Paradigm and method: qualitative and quantitative research

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Paradigm and method qualitative and quantitative
research
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Quantitative Qualitative methods

• Not diametrically opposed
• Offer different perspectives / interpretations of
  reality
• Can be used together
• Not bound to different paradigms.

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Quantitative qualitative research

• Quantitative
  Qualitative
• Study of observable qualities Study of
  meaning
• Identification and
  Variables complex and
• measurement of variables
  interwoven, difficult to
• 
  measure
• Observation of behaviour Empathy
  with experience and
  action
• Testing of hypotheses Focus on how and
  why
• Static design
  Emergent design
• Formal instruments
  Researcher as instrument
• Many cases
  Few cases
• Etic perspective
  Emic perspective

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A positivist perspective on reality

• What made Lil Zi join a gang?
• Personality
• Poverty Lil Zi
• Abusive background joins a
• Fear of the streets gang
• Absent parents
• Violent role models
• What is the likelihood that Jack will join a gang?

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An interpretivist perspective

• Poverty Absent parents
• Violent role Abusive
• models background
• Fear of Personality
• the streets

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Quantitative qualitative methods

• Quantitative methods
• (Prescribed and definitive procedures)
• Data collection survey interviews, measurement
  scales experiments.
• Analysis Enumeration, statistical analysis
• Qualitative methods
• (Guides rather than prescribed procedures,
  explicit use of creativity and intuition)
• Data collection case studies, indepth
  interviews, focus groups, participant observation
• Analysis thematic, narrative, discourse analysis

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Example Development of an antidepressantcomplian
ce questionnaire

• Objective To assess patients attitudes and
  beliefs on depression and antidepressants and to
  determine the psychometric properties of the
  ADCQ.
• Method A 51-item questionnaire was applied to
  357 psychiatric out-patients with MDD. This data
  set was used to assess psychometric properties of
  the ADCQ.
• Results A principal component analysis revealed
  four dimensions with good internal consistency
  and acceptable testretest reliability perceived
  doctorpatient relationship, preserved autonomy,
  positive beliefs on antidepressants and partner
  agreement, resulting in a final questionnaire
  comprising 33-items. Responses were independent
  from depression severity and patient age. The
  response patterns of patients illustrate the many
  erroneous beliefs on antidepressants.
• Conclusion The ADCQ has good psychometric
  properties further investigation should
  investigate whether this questionnaire is
  predictive of patient compliance.

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Some examples from the ADCQ

• I receive sufficient psychological support and
  encouragement from my doctor
• My doctor takes sufficient time to discuss my
  emotional problems
• My doctor understands my feelings and thoughts in
  depression perfectly
• My doctor is really interested in my problems
• My doctor shows sufficient consideration for my
  views and feelings about this treatment with
  antidepressants
• My doctor fully understands my condition.

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Discussion

• What are the limitations of the picture of the
  doctor-patient relationship that might be created
  through the above questions?
• How might this have been measured differently
  (using qualitative methods)?
• Why are quantitative methods better suited to
  positivist research and qualitative methods to
  interpretivist research?

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Is quantitative research more scientifically
valuable than qualitative research?

• Scientific knowledge and social hierarchies.
• An anthropological view of science?
• Is quantitative research really more objective
  than qualitative research? Not everyone thinks
  so
• Even when a researcher claims objectivity by
  undertaking procedures to achieve a position of
  distance, s/he is indeed producing a subjective
  account but refusing to acknowledge it as such.
• (De la Rey, 1999, p89)

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How can qualitative and quantitative research be
used together?

• Qualitative research answers the question, What
  is X?, which precedes enumeration of X.
• Eg. Can discover most suitable questions for
  quantitative questionnaire
• Qualitative research can be used to validate /
  explain the findings of quantitative studies.
• Qualitative research can provide a different
  perspective on quantitative findings.
• Stand alone qualitative research