Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research

Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Answers to Review Questions 2. 1. Describe the key features of quantitative and qualitative research. Just look at Table 2. 1, which shows the key characteristics of these two approaches in their pure or extreme forms as well as the characteristics of mixed research. I will mention a few of these here. Quantitative research uses the deductive or confirmatory or â€Å"top down† scientific method; it is used primarily for description, explanation, and prediction. It is based on quantitative data, in particular on the analysis of variables.The results are statistical and a goal is to generalize the results. In qualitative research, in contrast, the â€Å"bottom up† or inductive exploratory method is used; it is used primarily for the purposes of description and exploration and to gain an understanding of how people think and experience their lives. It is based on qualitative data which during analysis are examined fo r patterns, themes, and holistic features. A narrative report is presented and generalization is usually not a goal because the focus is on the local, the personal, the subjective. 2. 2. Describe the key features of mixed research.Mixed research is the third and newest research methodology paradigm. As you can see in Table 2. 1 it tries to mix the best of qualitative and quantitative research into research studies. Philosophically, mixed research takes an eclectic, pragmatic, and commonsense approach, suggesting that the researcher mix quantitative and qualitative in a way that works best for the given research question being studied in a particular context. Mixed research uses both deductive and inductive methods, obtains both quantitative and qualitative data, attempts to corroborate and complement findings, and takes a balanced approach to research.Later in the chapter you will learn about the fundamental principle of mixed research which states that when planning mixed research, the researcher should mix methods or procedures in a way that the resulting mixture or combination has complementary strengths and nonoverlapping weaknesses. 2. 3. What is the difference between a categorical variable and a quantitative variable? Think of an example of each. A categorical variable varies in type or kind and a quantitative variable varies in degree or amount. An example of the former is gender, and an example of the latter is class size. . 4. Why is experimental research more effective than nonexperimental research when a researcher is interested in studying cause and effect? Strong experimental research designs (i. e. , the best experiments) include both manipulation and random assignment; nonexperimental has neither of these. â€Å"Manipulation† is an action taken by the researcher in the world (e. g. , providing a treatment to one group and a control condition to another group); manipulation allows us to see a manipulation first, and then observe the outco me or result of the manipulation. Random assignment† makes the groups similar on ALL extraneous variables at the beginning of the experiment; hence, the only difference between the groups will be the level of independent variable received, allowing the differences observed after the experiment is completed to be attributed to the manipulated independent variable. 2. 5. What are the main problems with the simple cases of causal-comparative and correlational research? The problem with BOTH of these simple cases is that the researcher has no manipulation, no random assignment, and is only able to determine whether a statistical relationship is present.Observing a relationship is NOT enough information to attribute causation. To make a causal attribution, you need to meet three conditions: 1) show that there is a relationship, 2) show that you have the correct time ordering of your variables, that is, if A causes B then A must precede B in time, and 3) all alternative explanations must be ruled out. Again, all the simple cases give us is a relationship (i. e. , condition 1). (On the other hand, a well conducted strong experiment satisfies all three conditions. ) 2. 6 What are two variables that you believe are positively correlated?Study time the night before an exam and test grades (i. e. , the greater the study time, the higher the grades). 2. 7. What are two variables that you believe are negatively correlated? Amount of time spent partying the night before a test and test grades (i. e. , the greater the time spent partying, the lower the grades).. 2. 8. What are the different types of qualitative research, and what is the defining feature of each of these? The types are phenomenology, ethnography, case study research, grounded theory, and historical research.Here are the definitions, with the key ideas underlined: (a) Phenomenology: a form of qualitative research in which the researcher attempts to understand how one or more individuals experience a phen omenon. (b) Ethnography: a form of qualitative research focused on describing the culture of a group of people. (c) Case study research: a form of qualitative research that is focused on providing a detailed account of one or more cases. (d) Grounded theory research: a qualitative approach to generating a theory from the data that the researcher collects. e) Historical research: research about events in the past. 2. 9. What is mixed research, and what is an example of this kind of research? Mixed research (also commonly called mixed methods research) is research in which the researcher uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single research study. Example: study the members of the snake handling churches in the Southern Tennessee/West Georgia using participant observation and using quantitative measurement instruments to profile the participants on variables of interest.Both sorts of data will likely provide useful information. 2. 10. What are the three re search paradigms in education and what are the major types of research in each of these paradigms? (Hint: See Figure 2. 3 in your textbook. ) They are quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed research. Quantitative research has two major subtypes: experimental and nonexperimental research; qualitative research has five major subtypes: phenomenology, ethnography, case study, grounded theory, and historical research. Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Answers to Review Questions 2. 1. Describe the key features of quantitative and qualitative research. Just look at Table 2. 1, which shows the key characteristics of these two approaches in their pure or extreme forms as well as the characteristics of mixed research. I will mention a few of these here. Quantitative research uses the deductive or confirmatory or â€Å"top down† scientific method; it is used primarily for description, explanation, and prediction. It is based on quantitative data, in particular on the analysis of variables.The results are statistical and a goal is to generalize the results. In qualitative research, in contrast, the â€Å"bottom up† or inductive exploratory method is used; it is used primarily for the purposes of description and exploration and to gain an understanding of how people think and experience their lives. It is based on qualitative data which during analysis are examined fo r patterns, themes, and holistic features. A narrative report is presented and generalization is usually not a goal because the focus is on the local, the personal, the subjective. 2. 2. Describe the key features of mixed research.Mixed research is the third and newest research methodology paradigm. As you can see in Table 2. 1 it tries to mix the best of qualitative and quantitative research into research studies. Philosophically, mixed research takes an eclectic, pragmatic, and commonsense approach, suggesting that the researcher mix quantitative and qualitative in a way that works best for the given research question being studied in a particular context. Mixed research uses both deductive and inductive methods, obtains both quantitative and qualitative data, attempts to corroborate and complement findings, and takes a balanced approach to research.Later in the chapter you will learn about the fundamental principle of mixed research which states that when planning mixed research, the researcher should mix methods or procedures in a way that the resulting mixture or combination has complementary strengths and nonoverlapping weaknesses. 2. 3. What is the difference between a categorical variable and a quantitative variable? Think of an example of each. A categorical variable varies in type or kind and a quantitative variable varies in degree or amount. An example of the former is gender, and an example of the latter is class size. . 4. Why is experimental research more effective than nonexperimental research when a researcher is interested in studying cause and effect? Strong experimental research designs (i. e. , the best experiments) include both manipulation and random assignment; nonexperimental has neither of these. â€Å"Manipulation† is an action taken by the researcher in the world (e. g. , providing a treatment to one group and a control condition to another group); manipulation allows us to see a manipulation first, and then observe the outco me or result of the manipulation. Random assignment† makes the groups similar on ALL extraneous variables at the beginning of the experiment; hence, the only difference between the groups will be the level of independent variable received, allowing the differences observed after the experiment is completed to be attributed to the manipulated independent variable. 2. 5. What are the main problems with the simple cases of causal-comparative and correlational research? The problem with BOTH of these simple cases is that the researcher has no manipulation, no random assignment, and is only able to determine whether a statistical relationship is present.Observing a relationship is NOT enough information to attribute causation. To make a causal attribution, you need to meet three conditions: 1) show that there is a relationship, 2) show that you have the correct time ordering of your variables, that is, if A causes B then A must precede B in time, and 3) all alternative explanations must be ruled out. Again, all the simple cases give us is a relationship (i. e. , condition 1). (On the other hand, a well conducted strong experiment satisfies all three conditions. ) 2. 6 What are two variables that you believe are positively correlated?Study time the night before an exam and test grades (i. e. , the greater the study time, the higher the grades). 2. 7. What are two variables that you believe are negatively correlated? Amount of time spent partying the night before a test and test grades (i. e. , the greater the time spent partying, the lower the grades).. 2. 8. What are the different types of qualitative research, and what is the defining feature of each of these? The types are phenomenology, ethnography, case study research, grounded theory, and historical research.Here are the definitions, with the key ideas underlined: (a) Phenomenology: a form of qualitative research in which the researcher attempts to understand how one or more individuals experience a phen omenon. (b) Ethnography: a form of qualitative research focused on describing the culture of a group of people. (c) Case study research: a form of qualitative research that is focused on providing a detailed account of one or more cases. (d) Grounded theory research: a qualitative approach to generating a theory from the data that the researcher collects. e) Historical research: research about events in the past. 2. 9. What is mixed research, and what is an example of this kind of research? Mixed research (also commonly called mixed methods research) is research in which the researcher uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single research study. Example: study the members of the snake handling churches in the Southern Tennessee/West Georgia using participant observation and using quantitative measurement instruments to profile the participants on variables of interest.Both sorts of data will likely provide useful information. 2. 10. What are the three re search paradigms in education and what are the major types of research in each of these paradigms? (Hint: See Figure 2. 3 in your textbook. ) They are quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed research. Quantitative research has two major subtypes: experimental and nonexperimental research; qualitative research has five major subtypes: phenomenology, ethnography, case study, grounded theory, and historical research.

