.

The contribution of quantitative and qualitative research methods

The essence of quantitative research

Quantitative research methods are research methods based on quantifiable data, findings

which can be represented as numbers either because their magnitude can be measured or

because their frequency of occurrence can be counted. Usually involve statistical analysis

and are the methods preferred by the traditional, natural-science orientated psychology

researchers.

Assumptions underlying quantitative research methods

There is an outside reality that can be discovered

Quantitative psychologists start from the assumption that phenomena in the world have an

existence outside people’s minds. They believe in realism. They defend the idea that humans

can discover reality by using the scientific method. They are aware that science is not a

linear accumulation of facts but proceeds through trial and error (with theories and

paradigms that do not stand the falsification test and that after some time have to be

abandoned). However, they are convinced that in the long term the scientific method based

on the hypothetico-deductive model leads to an understanding of reality; scientific

knowledge is cumulative.

The main aim of scientific research is to find universal causal relationships

Quantitative research methods are primarily interested in discovering relationship between

causes and effects. They want to know how humans function: how variables interact and

how particular functions are accomplished. They hope that the mechanisms they discover

will apply to all humans. They search for the causes underlying individual differences and try

to integrate them into a wider pattern that covers the entire spectrum.

Trying to avoid confounds and sources of noise

Because quantitative researchers look for ‘true’ cause-effect relations, they try to avoid

confounding variables, variables that were overlooked but that could be true causes of the

effects observed. As a result, they try to maximise control of the studies they run, even if this

leads to artificial situations.

They also try to eliminate the impact of random variables. Random variables may lead to

findings which are not replicable. Random variables are called noise.
Suspicion about the researcher’s input

A biased researcher is a researcher who consistently obtains ‘evidence’ other people cannot

find.

To protect themselves against biases and noise, quantitative researchers make use of

standardised measurements and instruments. E.g. they will make use of generally accepted

questionnaires to measure aspects of people and they will analyse the data with generally

accepted statistical tests

progress for falsification

Researchers continuously evaluate the truth of their conclusions, theories, hypotheses and

instruments.

Descriptive research

Observation of numerical data

Typical for quantitative research is that the data is gathered in a numerical form, either by

collecting measurements or by counting frequencies of occurrence. Quantitative researchers

will not observe ‘violence’ but will measure aspects of violence (e.g. the number of incidents

reported to the police).

Large samples and a few data points per participant

The vast majority of descriptive quantitative studies involve the collection of a limited

amount of data from a reasonably large group of participants. The larger the sample that is

studied, the more representative it becomes of the population.

Descriptive quantitative studies usually involve many participants because large numbers of

observations yield more precise statistics.

Descriptive research usually is only the first step of a quantitative research programme,

because researchers want to know what caused the data they observe. To discover cause-

effect relations, a first move is to find out which events (variables) are related.

Relational research

Correlations

The way to find out whether two variables are related according to quantitative

psychologists is to collect measures of both variables and to correlate them. Statistical

techniques not only provide information about whether or not two variables are correlated,

but also provide information about how strong the correlation is.

In human intuitive correlation detection, there are two problems. The first is the failure to

detect genuine correlations. In particular, negative correlations.

The second, with the detection of correlations by humans is that in some cases people tend

to perceive correlations that do not exist. These are called illusory correlations.

Factor analysis

Statistical correlations make it possible to investigate the pattern of correlations between

any number of variables. Often used in this respect is factor analysis.

Factor analysis is a statistical technique calculating how many factors are needed to account

for the correlations between the variables measured and how these variables relate to the

factors.

Experimental research

Correlations do not allow researchers to be sure about causes

Relational research makes it possible for quantitative researchers to assess which variables

are related and which are not but does not allow them to be certain about the origin of the

correlation.

Experiments to determine cause-effect relations

To be able to determine cause and effect, quantitative psychologists will set up an

experiment in which they manipulate the suspected cause and see whether this has an

effect on the phenomenon they are examining. If an experiment is run properly and if the

predicted difference between both conditions is observed, the psychologist can be pretty

sure that the tea indeed caused the difference in performance.

Controlling for confounding variables

An important aspect of experiments is that only the suspected causes are manipulated and

the resulting changes in the phenomenon registered. Everything else must be held constant.

If researchers want to be sure that the manipulated variable really is the cause of the effect,

then they must make sure that no other variables can be the origin of change detected. This

requirement is known as the problem of the confounding variable.

To address confounding variables, experimental psychologists introduce an increasing

number of controls. However, each control adds an extra constraint to the situation and puts

the testing onto an increasingly artificial setting. To counter this problem, quantitative

researchers usually run several experiments on the same topic and look for converging

evidence across studies.

Experiments are not always possible

Not all issues can be addressed experimentally. The fact that many psychological

experiments re impossible may be one of the reasons why progress in psychology is harder

to achieve than in sciences such as physics, chemistry or botany, where researchers are less

often confronted with practical and ethical limits.

