Outline some of the main differences between quantitative and qualitative Research methods. (1000 words)

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EMMA SMITH                SOCIOLOGY – SOCS 101 – SEMESTER A

SEMINAR GROUP C- Thursday 2-3pm

2A) Outline some of the main differences between quantitative and qualitative    

        Research methods. (1000 words)    

The discipline of sociology dates back to the end of the 18th century, and for many, it seems a difficult term to accurately define.  It covers a wide range of topics such as poverty and gender to race and relationships, and its focus is on understanding the modernised, and industrialised world, which has developed throughout this time.  Sociology enables us to take a step back and look at things which are familiar to us in a new way.  Methodology and theories give us the ability to see things from a new perspective.

    The term ‘methodology’ defines the theory and analysis of how research should proceed.  Any good research should have a basis in science, and the factor that distinguishes sociological arguments from common sense is systematic knowledge, which is developed through rigorous research processes.  In doing research, people are trying to produce knowledge that is accurate; a description of some aspect of the world that is as close as possible to how it actually is.  They also try to make sure that this knowledge is objective and value-free, meaning that the information must be gathered in a way that limits the chances of the researcher influencing or distorting the information.

           ‘The ultimate goals of research are to formulate questions and to find answers to these questions.  The immediate goals of research – exploration, description, prediction, explanation and action – provide us with a strategy for figuring out which questions to ask and which to seek’  (Dane, 1990: 56).

   

In terms of research, there are two predominant methods, and these tend to be quantitative and qualitative.  Whilst there are other methods used such as official statistics, research is rarely ever carried out that does not have a firm grounding in at least one of these methods.   It should be remembered also that under the broad headings of qualitative and quantitative methods, there are many subdivisions and overlaps between the two groups.

 ‘However, it is important to emphasise that the more sophisticated our understanding of sociology, the more we come to recognise the overlap between different research methods. ‘ (Marsh, 2000) 

 The main differences between these two types of research are in the way that the research is carried out, the scale that the research is carried out on, and the type of information required and often these factors affect what method is used.

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    Quantitative research involves collecting data through a variety of means, so that it can be later presented and analysed.  The data can be gathered through methods such as postal questionnaires, surveys, and structured interviews; all in order to test a particular hypothesis and analyse facts about society. Advantages of using some of these methods mentioned are that they are quick and easy to administer, and the results can be quickly worked out. From this, they can be easily collated, meaning that trends can be spotted and analysed, and links can often be worked out between groups in society. ...

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Again, a low grade 3/high grade 2 essay. There is no consideration really of the second part of the question - why they might be considered 'mutually exclusive'. This would require a bit of consideration of competing epistemologies, which are only mentioned as a throwaway comment.