The seminar for theme 4 on quantitative methods gave a better understanding of the distinction between quantitative and qualitative methods. Even though the basic difference is pretty clear, it is hard to draw the line where the transition occurs. A quantitative method is statistical and enables statistical analysis of some kind, often by using questionnaires. It is used to indicate a trend or generalisations within the field and done under uncontrolled conditions. Qualitative methods on the other hand is non-statistical and intended for deeper understanding of one specific topic.
During the seminar we discussed that qualitative methods are often conducted within psychology and humanistic fields since these topics are not as suited for collecting data and statistical analysis. Also how design problems often falls within the framework for qualitative methods. Ilias presented this as Wicked Problems; they can not really be answered quantitatively since they are often built on opinions. Thereby they are instead solved through design research. We discussed the example for designing a new mobile device. It is difficult to find new and innovative ideas through statistical analysis. You could find trend of what people do not buy but not what they need and want per se. Even if it could be possible it would be much more time consuming than a qualitative research method.
We also discussed how the project methods performed as a basis for his article were purely quantitative. Even though some of the preparations before the testing the simulated drumming experience where of qualitative measure, not mentioned in the article but acknowledged by Ilias, the actual tests and data collected was only quantitative. The reason for this was according to Ilias that they did not want to, or at least minimize, influence on their subjects during the tests which quantitative methods fulfill.
In contrast to the pure quantitative method of Ilias experiment we conversed about research questions that were mainly or solely qualitative. Generally, a topic of this kind would be any with non-statistical character and preferably consisting of interviews within an area that debates opinions. An example of a clear qualitative research question that one participant recalled from having heard the story before. The investigation of heavy metal listeners opinions concerning sexual-orientations.
Hej,
SvaraRaderaInteresting paper you read for this week's topic and I think it's a good point that they should have used the entire sample of observations they had if it was so easily available to them. In the seminar we also talked about the wicked problem and the example of the heavy metal listeners, but I had forgotten to put it into my reflection, so thanks for sharing again!
thanks for sharing. for our seminar we didn't talk about 'wicked problem' at all. (or maybe he did but i did't catch it). it's nice reading your reflection and come to know about it. i had read the other blog which mentioned that more often quantitative build up on existing theory, and yours were saying qualitative make it easier to find new and innovative. it really give me a better big picture of the two.
SvaraRaderanice reflections, keep it up :)
Hi,
SvaraRaderaI think you clearly explained when and why quantitative and qualitative methods are applied. As you said, it depends on research field and I would add that you can do quantitative research on for example sexual-orientation but you will not get any interesting data. As Ilias said, always think ahead if the research method will provide you new data and you will be able to draw grounded and significant conclusions. One question. You wrote that quantitative research is "done under uncontrolled conditions." But I will not agree with you because circumstances must be controlled and the research must be framed. For instance, “Drumming in Immersive Virtual Reality: The Body Shapes the Way We Play” is quantitative research which was conducted creating and shaping the special conditions.
Hi!
SvaraRaderaI think you did a great work with this theme! As you said, it's not a fine line betwen quantitative and qualitative research. To process qualitative data you might need to translate it into parameters, which kind of make it quantitative data based on a qualitative method.
As you write about Ilias study and choice of quantitative measurement, I think that was a clever choice to not affect the participants. The chosen method for a research totally depend on what you are researching, there is no such thing as a more objective research when comparing qualitative and quantitative but you still need to think about how the participants react to the assignment.
Keep up the good work!
During the seminar, we didn’t talk about Ilias’s article at all. And I think that it is interesting that you did with your group and that finally you had the author’s point of view, which is very unusual. But I think that this study includes even though qualitative methods, think about the final questionnaire to assess people personality. Of course, these data don’t interfere with scientific data gathered during the experiences but help to explain them.
SvaraRadera