Chapter 12: The contribution of quantitative and qualitative research methods

Question 1

Nomothetic approach

Answer 1

Used for universal principles that go beyond the study

Question 2

Quantitative research methods

Answer 2

Descriptive - focused on observation, measured in numerical form

Relational - focused on correlations, usually uses factor analysis

Experimental - control for confounding variables to establish cause and effect relationships

Question 3

Weaknesses of quantitative research

Answer 3

• no interest in individuals
• quantitative imperative
• emphasis on falsification

Question 4

Quantitative imperative

Answer 4

Bias to find measurable topics interesting as quantitative research methods require numerical data

Question 5

Assumptions of qualitative research methods

Answer 5

• idealism
• controlled situations are artificial
• researcher should be immersed in situation
• ideographic
• induction - attention on bracketing (open mind, no hypotheses)
• evidence-based

Most frequently used: semi-structured interviews, focus groups

Question 6

Grounded theory

Answer 6

Tries to understand what is going on in a particular situation

Limitations:
- assumes existence of objective reality
- stresses inductive reasoning and verification
- does not take into account that data is based on perceptions and interpretations

Question 7

IPA interpretative phenomenological analysis

Answer 7

Tries to understand how something is experienced

Question 8

Discourse analysis

Answer 8

Tries to understand how social relations are determined by the language people use

Question 9

Strengths of qualitative research

Answer 9

• direct focus on a solution, instead of falsification
• intensive investigation leads to new ideas to be taken over by quantitative research
• more suited to participants’ needs

Question 10

Weaknesses of qualitative research

Answer 10

• deciding which theories to use
• introspection
• researcher impacts analysis and interview

Question 11

Quantitative psychologists against qualitative psychology

Answer 11

• makes psychology unscientific again
• rejects objective reality
• no new information provided

Question 12

Qualitative psychologists against quantitative psychology

Answer 12

• scientific method is upheld for status
• there is no objective reality
• no information on human functioning