Women Are Better Manger

Women are Better Managers? Yes The New York Times set off a minor tempest in the blogosphere with an interview a week ago with Carol Smith, senior vice president and chief brand officer for the Elle Group, publisher of the fashion magazine Elle. The headline: No Doubts: Women Are Better Managers. You can imagine the reaction. The article was part of a regular Sunday feature, The Corner Office, in which some exec spills the secrets to their success in a question and answer format. Author Adam Bryant at one point asks Smith to share her observations on men vs women as managers. Her response:In my experience, female bosses tend to be better managers, better advisers, mentors, rational thinkers. Men love to hear themselves talk. I’m so generalizing. I know I am. But in a couple of places I’ve worked, I would often say, â€Å"Call me 15 minutes after the meeting starts and then I’ll come,† because I will have missed all the football. I will have missed all the â€Å"what I did on the golf course. † I will miss the four jokes, and I can get into the meeting when it’s starting. Have to admit, loved the part about coming into the meeting 15 minutes late so she can miss the sports talk and the four jokes.The interview was on the Times web site’s most-read list for over a week, and garnered more than 300 comments. The paper revisited the issue this past Sunday in its Room For Debate blog, asking several experts about the differences between men and women as managers. Alice Eagly, chairman of the department of social psychology at Northwestern University, warned about overgeneralizing based on gender, but then made this observation: Women are less â€Å"bossy,† probably because people dislike bossy women even more than bossy men. As a result, female managers are more collaborative and democratic than male managers.Second, compared with men, women use a more positive approach by encouraging and urging others rather th an a negative approach of scolding and reprimanding them. Third, women attend more to the individuals they work with, by mentoring them and taking their particular situations into account. Finally, there is the matter of getting the job done efficiently. Most managers, male and female, get their work done in a timely way, but some do not. When you find one of those barely functioning managers — that is, someone who avoids solving problems and just doesn’t get the job done, that person is more likely to be a man than a woman.Why? Perhaps because a woman would be fired or demoted more quickly for poor managing. Over at the web site for Workforce Management, editor John Hollon laments the whole subject, saying In my long career, I’ve discovered only one clear truth about men and women as managers. It’s this: You simply can’t make a blanket judgment about the quality of managers by their gender. Anyone who tries to do so is foolish and shortsighted, an d perhaps hasn’t worked for enough different kinds of managers—male or female—to figure that out. So what do you think? Do women make better managers? Or are some of them just too outspoken?

