Quantitative and Qualitative ResearchBased on slides by Dr Terry Maguire

What is Research?A systematic search for information

Research involves a process.(A series of actions, stages and steps that need to be followed)

BenefitsThe creation and testing of theoryThe ability to debate issuesThe ability to present informed statements of factThe ability to inform policy and strategyThe construction of something novelThe ability to explain

Research ParadigmsPositivism The researcher remains as detached as possible from the research subject e.g. quantitative approaches that use statistics and experiments

InterpretivismThe researcher interacts with the environment seeking to make sense through interpretation

Types of DataPrimary data unpublished , data collected

Secondary data already collected for another purpose

Quantitative ResearchQualitative Research

What is Quantitative Research?How Many......

Measurement.....

SPSSStatistical Package for the Social Sciences

You build the variable view from your questionnaire

You build the data view from the responses to your questionnaire using the coding you included in your design

What is Qualitative Research?What People Saytheir knowledge and understandingMean, Need or DesireConscious and unconscious attitudes and emotionsDoBehaviour and actions

and the cultural contexts in which they live and make meaning for themselves*

Research MethodsQuestionnairesInterviews Focus Groups

Watch Out!I wish I had asked.I should have included .in my sampleI cant analyse the data I have gathered because I ..This is not the information I wanted

6 Stages of a Questionnaire

Stage 1Exploratory Research

To ensure you reflect the world view rather than your own view

Stage 2Drafting QuestionnaireThink of all the questions you could askWrite them downPut some order on themTry and find a structureDecide on the kinds of questionsAdd in checksThink analysis and build in codes if required

Sections of the QuestionnaireGeneral Teaching ExperienceSpecific Experience in Teaching MathematicsTeaching PracticesTrainingNumeracy and how you view the relationship towards Mathematics and NumeracyYour attitudes towards MathematicsGeneral Classification Details

1How long have you been involved in teaching? Tick one box only Less than one year12-5 years26-10 years311-15 years415+ years (Please write in)5

Dont Rush

Leave it and go back to it !

Stage 2CheckingHave you got all of the questions you could ask?Have I included them in the draft?Does the order make sense?Does the structure make sense?Are the question styles appropriate?Have I built in checks?Have you codes in for analysis if needed?Does what I have produced suit the kind of analysis I intend to do?

Pilot it until it is right

Stage 3Final Research Instrument

Stage 4Distributing the Questionnaire

Identify your sampleMaximise returns

Stage 5Data AnalysisInput Analysis:- Qualitative Quantitative

Stage 6Synthesis

DiscussionConclusionsIntegration

Interviews

Focus Groups

Guided Group Discussions

Focus groups rely on the strengths of qualitative methods, including exploration and discovery through discussion giving in-depth understanding in context and an interpretation of why things are the way they are and how they got that way.

What a focus group can do..

The focus group allows the moderator to probe and to explore unanticipated issues and can yield more in-depth analysis than that produced by formal quantitative methods BUTThe researcher has less control when compared to the individual interview Group members are able to influence the course of the discussion

Making sense of Research MaterialSome of the more traditional approaches involve:

Using multiple coloured highlight pens to mark connected informationPhotocopying printed material to track multiple connections between a variety of sourcesContinuous re-organisation and reviewCoordinating themes, trends and patternsKeeping track of notes and comments with post its

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Wouldnt it be great if data could beQueried in multiple ways without any extra effort?Continually re-organised, re-classified and re-arranged to identify themes, patterns and relationships?Modelled graphically and exported to other media?Annotated with the researchers comments and clarifications?Expanded to include participants demographics?Readily amenable to the development of meaningful conclusions?Easily manipulated making time for thinking rather than doing?

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NVivoQualitative Software

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