Analogy with the hierarchy of evidence in medical science

The status of the different approaches in quantitative research can be illustrated by relating

them to the so-called hierarchy of evidence in medical science. At the bottom of the

hierarchy we find case reports, consisting of anecdotal evidence related to individual

patients. They have the same status as descriptive research: they may point to interesting

phenomena but do not provide much information about the underlying causes.

At the second level we find cross-sectional surveys. They form the first step in relational

research. This type of research enables epidemiologists to find potential relationships.

However, there is little control of confounding variables.

In level 3 is case-control studies, patients with a particular disease are matched on a series

of possible confounding variable (e.g. gender, socioeconomic status) with participants who

do not have the disease. The medical histories of both groups are compared to search for

differences that may be the origin of the aliment observe

Level 4 is follow up studies, two matched groups, one with the disease/treatment and one

without, are followed for a certain period of time, to see how they evolve. Any difference

between the groups is likely to be due to the disease/treatment, as the groups were

originally matched on possible confounding variables.

At level 5 we find randomised controlled trials; these are the equivalent of experimental

studies we find randomised controlled trials. Patients are randomly distributed over two

conditions, so that both conditions are equivalent in terms of possible confounding

variables. On group receives treatment and the other receives a placebo. Further controls

are introduced to make sure that any effect observed cannot be due to other variables.
At the top of the hierarchy we find the meta-analysis, this is a review of all the available

evidence concerning a particular treatment or pathogen coming from many different

sources. Also, because it is based on a large sample of participants, the conclusions made

are stable.

Strength of quantitative research methods

It makes use of scientific method applied to psychological topics. The application of powerful

statistical analyses enables researchers to detect nearly every pattern of association in large

datasets, and the merciless application of the falsification test prevents wrong ideas and

weak theories from thriving too long.

Limits of quantitative methods

No interest in the person behind the participant

The lack of interest I the person behind the participant is of particular concern when the

research concerns real-life situations (e.g. the psychology of health), because in these

situations’ psychologists can learn a lot by listening to the experiences and opinions of the

people involved.

Research is too much driven by what can be measured numerically and tested experimentally

Quantitative psychologists have a bias to limit their research to topics that can easily be

measured. According to the hermeneutic critique, this has resulted in the quantitative

imperative, the conviction that you cannot know what you cannot measure.

The aspects if mental life that cannot be captured by numbers and that cannot be

manipulated in an experiment have been considered of secondary importance.

The falsification test lends itself better to destroying ideas than to finding practical solutions

to specific problems

The falsification test is primarily geared towards erasing wrong theories rather than

generating new ones. It is not unusual to see theories that have been discredited for some

time still being ‘rejected’ on a regular basis in scientific journals, just because it is easier to

set up an experiment to disprove them. Falsification only leads to progress when there are

worthwhile proposals to be tested

the essence of qualitative research

Qualitative research methods are directed at understanding phenomena in their historical and socio-
cultural context. Favoured by the hermeneutic approach. Assumptions underlying qualitative
research methodsIn psychology there is little or no evidence for a reality outside people’s mindsMost
qualitative psychologists are not convinced that in psychology there Is an objective reality, which can
be discovered with the scientific approach. To them the only reality that matters is the one as
perceived and constructed by people. To them it is more important to understand people’s view
rather than their responses to aspects of the environment. Attempts to control the situation make
the setting artificial and impoverishedAccording to qualitative psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the environment into an artificial setting that robs the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping in meaningful situations. The investigator should become an active
participant and listen to what the participant has to say. He or she should not be guided by dear of
drawing wrong conclusions but by a constructive desire to understand the meaning of what is going
on.Qualitative researchers acknowledge that the approach they promote entails the danger of the
conclusions being influenced by the researcher, but argue that:1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an understanding of the situation.2. All conclusions, even those reached on
the basis of quantitative research and falsification tests, are relative (because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).3. The most obvious biases can be avoided by being aware of them and by
doing the analysis in such a way that it can be repeated and checked by others.Immersion and
understanding The point of immersion is so that the meaning of the situation can be understood. The
researcher will not approach the situation with a preconceived list of variables that need to be stored
and that constrain the outcome of the stud. The researcher approaches the situation open-mindedly
and sees what come out. Ideographic vs Nomothetic vs Ideographic approach refers to the
conclusions of a study that stay limited to the phenomenon under the study. Their analysis is limited
to the situation and the participant(s)at hand. The nomothetic approach refers to a study which is
run in search of universal principles that exceed the confines of the study.Strengths of qualitative
researchDirectly focused on understanding situations and solving problemsAimed at understanding a
problem and working towards a solution. Generation of new ideas and elaboration of theories

Because qualitative studies involve intensive investigations, they are particularly suited for

finding new ideas. Qualitative studies can lead to an extensive elaboration of a theory if it

shows that the existing quantitative research has measured only a small part of a much

wider phenomenon.

More perceptive to the needs of participants

Qualitative research decreases the risk of advice that is perceived as unhelpful by the

participants. Given that science proceeds by trial and error, a potentially erroneous

intervention is extra painful if it has not been experienced as helpful by the persons

involved.

