Design Differences ©

Design Differences
Jeannette Villatoro
BKF9454A
Professor Alina Perez
November 10, 2009











Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative research are fascinating designs that can interpret and articulate a vast majority of interesting psychological topics. The two designs differ greatly in the techniques of measure that are utilized along with the intended principle of the studies being conducted. Although different measures and practices may be in place that separates the two models, similarities in detection make the qualitative and quantitative research methods closely related with the ability to compliment one another with explosive learning opportunities that propels science forward.















Design Differences

Research is an imperatively significant aspect of psychology that allow understanding and new discovery to emerge. Two types of research that may be utilized are the quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative research is based more on the experience of the participant and documenting the findings of the research from the participant’s own view. Qualitative research deals with systematic data that is used to describe the results of a study. While both methods are quite lucrative for the purpose of gathering information, there are many characteristics that exemplify these methods of research. This author will attempt to uncover some of the characteristics underlying these methods of research, the benefits of each method and the contrast between the characteristics that make these methods so unique.

Qualitative research is designated to collect data and observe behavior as it occurs. Because of this facet of qualitative research, a researcher or experimenter can only speculate as to the causation of the experiment whereas qualitative research performs certain methods to try and uncover the actual cause and effect of a certain experiment. While qualitative research depends on the opinions and behaviors of others, quantitative research delves into why these behaviors occur through experimentation or the relationship between variables through descriptive methods (Hopkins, 2000). Since descriptive methods “do not involve the manipulation of an independent variable”, they vary from experimental methods quite intensely (Davis, Smith, 2009, p. 59). Furthermore, qualitative data tends to focus on smaller groups of participants with rich details about each individual. Quantitative research deals with more people and hopes to accomplish a generalization of the populations being examined (Davis, Smith, 2009). Because there are different outcomes that may result from the different research methods, it is important to understand the different ways in which these studies are conducted and how these may differ depending on the nature of the design.

Sampling is a common technique in research that helps discover viable results. Although it is an effective technique, it is very labor intensive (Stevens, 2009). There are various sampling methods that can be utilized in research, dependent on whether it is a qualitative or quantitative study. Usually sampling entails selecting certain groups of individuals from a larger group of people for a research study (Davis, Smith, 2009). Purposeful sampling is a deliberate method of sampling that is used to gain the insight of others on a certain topic of interest. The objective is for a researcher to select “information-rich cases for study in depth” (Patton, 2001). With purposeful sampling, a researcher will choose a select group of individuals based on certain characteristics. These characteristics may include age, sex, income and other variables. However, with quantitative research there is a random selection of people when sampling is done. The reason for random sampling is to ensure that certain variables that cannot be changed will not affect the findings (Davis, Smith, 2009). This is imperative for a quantitative experiment to hold dignity and show validity through its findings. The differences between non-random sampling and random sampling are strong and equate whether quantitative and qualitative research measures are taken to provide comprehensive results.

Another important factor of research is the researcher himself. His involvement and interpretation of the experiment is very valuable and also can even be debilitating depending on which research method is being used. If a researcher is conducting a quantitative experiment, he must be impartial and detached with an objective portrayal (Gleshne, Peshkin, 1992). In essence, while it is important to weed out the extraneous variables that may have a causal relationship with other variables in the experiment, the researcher and his interaction in the study can become an extraneous variable itself with a strong influence. This is something that should be avoided in quantitative experimentations. Any personal or subjective interaction with the participants of the experiment or the experiment itself may lead to contaminated results that are unreliable and cannot be well interpreted by future researchers. In a qualitative research model, however, the researcher is a part of the experiment. He may freely interpret the results while having personal involvement in the study. Although still an observer of sorts, this researcher is allowed partiality and can display “empathetic understanding” (Gleshne, Peshkin, 1992, p. 2) to help shape the direction of both the experiment and the hypothesis that develops. These are strong and impacting differences in the designs of research and help lay a foundation of not only how an experiment is processed, but also how the scientific community receives it. Moreover, a researcher must take certain care that he does not implement certain techniques in a research study that would equate the other design. If a qualitative approach is given in a quantitative research experiment and vice versa, it will damage the study irrevocably.

One last difference between the qualitative and quantitative design is the way research is carried out when considering the design that is used. In a quantitative model of research, control is a major factor that enables the experimenter to attain the variables that may be present and manipulate the experiment to consider and execute those variable to an advantage. A qualitative study will not control the factors in that manner, but rather observe participants in a natural setting along with any variables that are involved. An example of this would be a researcher conducting a quantitative research experiment on the effects of learning in a stressful environment among adult males. This experiment would be performed with a controlled group in which a certain number of people are selected with similar aspects in order to conduct an experiment. A hypothesis is constructed before this experiment takes place with the intent of proving that hypothesis. With a qualitative effort of research, a researcher may simply observe a native village and the people who inhabit it to understand behavior. A hypothesis is formed after the research and built upon the observations that took place.

Quantitative and qualitative research designs are both intricate approaches to scientific discovery. They both have many differences in the nature of the research along with the intended results. Responsibility lies with the researcher who must delegate the proper tools to ensure that the design is carried out in its correct form. Despite the empirical distinctions that are between these designs, there is a shared unity in that they both are used to come closer to a discovery and allow for understanding and definition to take place.















References
Davis, S. F., & Smith, R. A. (2009). The Psychologist as Detective. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Glesne, C., & Peshkin, A. (1992). Becoming qualitative researchers: An
introduction. White Plains, NY: Longman.
Hopkins, W. (2000). Quantitative research design. Retrieved from
http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0001/wghdesign.html.
Patton, M. (2001). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Stevens, M. (2009). Selected qualitative methods. Retrieved from
http://symptomresearch.nih.gov/chapter_7/sec4/cmss4pg1.htm.