Lecture 1
Quantitative research Qualitative research
Collecting & analysing numbers Collecting & analysing words
Counting (how many/often) Understanding (why, how)
Looking for regularities Looking for specifics
Standardized measurement instruments Researcher is (part of) the measurement
instrument
Mostly: testing hypothesis/theory (deductive Mostly: creating hypothesis/theory (inductive
approach) approach)
Large sample of research units (random Small samples of research units (purposive
sampling) sampling)
Quantitative vs qualitative research
Choosing between a quantitative or qualitative approach
o Researcher paradigm (ontology= certain beliefs about what is reality / epistemology:
how can you best acquire knowledge out reality)
Empirical analytical approach (neopositivism) – quantitative research
Nomothetic knowledge (general laws about relation between certain
variables)
Reductionist research (large sample, few variables)
Standardized methods
Replicable
Non-normative
Empirical-interpretive approach
Ideographic knowledge (describe/understand specific cases)
Holistic research (small sample, lot of variables)
Unstandardized methods
More difficult to replicate
Non-normative?
o Pragmatic stance: look at the research purpose / question
Combining quantitative and qualitative
Empirical cycle
Goal: generation and verification of theories
Start: knowledge problem
Phases:
o Theory development
1. Observation
2. Induction
o Theory testing
3. Deduction
4. Testing of hypothesis
5. Evaluation
, Characteristics of qualitative research
Qualitative research is about
o Looking for meaning
o Using flexible research methods
o Providing qualitative findings
Grounded-theory approach
Systematically collecting and analysing data step-by-step in order
to develop theory
Qualitative data-sources & methods
Physical reality: water, landscape etc.
Quality criteria of qualitative research
Reliability
o Will repeated measurements yield the same results?
Measurement/internal validity
o Measurement: do we really measure what we want to measure?
o Internal: are our conclusions correct?
External validity
o Can we generalize the conclusions based on our sample to the population (and other
populations / situations)
Consider the following two statements:
1. According to Boeije, qualitative research is about using standardized research methods
2. In the grounded theory approach data collection and data analysis are strictly sperated
Both statements are false (D)
The qualitative research process
Quantitative research Qualitative research
Collecting & analysing numbers Collecting & analysing words
Counting (how many/often) Understanding (why, how)
Looking for regularities Looking for specifics
Standardized measurement instruments Researcher is (part of) the measurement
instrument
Mostly: testing hypothesis/theory (deductive Mostly: creating hypothesis/theory (inductive
approach) approach)
Large sample of research units (random Small samples of research units (purposive
sampling) sampling)
Quantitative vs qualitative research
Choosing between a quantitative or qualitative approach
o Researcher paradigm (ontology= certain beliefs about what is reality / epistemology:
how can you best acquire knowledge out reality)
Empirical analytical approach (neopositivism) – quantitative research
Nomothetic knowledge (general laws about relation between certain
variables)
Reductionist research (large sample, few variables)
Standardized methods
Replicable
Non-normative
Empirical-interpretive approach
Ideographic knowledge (describe/understand specific cases)
Holistic research (small sample, lot of variables)
Unstandardized methods
More difficult to replicate
Non-normative?
o Pragmatic stance: look at the research purpose / question
Combining quantitative and qualitative
Empirical cycle
Goal: generation and verification of theories
Start: knowledge problem
Phases:
o Theory development
1. Observation
2. Induction
o Theory testing
3. Deduction
4. Testing of hypothesis
5. Evaluation
, Characteristics of qualitative research
Qualitative research is about
o Looking for meaning
o Using flexible research methods
o Providing qualitative findings
Grounded-theory approach
Systematically collecting and analysing data step-by-step in order
to develop theory
Qualitative data-sources & methods
Physical reality: water, landscape etc.
Quality criteria of qualitative research
Reliability
o Will repeated measurements yield the same results?
Measurement/internal validity
o Measurement: do we really measure what we want to measure?
o Internal: are our conclusions correct?
External validity
o Can we generalize the conclusions based on our sample to the population (and other
populations / situations)
Consider the following two statements:
1. According to Boeije, qualitative research is about using standardized research methods
2. In the grounded theory approach data collection and data analysis are strictly sperated
Both statements are false (D)
The qualitative research process
