Chapter 2 Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches John W

Chapter 2 Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to: Define quantitative and qualitative research Explain what has influenced the development of quantitative research and qualitative research Identify differences and similarities between quantitative and qualitative research Identify the types of research designs used as procedures in quantitative, qualitative, or combined (mixed) research Identify factors useful for deciding whether to use a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approach in a study John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 2

Definitions of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative Research A type of educational research in which the researcher decides what to study; asks specific, narrow questions; collects quantifiable data from participants; analyzes these numbers using statistics; and conducts the inquiry in an unbiased, objective manner. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Qualitative Research A type of educational research in which the researcher relies on the views of participants; asks broad, general questions; collects data consisting largely of words (or text) from participants; describes and analyzes these words for themes; and conducts the inquiry in a subjective, biased manner. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 3

The Development of Quantitative Research: Historical Trends Statistical procedures – – – Correlational procedures Comparison of groups Cause/effect relationships Test and measurement practices – – – Testing mental abilities (late 19 th century) Measuring achievement (e. g. , SAT) Predicting achievement from standardized measurements John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 4

Historical Trends: Quantitative Research Designs Educational surveys (late 19 th century) Simple experiments (early 20 th century) Multiple groups and tests (by 1935) Longitudinal designs Books on research design (e. g. , Campbell & Stanley, 1963; Kerlinger, 1964) John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 5

Historical Trends and the Characteristics of Quantitative Research An emphasis on collecting and analyzing information in the form of numbers An emphasis on collecting scores that measure distinct attributes of individuals and organizations An emphasis on the procedures of comparing groups or relating factors about individuals or groups in experiments, correlational studies, and surveys John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 6

The Development of Qualitative Research: Major Themes Philosophical ideas Procedural developments Advocacy practices John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 7

Historic Trends: Qualitative Philosophical Ideas Naturalistic inquiry or constructivism – – Consider the participant’s point of view Describe participant’s view within a setting or context Alternative perspective to traditional research John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 8

Historic Trends: Qualitative Procedural Developments Central phenomenon rather than research question or hypothesis Methods such as observations and interviews Designs such as case studies, grounded theory, and narrative John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 9

Historic Trends: Qualitative Advocacy Practices The qualitative researcher is not an objective, politically neutral observer. The qualitative researcher is an observer of the human condition. The meaning of the research is plural, political, and open. The project is collaborative and participatory. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 10

Characteristics of Quantitative and Qualitative Research in the Process of Research Quantitative Characteristics • Descriptive/Explanatory Role • Justify Problem Steps in the Research Process Identify a Problem • Major • Specific and Narrow • Measurable/Observable Review the Literature Specify a Purpose • Predetermined Instruments • Numeric Data • Large numbers • Statistical • Description of Trends • Comparisons/Predictions • Standard and Fixed • Objective and Unbiased John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Collect Data Analyze and Interpret Data Report and Evaluate Qualitative Characteristics • Exploratory/ Understanding a Central Phenomena • Minor Role • Justify Problem • General and Broad • Participants’ Experience • General, emerging form • Text or image data • Small Number • Text Analysis • Description and Themes • Larger Meanings of Findings • Flexible and Emerging • Reflexive and Biased Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 11

Ways in Which Quantitative and Qualitative Research Are Similar They both follow the steps in the process of research. The format for reporting the research problem is the same. Both have data collection steps. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 12

Relating Research Designs to Quantitative and Qualitative Research and Steps in the Research Process Two Approaches Research Designs Identify a Problem Quantitative Qualitative Specify a Purpose Quantitative Qualitative Collect Data Quantitative Qualitative Review the Literature Analyze and Interpret Data Quantitative Qualitative Report and Evaluate Quantitative Qualitative John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition • Experimental • Correlational • Survey • Mixed • Action • Ethnography • Grounded Theory • Narrative Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 13

Quantitative Designs and Uses Nonintervention Research Intervention Research Explaining whether an intervention influences an outcome for one group as opposed to another group Associating or relating variables in a predictable pattern for one group of individuals Experimental Research Correlational Research John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Describing trends for the population of people Survey Research Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 14

Qualitative Designs and Uses (cont’d) Exploring the shared culture of a group Ethnographic Research John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Exploring common experiences of individuals to develop a theory Grounded Theory Research Exploring individual stories to describe the lives of people Narrative Research Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 15

Combined Designs and Uses Combining quantitative and qualitative data to understand explain a research problem better. Mixed Methods Research John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Using quantitative and qualitative data for individuals to study problems that they face in their setting Action Research Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 16

Choosing Whether to Use a Quantitative or Qualitative Approach Match the approach to the problem Fit the approach to your audience Relate the approach to your experiences John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. 17