5. Conceptual and theoretical framework
5a. Tighter specification of the research questions
6. Write up findings and conclusions

6. When to use qualitative research strategy
Used to study human behavior and behavior changes
Study the variations of complex human behavior in context
Connecting quantitative data to behavior using qualitative methods
Use qualitative methods to find patterns
Hypothesis-generating or testing
New area of research
Causes and effects
Exploratory study

7. WHAT IS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?
It is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are utilised to obtain information about the world
It exhibits a strong link between theory and research
Deductive with an objectivist conception of social reality.
They pose the questions who, what, when, where, how much, how many, how often?
Quantification is preoccupied with measurement, causality, generalization and replication.
Data is hard, rigorous, credible, and scientific.
Quantitative research is rigid and formalised with rules of strict practice.
Quantitative research provides snapshots of events at fixed historical periods

9. Survey research
Describes a population- it counts and describes ‘what is out there’.
It is an invaluable tool when primary data are required about people, their behaviour, attitudes, and opinions and their awareness of specific issues
Involves systematic observation or interviewing.
Extensive: Used to quickly and/or easily get lots of information from people
The three most important considerations for the surveyor are: speed, low cost, and increased accuracy and analysis of the data.
Social scientists use the cross-sectional design, which asks questions of people at one point in time.
Also longitudinal panel studies
Large-scale, small-scale, and cross-cultural studies
Survey research uses Questionnaires

10. Quantitative research differs from qualitative research in the following ways
The data is usually gathered using more structured research instruments
The results provide less detail on behaviour, attitudes and motivation
The results are based on larger sample sizes that are representative of the population,
The research can usually be replicated or repeated, given it high reliability; and
The analysis of the results is more objective.