Running head: Research Methods Analysis 1

Phd in International Management

Various Research Methods Analysis

Submitted by: Sohil Sharma

Horizons University, Paris

PHD 650: Qualitative & Quantitative Methods

Professor: Dr. Perry Haan

Date of Submission: 17th Dec 2018

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................3

Quantitative Research Method ...................................................................................4

Qualitative Research Method .....................................................................................5

Mixed Research Method ............................................................................................6

Various Circumstances ..............................................................................................7

Conclusion .................................................................................................................8

Reference....................................................................................................................9
Research Methods Investigation 3

Introduction

According to the study done by Creswell (2003), researcher need to focus on

three methods when carrying out business research: Quantitative, Qualitative and

mixed method approaches. Author mention ‘The first has been available to the

social and human scientist for years, the second has emerged primarily during the

last three or four decades, and the last is new and still developing in form and

substance’. Starting to consider the most fashionable one which is quantitative

research method that deals with numbers and amounts to certain extend for

describing an event in a form of figures that support the hypotheses and predication

modal. The other one is running from ages that is qualitative research method

which enable researcher to use texts for justifying their findings, describing the

quality of subject, kind of providing mental picture from researcher view. The last

on which is less known that others two methods called as mixed methods that

includes the mixing of both qualitative and quantitative data for improving the

existing measures. A method that involves collecting, analyzing quantitative with

qualitative focus group interviews. In this paper my intention will be to drill down

the comparison of all the 3 methods by identifying the preferable approaches under

what circumstances is better. Applying the concepts from key consideration in my

research approach by relating it to my own philosophy of business research.

Quantitative Research Method

A method in which collection of numerical data which can be transformed

into statistics are taken into consideration. DeFranzo (2011, para 3) also mention

that it is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined variables

– and generalize results from a larger sample population, it also measurable data to

formulate facts and uncover patterns in research. If researcher is playing with the

numbers it means he/she have a good knowledge of interpretations of standard

deviations, calculation, correlation etc. In this method data collections are done

through various forms like online or paper survey, mobile or kiosk survey even

some time face-to-face interviews, online pools and telephone interviews are also

considered as a part of it. Creswell (2003) also mention that that knowledge is

conjectural absolute truth can never be found (p. 7). Thus, evidence established in

research is always imperfect and fallible. Benefits of these time of research lets

scientist to conduct broad depth research with accurate result and just because the

data is straightforward it is easy to compare outcome amongst other data. On the

other side the drawback of this methods is researchers need to have access to the

population which can sometime by time-consuming and costly. Personal

information can be leak causing a high risk of bias, so question that are define for

in-depth study need to short with no probing questions.

Qualitative Research Method

This once is in pictures from many decades. According to DeFranzo (2011)

this approach is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and

motivations by providing insights into the problem or helping to develop ideas and

hypotheses for potential quantitative research. In simple terms it is method of

observation that is gather through non-numerical data. The type of research

includes various methods of collecting data through case studies, interviews, focus

group like group discussion with participation and observation. One of the quality

of these type of research are it covers issue as well as subject in depth and in

details plus data is more powerful as its made up of human experience rather than

quantitative research. Usually in these types of research the researcher has a clear

vision on what to expect as framework of the work can be revised quickly with the

fresh information. But everything comes will disadvantages, in here quality

depends by the knowledge and skill of researcher so there is some dependency. It

could be time consuming with rigidity is more difficulty to assess. Creswell (20030

also talked about that the process of qualitative research is largely inductive, with

the inquirer generating meaning from the data collected in the field (p.9). These

sorts of research are sometimes not accepted especially within scientific

communities’ environment.
Research Methods Investigation 6

Mixed Research Method

The 3rd one that was discuss is mixed research methods which is relatively

new in the market and it is still under development. According to FoodRisc

Resource Centre (n.a.), Mixed methods research is a methodology for conducting

research that involves collecting, analyzing and integrating quantitative (e.g.,

experiments, surveys) and qualitative (e.g., focus groups, interviews) research.

This approach to research is used when this integration provides a better

understanding of the research problem than either of each alone.

This sort of approach provides a greater comprehensive understanding of

the research problem in details rather than focusing separated on quantitative or

qualitative approaches individual plus on top of that it offset the weaknesses of

both research too, but design of these research can be very complex. It is not easy

to plan and implement one method by drawing the finding that is noted from

another research, so that is why is take much more time and resource to plan

accordingly. These methods be only suggested to use where understanding the

phenomenon in depth plays a great importance to the researcher. It may be

sometimes unclear how to resolve the discrepancies that can occur when

investigating the findings specially when collection of quantitative data followed

by qualitative data.
Research Methods Investigation 7

Various Circumstances

Here we will be discussing about which dimension is preferable under what

circumstance and for that we need to put it the table. According to Creswell (2014)

suggestion below are the research designs that these approaches tend to use

Figure 1: Creswell, 2014, p.45.

In my last course PHD 610, I made my final project on ‘Organizational

Behaviours in different geographical area. I utilized surveys from various online

resources, document for data collection and that is a part both quantitative and

qualitative investigation for conclusion. I applied partially the concepts of key

considerations when designing my research approach for identification of how

human reacts in certain conditional cause of organizational environment in various

parts of country. I was not aware of the third one that is mixed research so was not

able to patch in my previous final project. One the format of Qualitative question

type which is open ended and quantitative was taken care in my previous project

that helps in predicting, confirming, discovering and describe the relationship

accordingly.
Research Methods Investigation 8

Conclusion

The paper has given a little insight of quantitative, qualitative and mixed

methods approaches when researching. Going further is seems to be appear that

mixed methods research will play a greater role in future research than the other

two because it contains the potentials to overcome criticism which are pointed at

each methodology individually. It should be however pin pointed that a research

can never be bias on one methodology as it various from researcher to researcher

also depends upon the phenomenon being studied. In an overall, it has been shown

that the question which we are performing in the research drives the methodology

to be used in future.

The purpose of this study was to understand the ground root of various

methodological framework. If you have the budget, then researcher should go for

both quantitative and qualitative research as it provides various perspectives. Being

aware of various methodology with a good idea help you focusing on the target

user with in-depth information gathering. Overall the primary aim of these type of

research are to provide a completed detailed description as determining which

method is best suitable is an ongoing debateable topic. The reason why it remains

unresolved is due to the fact of contain own strengths and weakness which vary

depending upon topic.

Reference

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed

method approaches. Chapter 1, A framework for design. Sage Publications,

Inc. Second Edition.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed

Methods Approaches (4th ed., p. 304). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE

Publications.

DeFranzo, E. S. (2011). What’s the difference between qualitative and quantitative

research? Retrieved from:

https://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/qualitative-vs-quantitative-research/

FoodRisc Resource Centre (n.a.). A resource centre for food risk and benefit

communication. Retrieved from:

http://resourcecentre.foodrisc.org/mixed-methods-research_185.html