Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research

Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Answers to Review Questions 2. 1. Describe the key features of quantitative and qualitative research. Just look at Table 2. 1, which shows the key characteristics of these two approaches in their pure or extreme forms as well as the characteristics of mixed research. I will mention a few of these here. Quantitative research uses the deductive or confirmatory or â€Å"top down† scientific method; it is used primarily for description, explanation, and prediction. It is based on quantitative data, in particular on the analysis of variables.The results are statistical and a goal is to generalize the results. In qualitative research, in contrast, the â€Å"bottom up† or inductive exploratory method is used; it is used primarily for the purposes of description and exploration and to gain an understanding of how people think and experience their lives. It is based on qualitative data which during analysis are examined fo r patterns, themes, and holistic features. A narrative report is presented and generalization is usually not a goal because the focus is on the local, the personal, the subjective. 2. 2. Describe the key features of mixed research.Mixed research is the third and newest research methodology paradigm. As you can see in Table 2. 1 it tries to mix the best of qualitative and quantitative research into research studies. Philosophically, mixed research takes an eclectic, pragmatic, and commonsense approach, suggesting that the researcher mix quantitative and qualitative in a way that works best for the given research question being studied in a particular context. Mixed research uses both deductive and inductive methods, obtains both quantitative and qualitative data, attempts to corroborate and complement findings, and takes a balanced approach to research.Later in the chapter you will learn about the fundamental principle of mixed research which states that when planning mixed research, the researcher should mix methods or procedures in a way that the resulting mixture or combination has complementary strengths and nonoverlapping weaknesses. 2. 3. What is the difference between a categorical variable and a quantitative variable? Think of an example of each. A categorical variable varies in type or kind and a quantitative variable varies in degree or amount. An example of the former is gender, and an example of the latter is class size. . 4. Why is experimental research more effective than nonexperimental research when a researcher is interested in studying cause and effect? Strong experimental research designs (i. e. , the best experiments) include both manipulation and random assignment; nonexperimental has neither of these. â€Å"Manipulation† is an action taken by the researcher in the world (e. g. , providing a treatment to one group and a control condition to another group); manipulation allows us to see a manipulation first, and then observe the outco me or result of the manipulation. Random assignment† makes the groups similar on ALL extraneous variables at the beginning of the experiment; hence, the only difference between the groups will be the level of independent variable received, allowing the differences observed after the experiment is completed to be attributed to the manipulated independent variable. 2. 5. What are the main problems with the simple cases of causal-comparative and correlational research? The problem with BOTH of these simple cases is that the researcher has no manipulation, no random assignment, and is only able to determine whether a statistical relationship is present.Observing a relationship is NOT enough information to attribute causation. To make a causal attribution, you need to meet three conditions: 1) show that there is a relationship, 2) show that you have the correct time ordering of your variables, that is, if A causes B then A must precede B in time, and 3) all alternative explanations must be ruled out. Again, all the simple cases give us is a relationship (i. e. , condition 1). (On the other hand, a well conducted strong experiment satisfies all three conditions. ) 2. 6 What are two variables that you believe are positively correlated?Study time the night before an exam and test grades (i. e. , the greater the study time, the higher the grades). 2. 7. What are two variables that you believe are negatively correlated? Amount of time spent partying the night before a test and test grades (i. e. , the greater the time spent partying, the lower the grades).. 2. 8. What are the different types of qualitative research, and what is the defining feature of each of these? The types are phenomenology, ethnography, case study research, grounded theory, and historical research.Here are the definitions, with the key ideas underlined: (a) Phenomenology: a form of qualitative research in which the researcher attempts to understand how one or more individuals experience a phen omenon. (b) Ethnography: a form of qualitative research focused on describing the culture of a group of people. (c) Case study research: a form of qualitative research that is focused on providing a detailed account of one or more cases. (d) Grounded theory research: a qualitative approach to generating a theory from the data that the researcher collects. e) Historical research: research about events in the past. 2. 9. What is mixed research, and what is an example of this kind of research? Mixed research (also commonly called mixed methods research) is research in which the researcher uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single research study. Example: study the members of the snake handling churches in the Southern Tennessee/West Georgia using participant observation and using quantitative measurement instruments to profile the participants on variables of interest.Both sorts of data will likely provide useful information. 2. 10. What are the three re search paradigms in education and what are the major types of research in each of these paradigms? (Hint: See Figure 2. 3 in your textbook. ) They are quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed research. Quantitative research has two major subtypes: experimental and nonexperimental research; qualitative research has five major subtypes: phenomenology, ethnography, case study, grounded theory, and historical research. Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Answers to Review Questions 2. 1. Describe the key features of quantitative and qualitative research. Just look at Table 2. 1, which shows the key characteristics of these two approaches in their pure or extreme forms as well as the characteristics of mixed research. I will mention a few of these here. Quantitative research uses the deductive or confirmatory or â€Å"top down† scientific method; it is used primarily for description, explanation, and prediction. It is based on quantitative data, in particular on the analysis of variables.The results are statistical and a goal is to generalize the results. In qualitative research, in contrast, the â€Å"bottom up† or inductive exploratory method is used; it is used primarily for the purposes of description and exploration and to gain an understanding of how people think and experience their lives. It is based on qualitative data which during analysis are examined fo r patterns, themes, and holistic features. A narrative report is presented and generalization is usually not a goal because the focus is on the local, the personal, the subjective. 2. 2. Describe the key features of mixed research.Mixed research is the third and newest research methodology paradigm. As you can see in Table 2. 1 it tries to mix the best of qualitative and quantitative research into research studies. Philosophically, mixed research takes an eclectic, pragmatic, and commonsense approach, suggesting that the researcher mix quantitative and qualitative in a way that works best for the given research question being studied in a particular context. Mixed research uses both deductive and inductive methods, obtains both quantitative and qualitative data, attempts to corroborate and complement findings, and takes a balanced approach to research.Later in the chapter you will learn about the fundamental principle of mixed research which states that when planning mixed research, the researcher should mix methods or procedures in a way that the resulting mixture or combination has complementary strengths and nonoverlapping weaknesses. 2. 3. What is the difference between a categorical variable and a quantitative variable? Think of an example of each. A categorical variable varies in type or kind and a quantitative variable varies in degree or amount. An example of the former is gender, and an example of the latter is class size. . 4. Why is experimental research more effective than nonexperimental research when a researcher is interested in studying cause and effect? Strong experimental research designs (i. e. , the best experiments) include both manipulation and random assignment; nonexperimental has neither of these. â€Å"Manipulation† is an action taken by the researcher in the world (e. g. , providing a treatment to one group and a control condition to another group); manipulation allows us to see a manipulation first, and then observe the outco me or result of the manipulation. Random assignment† makes the groups similar on ALL extraneous variables at the beginning of the experiment; hence, the only difference between the groups will be the level of independent variable received, allowing the differences observed after the experiment is completed to be attributed to the manipulated independent variable. 2. 5. What are the main problems with the simple cases of causal-comparative and correlational research? The problem with BOTH of these simple cases is that the researcher has no manipulation, no random assignment, and is only able to determine whether a statistical relationship is present.Observing a relationship is NOT enough information to attribute causation. To make a causal attribution, you need to meet three conditions: 1) show that there is a relationship, 2) show that you have the correct time ordering of your variables, that is, if A causes B then A must precede B in time, and 3) all alternative explanations must be ruled out. Again, all the simple cases give us is a relationship (i. e. , condition 1). (On the other hand, a well conducted strong experiment satisfies all three conditions. ) 2. 6 What are two variables that you believe are positively correlated?Study time the night before an exam and test grades (i. e. , the greater the study time, the higher the grades). 2. 7. What are two variables that you believe are negatively correlated? Amount of time spent partying the night before a test and test grades (i. e. , the greater the time spent partying, the lower the grades).. 2. 8. What are the different types of qualitative research, and what is the defining feature of each of these? The types are phenomenology, ethnography, case study research, grounded theory, and historical research.Here are the definitions, with the key ideas underlined: (a) Phenomenology: a form of qualitative research in which the researcher attempts to understand how one or more individuals experience a phen omenon. (b) Ethnography: a form of qualitative research focused on describing the culture of a group of people. (c) Case study research: a form of qualitative research that is focused on providing a detailed account of one or more cases. (d) Grounded theory research: a qualitative approach to generating a theory from the data that the researcher collects. e) Historical research: research about events in the past. 2. 9. What is mixed research, and what is an example of this kind of research? Mixed research (also commonly called mixed methods research) is research in which the researcher uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single research study. Example: study the members of the snake handling churches in the Southern Tennessee/West Georgia using participant observation and using quantitative measurement instruments to profile the participants on variables of interest.Both sorts of data will likely provide useful information. 2. 10. What are the three re search paradigms in education and what are the major types of research in each of these paradigms? (Hint: See Figure 2. 3 in your textbook. ) They are quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed research. Quantitative research has two major subtypes: experimental and nonexperimental research; qualitative research has five major subtypes: phenomenology, ethnography, case study, grounded theory, and historical research.