Q1.

COMPULSORY

For either interpretivism or positivism philosophy of research, explain its main arguments on research
or knowledge, state the compatible research approach, research design, sampling techniques and
tools for data collection for the philosophy chosen [20]

Q2. Clearly show the differences that exist between qualitative, quantitative and the mixed
approaches based on data collection, presentation and analysis of data [15]

Q3. With examples, state and explain the three types of research [15]

Responses

Q1.

Introduction

This essay is an attempt to explain the (interpretivism) – (positivism) philosophy of research, its main
arguments on research or knowledge, its compatible research approach, research design, sampling
techniques and tools for data collection

Interpretivism

The compatible approach is the qualitative approach which deals with data that are principally textual
or verbal in nature such as verbatim responses or voices of respondents. The argument of this
philosophy is that reality is multiple in nature depending on one’s upbringing, context and experiences.
Another argument on knowledge is that knowledge is generated by the researcher and his/her
interactions with the researched/respodents or participants.

This research can only be conducted successfully using qualitative research designs such as, the case
studies, ethnography, grounded theory, narrative inquiry or phenomenology to guide the quantitative
studies. These designs guide studies towards measurements, predictions, evaluations and proving
through testing phenomena.

To conduct sampling, the researcher needs to utilise techniques such as purposive (judgemental),
convenience or accidental or snowball sampling procedures. These are all non-random or non-
probability sampling techniques that do not give respondents an equal chance of being selected to
participate in a given study. The researcher determines who will or who will not participate by nature
of characteristics, experience or knowledge possessed.

Here, data is collected using unstructured instruments that have open-ended questions such as
interviews, questionnaires, observations, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), document analysis,
photographs, field notes e.t.c

In conclusion, it is clear that the qualitative research approach is used where the researcher’s aim or
purpose is to verbally describe, explain and narrate but co-create knowledge based on his/her
interactions with respondents.

Positivism

The compatible approach is the quantitative research methodologies are those dealing with data that
are principally numerical or statistical in nature. The compatible approach is the qquantitative
approach which deals with data that are principally numerical in nature such as tallies, frequencies,
percentages e.t.c responses or statistics. The argument of this philosophy is that reality is single in
nature irrespective of one’s upbringing, context and experiences. Reality may be solid, liquid of in
gaseous state and nothing outside this. Another argument on knowledge here is that knowledge is
out there in the environment and only available for the skilled and curious researcher to discover.

This research can only be conducted successfully using quantitative research designs such as, the
experimental, quasi-experimental or surveys to guide the quantitative studies. These designs guide
studies towards measurements, predictions, evaluations and proving through testing phenomena.

To conduct sampling, the researcher needs to utilise techniques such as simple random none-
judgmental, systematic or cluster sampling procedures. These are all random or probability sampling
techniques that give all respondents an equal chance of being selected to participate in a given study.
The researcher determines who will or who will not participate by means of a system that is less
biased.

Here, data is collected using structured instruments that have closed-ended questions such as
interviews, questionnaires, observations, tests e.t.c.
In conclusion, it is clear that the quantitative research approach is used where the researcher’s aim or
purpose is to numerically or statistically predict, evaluate, measure or test data, theories, hypothesis
or conduct experiments to create knowledge based on his/her tests, assessments and conclusions.

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Q2. Clearly show the differences that exist among qualitative, quantitative and the mixed
approaches based on data collection, presentation and analysis of data [15]

Introduction

This task is a step towards showing the differences that exist among the three research approaches
namely qualitative, quantitative and the mixed method approaches. To fully tackle this task the paper
begins by defining research and a research approach before exploring the differences that exist
among the three approaches.

A research can be defined in a variety of ways but simply put, it is a systematic, empirical and self-
critical investigation of a given phenomenon based on a specific established problem. On the other
hand, an approach in research is a broad way/method used by a researcher to guide a study’s specific
and general methods used in a research.

Each one of the three approaches is unique in its own right but shared commonalities are evident.
Firstly, the qualitative approach focuses on describing, explaining, narrating and exploring specific
phenomena using non-numerical or non-statistical data or findings. On the other hand the
quantitative approach focuses on predicting, measuring proving or establishing or confirming the
relationship between or among specific variables, while the mixed methods approach seeks to combine
the qualitative and the quantitative approaches to take advantage of the two approaches’ strengths
and reduce the weaknesses in a research.

The difference can be noticed in data collection, data presentation and data analysis among others.
For instance, in qualitative approach data collection is by means of unstructured tools such as
photographs, observations, focus group discussions, interviews, questionnaire and written documents.
In quantitative research, data collection is done by structured tools such as interviews, questionnaires
and specific tests. In the mixed methods, data collection is by mixing structured and unstructured
tools or semi-structured tools.
Data presentation is by themes from data and by referring to objectives and using the thematic
approach - photographs, voices of respondents and tables are used in the qualitative approach. This
data is presented by tables, tally sheets, graphs, numbers and statistics in quantitative while a
mixture of these styles is used in the mixed methods approach.

Data analysis is the use of a systematic method to interpret findings or data/ reducing data but not
losing the significant meaning and implications of the research findings. Qualitative data analysis is
by means emerging themes from the findings (thematic analysis is used to analyse data), the use of
Microsoft Word and computer assistance software called Nvivo; computer softwares i.e. SPSS and its
statistical tests i.e. t-test, z-test, ANOVA, Chi-square e.t.c and a combination of the two in the
mixed methods analysis but with reference to hypotheses, theories, (theoretical and conceptual
frameworks in higher degree programes) and literature review.

Although the three approaches to research are different in their own rights, they share some
similarities in data collection, presentation and analysis. This is noticed that they may all use
interviews and questionnaire in data collection, tables in data presentation and softwares in the
analysis of data while refereeing to theories and literature review.

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Q3. With clear examples, state and explain the three types of research [15]