2.2 Type of Data Collected and Sample Size
At a basic level the differences between qualitative and quantitative methods (Eisner, 1998; Ryan & Golden, 2006) are related to the fact that a survey is mostly used to collect numerical data and / or information, statistical methods and graphs are used to analyse such data and / or information in quantitative research (Saunders et al., 2009; Van Maanen, 1983) compared to interviews in qualitative research, collecting words, explanations, opinions, pictures, videos and other non-numerical data and / or information that can be decoded, translated (Van Maanen, 1985) and categorised to try and make meaning of the phenomenon being studied (Aaker et al., 2001) .
Obtaining deeper, complete and ample …show more content…
al, 2009) could streamline the data collection process, reduce or even eliminate data gaps and the need for subsequent data collections (Echambadi et al. 2006). Gaps in data impact on precision, are indicative of incompleteness and may lead to unreliable data and ultimately unreliable results (Echambadi et al. 2006; Abowitz & Toole, 2010) but both qualitative and quantitative researchers need to manage reliability of data more regardless of the choice of instrument to avoid having to repeat data collection (Brock-Utne, …show more content…
600) implies researcher bias if interpreted from a quantitative researcher’s point of view, because reality is seen as external to the researcher due to the positivist philosophical assumption that underpins quantitative research but is in fact permissible in qualitative research (Crotty, 1998) because the researcher is a participant in creating reality in the philosophy associated with qualitative research (Saunders et al., 2008; Crotty, 1998). This example reminds researchers of how important it is for a researcher to understand the implications of, explain and defend the commitments and or choices one makes about reality, nature of knowledge and research methodology (Johnson & Clarke,
At a basic level the differences between qualitative and quantitative methods (Eisner, 1998; Ryan & Golden, 2006) are related to the fact that a survey is mostly used to collect numerical data and / or information, statistical methods and graphs are used to analyse such data and / or information in quantitative research (Saunders et al., 2009; Van Maanen, 1983) compared to interviews in qualitative research, collecting words, explanations, opinions, pictures, videos and other non-numerical data and / or information that can be decoded, translated (Van Maanen, 1985) and categorised to try and make meaning of the phenomenon being studied (Aaker et al., 2001) .
Obtaining deeper, complete and ample …show more content…
al, 2009) could streamline the data collection process, reduce or even eliminate data gaps and the need for subsequent data collections (Echambadi et al. 2006). Gaps in data impact on precision, are indicative of incompleteness and may lead to unreliable data and ultimately unreliable results (Echambadi et al. 2006; Abowitz & Toole, 2010) but both qualitative and quantitative researchers need to manage reliability of data more regardless of the choice of instrument to avoid having to repeat data collection (Brock-Utne, …show more content…
600) implies researcher bias if interpreted from a quantitative researcher’s point of view, because reality is seen as external to the researcher due to the positivist philosophical assumption that underpins quantitative research but is in fact permissible in qualitative research (Crotty, 1998) because the researcher is a participant in creating reality in the philosophy associated with qualitative research (Saunders et al., 2008; Crotty, 1998). This example reminds researchers of how important it is for a researcher to understand the implications of, explain and defend the commitments and or choices one makes about reality, nature of knowledge and research methodology (Johnson & Clarke,