Lecture Three, Week 3 Choosing a Method

Lecture Three, Week 3Choosing a MethodKevin StandishCounselling Dissertation

So, what are you doing? Quantitative or qualitative?This is the wrong question

So, what do you want to find out?This is the right question

A paradigm of choices rejects methodological orthodoxy in favour of methodological appropriateness as the primary criterion for judging methodological quality

McKinlay JB (1993) In:Baum (1995) p.464

The method you choose should be the method that best fits your research purpose

This is why having a clearly defined research question is critical

If you dont know what you want to find out you cant possibly know how to find it !!

Quantitative vs Qualitative Research (5 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlU22hTyIs4

Qualitative vs. Quantitative (9min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X-QSU6-hPU

Simple distinctions..QuantitativeHow often? How many? How likely? Who? When? Where?PositivistObjective, stable reality governed by context-free cause-effect relationshipsScientific, evidence-based, deductive knowledgeResearch methods structured, replicable, experimental; results are quantifiable

Simple distinctions..QualitativeWhy? Why not? How? What for? InterpretiveSubjective, socially constructed reality, which must be interpretedKnowledge influenced by multiple realities, sensitive to context; research aims to uncover the meaning of phenomenaResearcher is a co-creator of meaning, brings own subjective experience to the research, methods try to capture insider knowledge, research conducted in natural settings

Despite what you may hear.. This is NOT an adversarial system The Quantitative / Qualitative debate is not a zero sum argument

What is Mixed Methods Research15 min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OaNiTlpyX8

Integrating methodsMatch the research methodology to:The type of research questionThe nature of the problem being investigatedMixing methodologiesQual preliminary to QUANT (generate hypotheses)Quant preliminary to QUAL (guides purposive sampling)QUANT followed-up by qual (helps interpret findings)QUAL followed-up by quant (tests generalisability)

Let us be done with the arguments of [qualitative versus quantitative methods] and get on with the business of attacking our problems with the widest array of conceptual and methodological tools that we possess and they demand.

Trow, 1957 In: Ulin et al. (2002) p. 49

Research Topic: Loneliness in the elderly populationWhats the prevalence?What are the risk factors?What are the protective factors?What help is there?How does it feel?What help would be welcome?Who plays a part?Who can play a part?Level of awareness?What has worked?

SELF STUDYA Brief Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods (51 minutes)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYqDKEsy9gE

Research Methodology Course (Self-Study)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCM2hk54MbI&list=PLwVp5s2iKJCR2auUj9YW6ptNTLTxhBRkH