An Analysis of The Story Of Tom Brennan Essay

In â€Å"The Story Of Tom Brennan† written by J.  C Burke in a story about destruction, guilt and shame through the story there are allot of up and downs after the crash the family is not the same and tom knows that it will never be the same the story uses destructive power to add some problems to the story to keep it going the crash causes a couple of problems to everyone not just the family the whole community is effected guilt tom and kylie both feel guilty like they were the cause for the crash shame the family lie in shame they feel like there family is bad and the community don’t help that is why they mover because the whole family is looked down upon by the town of Mumbili. The family is affected by destruction in every way the family has changed after the event it has cause the whole community to change fin who was in the crash and her family are affected As well after fin became paraplegic her mum has to change the way she raises her son and fins dreams are crushed after one night so much has happened to the families and friends of the victims in the crash. Tom’s life has changed him and his mum grows further away slowly not talking to each other. Kylies life has changed to she has lost all her friends because they had to move schools. And fin has nothing left and her mother has trouble looking after her it is hard on every one. When the crash happens tom feels like he is the one who has cause the crash he feels guilty in every way he feels like he could have stopped what happened and kylie feels the same way she has the same feeling as tom and they are in the same place both feeling guilty of what happened that night both hiding it and keeping it bottled up inside them that is why they always fight it is because they both feel like they could have done something about it stopped the whole incident from happening fin sought of has the same feeling that if she didn’t get in the car that night nothing would have happened and it would all be the same again but she knows she can’t do anything about it. Daniel is also guilty and knows what he did was wrong he feels guilty because he was the one that was driving the car. Daniel couldn’t even look at Nicole and Luke’s parents because he knew he took something away from them and he feels guilty about it. The whole family will live in shame for the rest of their life seeing that it was their son that cause the crash they will be in shame because they didn’t stop him they didn’t stop him from drinking Daniel especially affected he will never get over the fact they he killed two people and will always know that there is a family missing something that they love and they will never get that back just cause one person did something they shouldn’t have but was it really Daniels fault he was not the one that made them get in that car and maybe they should have stopped him from driving that night. The whole story is made up by one of these points and they play a big part in the story is none of these3 things happened the story would not have much in it.

What is communication How do you think that the meaning of Essay

What is communication How do you think that the meaning of communication has evolved in recent years Where is communication going - Essay Example Despite the fact that people speak numerous languages they still try to find a common meaning in everything that happens around. So it is communication that allows us solving problems effectively between people, building relationships, and arranging effective work. It is communication that leads to interaction and makes the world go round. Communication basically is the act of information (which can vary from facts and statistics to the most subtle emotions) transmission from one person to another with the purpose of connections establishment and its further development between people. Communication usually means information transmission with the help of verbal and non-verbal (with the help of gestures and facial expressions) means. Communication is inevitable because any human activity is impossible without it and it is the only method of effective interaction. There are several conditions for real communication. There need to be at least two participants for performing communication. And of course there have to be the information to be transmitted. They have to pass the information, feelings, ideas in order to create some shared common meaning and understand each other. Communication is meant to connect people or groups of people and make them understand something is more or less similar way. However, it is strange to realize that most of what people are trying to transmit in the course of verbal communication gets distorted. It happens because there is no possibility that the information that was encoded will be absolutely equal to the information that was decoded. It reminds interpretation from English to Chinese, no matter how accurate it will be the meaning still be slightly different because people of different cultures do not perceive different concepts in the same way. So there are numerous reasons why message is often perceived wrong: cultural and traditional differences, focusing on personal

Research Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Research Critique - Essay Example As seen from the introduction, the clinical problem being investigated is preeclampsia. The researchers are interested in knowing whether the disease affects women in their first pregnancy more than others. The researchers undertake this research knowing that it is true that the disease is common among the first pregnancies. However, they argue that the assumption in favor of this research can be strengthened by the fact that more women decide not to give birth after undergoing through first time preeclampsia. Therefore, the researchers conduct their researches on the same topic while considering that many people refuse to give birth to their second child because of problems related to preeclampsia during the first pregnancy. One of the reasons for conducting this research is related to high risks associated with the disease, as explained earlier. Other reasons such as clarification and information increase have also been a motivating factor in conducting a research in these areas (H ernà ¡ndez-Dà ­az, Toh & Cnattingius, 2009). Although the researchers have not ostensibly outlined the research question, it is possible to outline the main questions for the research. The question is preeclampsia still common among women during their first time pregnancies even with the researchers’ knowledge that most do not engage in second time conception recreation after going through difficulties related to preeclampsia. Through the question deduction, one cannot help but note the strong relationship between the question and the purpose of the research study areas (Hernà ¡ndez-Dà ­az, Toh & Cnattingius, 2009). The main research method used is the mixed research approach, which is appropriate in this content as there is a need to explain the problem in its context. In addition, there is a need for using quantitative research method in presenting data obtained and in measuring the relationship among variables.

