Research Methods and Research Questions

Question 1

How do you observe qualitative and quantitative data?

Answer 1

Qual - Described in words
Quan - Measured in numbers

Question 2

What is the starting point for qualitative and quantitative data?

Answer 2

Qual - Situations
Quan - Data/hypothesis

Question 3

What are the goals of the study for qualitative and quantitative data?

Answer 3

Qual - Participants provide reliable observations
Quan - Methods are repeatable and findings quantifiable

Question 4

What are the advantages of qualitative data?

Answer 4

Provides understanding

Explore different areas

Hear & understand participants’ voices

Produces narrative, stories

Question 5

What are the advantages of quantitative data?

Answer 5

Limited variables

Representative samples

Anonymised

Precise; Statistical comparisons

Test theories; Policy relevance

Question 6

What are the limitations of qualitative data?

Answer 6

Small samples

Time-intensive

Less ‘rigour’?

Researcher training

Question 7

What are the limitations of quantitative data?

Answer 7

Little understanding of individual experience

Less contextual understanding

Question 8

What is a GOOD research question?

Answer 8

SMART or PICOT (problem, intervention, comparison, outcome, time) or SPICE (setting, perspective, intervention, comparison, evaluation)