RM Dr.

Nour Bouacha

Research Approach

When designing a research methodology, a researcher has several decisions to make. One of the most
important is which approach to adopt. Research approaches are plans and procedures for research that
span the steps from broad assumptions to detailed methods of data collection, analysis, and
interpretation. The selection of a research approach is based on the philosophical assumptions the
researcher brings to the study and the nature of the research problem being addressed. Three research
approaches are advanced: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Qualitative and quantitative
approaches should not be viewed as rigid, distinct categories, or opposites. Instead, they represent
different ends on a continuum. A study tends to be more qualitative than quantitative or vice versa.
Mixed methods research resides in the middle of this continuum because it incorporates elements of
both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Often the distinction between qualitative and quantitative
research is framed in terms of using words (qualitative) rather than numbers (quantitative), or using
closed-ended questions rather than open-ended questions.

• Quantitative research is an approach for testing objective theories by examining the relationship
among variables. These variables can be measured so that numbered data can be analysed using
statistical procedures. Researchers usually use a quantitative approach when the objective of the
research is to confirm something. It focuses on collecting, testing and measuring numerical data,
usually from a large sample of participants in a short amount of time using Surveys, Test, Databases,
experiments.

Main Characteristics of Quantitative Research:

1. Using numbers and statistics. All quantitative researches are centred around numbers.

2. A Prior categorisation: Because the use of numbers already dominates the data collection phase, the
work required to specify the categories and values needs to be done prior to the actual study.

3. Variables: quantitative research is centred around the study of variables that capture common
features and which are quantified.

4. Standardised procedures to assess objective reality: quantitative researchers have sought to

5. Quest for generalisability and universal laws: Numbers, variables, standardised procedures,
statistics and scientific reasoning are all parts of quantitative quest for fact that are generalizable.

Supporters of the quantitative approach usually emphasise that it is systematic, focused, and tightly
controlled, involving precise measurement, and producing reliable and replicable data that is
generalizable to other contexts. Contrarily, the opponents of this approach view that quantitative

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RM Dr. Nour Bouacha

research as overly simplistic, decontextualized, reductionist in terms of its generalisation and fails to
capture the meanings that actors attain to their lives and circumstances.

• Qualitative research is an approach for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or
groups ascribe to a social or human problem. The process of research involves textual and visual data
typically collected in the participant’s setting. Those who engage in this form of inquiry support a way
of looking at research that focuses on individual meaning, opinions, and experiences, and the
importance of rendering the complexity of a situation. Researchers usually gather qualitative data
through interviews, observation and focus groups using few carefully chosen participants.

Main Characteristics of Qualitative Research:

1. Emergent research design: The emergent research design means a qualitative research study is kept
open and fluid so that it can respond in a flexible way to new details or opinions that may emerge
during the process of investigation.

2. The characteristics of the research setting: Because of the qualitative approach nature that seeks to
describe social phenomena as they occur naturally, qualitative research takes place in natural setting,
without any attempts to manipulate the situation under study.

3. Insider meaning: Qualitative research is concerned with subjective opinions and experiences.

4. Small sample size: Qualitative research typically relies on the use smaller samples of participants.

5. Interpretive analysis: Qualitative research is fundamentally interpretive, which means that the
research outcome is ultimately the product of the researcher’s subjective interpretation of data.

Supporters of this approach claim that the qualitative research is an effective way of exploring new
areas. Besides, qualitative methods are seen to be very useful for making sense of highly complex
situations. As opposed to these merits, the qualitative approach is often criticised on the role played by
the researcher in analysing and interpreting the data which might have negative impacts on the final
results. For them, this approach is not comprehensive since it lacks methodological rigour and appears
to be fuzzy and time-consuming.

• Mixed methods research is an approach to inquiry involving collecting both quantitative and
qualitative data, integrating the two forms of data, and using distinct designs. The core assumption of
this form of inquiry is that the combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches provides a more
complete understanding of a research problem and create a richer picture and present multiple
findings than either approach alone. The quantitative methodology provides definitive facts and
figures, while the qualitative provides a human aspect. This methodology can produce interesting
results as it presents exact data while also being exploratory.

Main Characteristics of Mixed-methods Approach

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1. Expanding the understanding of a complex issue: A mixed-methods approach would broaden the
scope of the investigation and enrich the researchers’ ability to draw conclusions about the problem.

2. Corroborating findings through ’triangulation’: The use of different data sources, theories, or
methods generates multiple perspectives on a phenomenon. Such an effective strategy ensures research
validity.

3. Reaching multiple audiences: Because of the combination of the methods in mixed –methods
research, the final results can be more pleasant than outcomes of a monomethod study.

Research Design

The researcher not only selects a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods study to conduct; the
inquirer also decides on a type of study within these three choices. Research designs are types of
inquiry (also called strategies of enquiry) within qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approaches that provide specific direction for procedures in a research design.

Sampling

A population is a group of potential participants to whom you want to generalize the results of a study
(e.g., 1st or 2nd year groups). A sample is a subset of that population (a subgroup of the population you
are interested in (e.g., one of the 1 st/2nd year groups). Sampling refers to the process of selecting a few
(a sample) from a bigger group (the population) to become the basis for research.

Research Tools/Methods

Once a researcher has finalized their population sample, they need to decide how to collect data. There
are several options for data collection, and the best research method to use will depend on the research
topic, methodology, type of data and the population sample.

 Interviews: Commonly telephonic or done in-person. Helps the interviewers understand a

 Document study /record keeping: Researchers collect data of already existing written materials
such as archives, annual reports, policy documents, etc.

 Focus groups: Constructive discussions that usually include a small sample of about 6-10 people
and a moderator, to understand the participants’ opinion on a given topic.

 Qualitative observation: Researchers collect data on event while they are happening

 Observations: Structured observations are most commonly used in quantitative research. In this
method, researchers make observations about specific behaviors of individuals in a structured
setting.

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 Surveys and questionnaires. Surveys can be administered both online and in-person depending on
the requirement and sample size. Depending on the data required, a survey could also use a
mixture of close-ended or open-ended questions.