Thank you for Smoking the comedy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Thank you for Smoking the comedy - Essay Example In my opinion, the movie â€Å"Thank you for Smoking† has applied agenda setting to capture the public’s attention on the smoking behavior, which is the issue of concern in this movie. In this movie, Nick, a lobbyist for alcohol and pro-gun association is connected to the merchants of death squad and the media paints him as a public enemy and he loses his job. In another incidence, Nick visits Jeff, a marketer and questions him about the incorporation of cigarettes in films and its moral implication. By making frequent address to the moral integrity of Jeff, Reitman poses a challenge to the public to identify the ethical concerns of cigarette smoking, which I feel is an agenda well set up. Diffusion of Innovations Diffusion of innovations is a theoretical explanation for the mechanisms and the speed through which information is relayed in a society set up through the available communications channels (Rogers 49). One of the major role players in the information diffusion process in the social systems is the opinion leaders who have a high level control of flow information. This category of people is close to information sources and has many followers who are willing to obtain information from them. Therefore, opinion leaders will make a judgmental decision and pass information innovatively to their followers given that they have the power to control information flow between the people. They form the category of early adopters who receive more attention from the public as opposed to laggards who form the least innovative group. Laggards are ignored by the media since they are the conservative group that adopts the innovation very late and have little followers. In the comedy ‘Thank you f or Smoking’, I feel that Nick plays the role of an early adopter in the entire film by forming part of the social system that can access first-hand information in the society. The whole public has all its eyes set upon him as he meticulously convinces Jeff on his moral implication of advertising cigarettes. When he struggles to convince his 12 year old Joey he points out that he is not actually after convincing his son, but the public on the need for moral flexibility. By rolling out information on the media concerning the use of tobacco I find him a rather excellent first adopter. Today, the public has over a hundred alcohol commodity choices and well over thirty cigarette varieties to choose from. The media coverage of alcohol, cigarettes and guns has intensified and has paid attention to the elite in the societies to pass information to the societies, as a strategy to engage innovation diffusion to hammer critical issues in the society. Knowledge Gap Hypothesis The knowled ge gap hypothesis refers to the diversity of the economic status of the society and how it influences their ability to access information from the media. The poor in the society have little contact with media information while the rich access the most current information (Hwang and Jeong 535). Given the power that comes along with information, I believe that those who acquire information first benefit more that those who receive it when it is almost obsolete. In this view, I feel that it is a political necessity to care for the poor by bridging the information gap that exists in the social systems. Films such as ‘

ZhangNing_Essay_Illinois Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ZhangNing_Essay_Illinois - Essay Example I further strengthened my determination to pursue a career in this field when I witnessed how the numerous financial elites in Shanghai have contributed to the prosperity of the city and turned the city into the financial capital of China. Aiming to grow into a financial expert who can make a big contribution to the field, I have followed the guidance of my uncles. First of all, I have paid a lot of attention to mathematics, as it is the essential tool for financial analysis. Establishing good analytical and critical thinking capability from practicing mathematics, I have further acquired understanding in finance by watching financial programs and reading financial journals. Being familiar with diverse industries and accumulating basic skills of analyzing corporate financial reports, I have gone on to gain hands-on experience of finance by managing a stock account, which was offered to me by my father as a birthday gift. Collecting information in a timely way and making predictions accurately, I have successfully earned money. Although the total sum of money is trivial, the experience and confidence I have achieved have reinforced my determination of pursuing my career in finance. In the process of achieving my goals, I have completed an internship in the financial department of Shanghai’s BaoAn Hotel. From this work experience, I have gained a definitive understanding of the financial operating system of a company and started accumulating knowledge in corporate management accounting. Although I feel I have learned a lot so far, I am fully aware that in order to become a financial expert, I still need to expand my perspective and acquire further knowledge in my undergraduate education. Therefore, I wish to study in the U.S., the leading country in the world for financial services. Despite the recent financial disaster, I am sure that the U.S. will survive and thrive as it has always done in the past. By studying in the U.S., I will learn how Americans conquer