Types Of Research Paradigms And Methods

The pros and cons of different research methods would therefore be judged by providing alignment with the aim and objectives of the research. The research onion framework will be used to structure the development and adoption of research methodology for this research.

Quantitative and qualitative research generates from two different perspectives, and it provide different types of crucial information from the research subject. Qualitative research corresponds more with comprehensive and thorough descriptions of events, whereas quantitative research creates statistical models to explain events. Several advantages and disadvantages in qualitative and quantitative research, depends upon the researcher's purpose and area of focus and information that will answer those research questions (Creswell, (2013).

The researcher must set a clear hypothesis, showing the relationship between independent and dependent variables. In quantitative research tools are used to collect numerical data. The information can be gathered using questionnaires or some type of equipment. Quantitative data is efficient at testing a hypothesis, but can miss contextual detail. In quantitative research, the researcher is often objectively separated from the subject matter. One of the ways quantitative research is different from qualitative research is that quantitative research requires extraction of large amounts of statistical data. Qualitative research is focused in on personal viewpoints and opinions of a smaller number of subjects (typically). Qualitative research can take more time than quantitative research (McCusker & Gunaydin,

There are many strength of quantitative research methods. However, some of the major strength of quantitative research methods are 1). It can be generalized when selections process is well designed and when the sample represents the study of population, 2). Compare to Qualitative it is relatively easy to analyze and 3). The data collected can be view as very reliable and specific (Creswell, 2015).

Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the sociocultural level of analysis.

Qualitative research is investigations which use sensory methods such as listening or observing to gather and organize data into patterns or themes. Qualitative research deals more often with language than numbers. Methods of gathering information might be focus groups or interview panels. It uses a flexible research design and utilizes an inductive process to formulate a theory. The idea is to get in depth information from the participants. The purpose is to understand and interpret social interactions.

As we have studied in this and other courses, quantitative research intends to solve problems by quantifiying data that can be later generalized to larger groups whereas qualitative research focuses on analysis of qualities in a deeper and more detailed manner. As their names indicate, quantitative studies are about quantities and qualitative studies are about qualities. Quantitative research proposes to solve research questions by providing statistics or percentages while qualitative will offer explanations, concepts, on the how or why of the problems. Quantitative research requires very specific research questions and

There are various different research strategies with distinctive characteristics available from which a researcher may select, based on the previous criteria.

The quantitative and qualitative research traditions can be thought of as distinct cultures marked by different values, beliefs, and norms. Qualitative research methods are complex meaningful analyses characterized by processes and meanings that are not measured in terms of mathematical measurements. Quantitative research however, relies and builds on mathematical procedures and methods, such as frequency, quality, amount and statistical procedure. There are unique characteristics which distinguish one research process from the other.

Quantitative and qualitative researches are based on different paradigms. Qualitative research strategy focuses mainly on words, human behaviour in the cultural context, attitudes and life experiences rather than numerical data (IPA Research Strategy. 2010). It focuses on collecting information to confirm how the variables interrelate. It is subjective and always relies on the interpretation of the situation of the individual undertaking the study.

The methodological framework section will identify the most suitable research methods to be used in this research project, providing theoretical justification for the methods chosen.

Quantitative research measures the quantity of a phenomena in numerical scores. Kothari states that "[q]uantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity"(3). The data usually collected from quantitative methods are statistically and numerically displayed. In quantitative research design, the researcher investigates a phenomena depending on the participants ' opinions and attitudes (Creswell, Research Design 20). These are the questionnaire and observation that I used in collecting my data. Firstly, I will talk about the survey questionnaire that I designed for collecting my data and the sample for whom the survey questionnaire is oriented. Next, I will talk about the referees to whom I sent my questionnaire to check the items ' validity and reliability. Lastly, in the questionnaire tool, I will describe how I did a pilot study with my questionnaire.

This chapter provides detailed and explicit information on the research methodology, establishing the different viewpoints of the research, as well as the methods that were used in this particular venture. The chapter will provide a

Research philosophy is based on the assumptions which define research strategy and explains the relationship between a research study and the data collection process (Zikmund, 2012). The research philosophy is categorised into positivism and interpretivism. Positivism only adheres the knowledge based on factual information through observations (data collection methods) which are mostly quantifiable and measurable (Saunders et al., 2009). Whereas in interpretivism, research variables can be interpreted through socially constructed measures (language, consciousness and instruments).

In light of the literature, research philosophy is defined as the process of collecting and analysing collected data in standardised and unique manner (Crossan, 2003). The most commonly used research philosophies include; realism, positivism, and interpretivism. On the basis of the research objectives and design, the most appropriate research philosophy was positivism.