Limits of qualitative research

Limits of inductive reasoning and verification

Qualitative researchers stress the importance of inductive reasoning and verification.

Less well suited to decide between theories

Qualitative methods are extremely well suited for charting new grounds and infusing new

ideas in a discipline. But they fare less well when it comes to deciding between ideas and

theories.

Qualitative methods are based on introspection

Qualitative methods create difficulties in deciding between competing conclusions is that in

the end they go back to introspective opinions, formulated by participants and interpreted

by researchers. In the absence of an external criterion, it is impossible to decide between

conflicting opinions of people.

People have no knowledge of many things they do and factors that influence them. In

addition, a century of psychological research has shown that even if people do have strong

opinions, they do not always agree with their actions. Introspection reveals the contents of

consciousness, such as at least some of people’s current thoughts and feelings.

The researcher’s involvement may be a disadvantage in high-stakes situations

Qualitative researchers acknowledge that the outcome of a study to some extent depends

on the person who does the study. The researcher has an impact on the interview and

colours the analysis.

How do quantitative and qualitative research methods relate to each other?

The various positions can be divided into two groups. On the one hand, there are

psychologists who strongly feel that the two types of research cannot coexist and, therefore

psychology must make a choice. On the other hand, there are psychologists who see the

methods as complementary, each with their own weaknesses and strengths, and that

psychology gains by combining them.

The two types of research are incompatible

Incompatibility of the underlying paradigms

Psychologists that stress the incompatibility of the methods emphasise the different world

views underlying them: objective reality vs. social construction, natural sciences vs.

humanities, hypothetico-deductive research vs. hermeneutics, mainstream psychology vs.

critical psychology, and positivism vs. postmodernism. This is known as the ‘paradigm war’.

Quantitative psychology’s arguments against the need for qualitative psychology

Quantitative psychologists argue that qualitative methods the hermeneutic and

postmodernist movements throw away all the progress that has been made in the past 150

years and catapult psychology back to the early 1800s, before psychology became seen as

the scientific study of mental life. Qualitative methods reject the existence of an objective

reality and they do not provide researchers with new information and devalue psychological

research to pop psychology.

Qualitative psychology’s arguments against the need for quantitative psychology

To these psychologists, quantitative psychologists is misguided in its search for the ‘objective

reality’. If something like an objective reality existed in psychology, one would have expected

quantitative psychology t be more successful after 150 years.

Finally, the hardcore qualitative psychologists argue that if there is no objective reality,

quantitative research methods have nothing to tell is about human functioning. All they can

do is give us replicable, useless information

https://www.studocu.com/en-gb/document/university-of-lincoln/psychology-bsc/the-contribution-
of-quantitative-and-qualitative-research-methods/16509102

Qualitative research methods

are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie
Qualitative research methods
are directed at understanding
phenomena in their historical
and socio-cultural context.
Favoured by the hermeneutic
approach.
Assumptions underlying
qualitative research methods
In psychology there is little or
no evidence for a reality
outside people’s minds
Most qualitative psychologists
are not convinced that in
psychology there Is an
objective
reality, which can be
discovered with the scientific
approach. To them the only
reality that
matters is the one as perceived
and constructed by people. To
them it is more important to
understand people’s view
rather than their responses to
aspects of the environment.
Attempts to control the
situation make the setting
artificial and impoverished
According to qualitative
psychologists, quantitative
psychologists turn the
environment into
an artificial setting that robs
the participants of their usual
ways of interacting and coping
in
meaningful situations.
The investigator should
become an active participant
and listen to what the
participant has
to say. He or she should not be
guided by dear of drawing
wrong conclusions but by a
constructive desire to
understand the meaning of
what is going on.
Qualitative researchers
acknowledge that the approach
they promote entails the
danger of
the conclusions being
influenced by the researcher,
but argue that:
1. This danger is offset by the
expected gains due to an
understanding of the situation.
2. All conclusions, even those
reached on the basis of
quantitative research and
falsification tests, are relative
(because they depend on the
prevailing paradigm).
3. The most obvious biases can
be avoided by being aware of
them and by doing the
analysis in such a way that it
can be repeated and checked
by others.
Immersion and understanding
The point of immersion is so
that the meaning of the
situation can be understood.
The
researcher will not approach
the situation with a
preconceived list of variables
that need to
be stored and that constrain the
outcome of the stud. The
researcher approaches the
situation open-mindedly and
sees what come out.
Ideographic vs Nomothetic
Ideographic approach refers to
the conclusions of a study that
stay limited to the
phenomenon under the study.
Their analysis is limited to the
situation and the participant(s)
at hand. The nomothetic
approach refers to a study
which is run in search of
universal
principles that exceed the
confines of the study.
Strengths of qualitative
research
Directly focused on
understanding situations and
solving problems
Aimed at understanding a
problem and working towards
a solution.
Generation of new ideas and
elaboration of theorie