Social research sample

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1. SOCIAL RESEARCH SAMPLE
Social research
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Introduction

Research refers to the scientific search for pertinent information on a specific
subject or topic. It mainly comprises of defining and pre-defining problems,
formulated a hypothesis, collecting and organizing and evaluation of data, making
deductions and reaching a conclusion that is carefully tested. The primary aim of any
form of research is to find answers to questions through the application of scientific
research approaches (Babie 2010, p. 104).
For one to begin doing research on a particular topic one must be motivated to do so
by various aspects of life. The main motivator of a research is curiosity, desire to
solve unresolved problems as well and directive from and institution in which a person
is acquainted with. Social research refers to the studies that are conducted by social
scientists using a systematic plan. In social research, there are two broad
classification of research namely the quantitative and qualitative research. This essay
explores these two types of research in social research and various aspects
associated with social research (Babie 2010, p. 104).

Forms of social research

There are mainly two forms of social research the qualitative research and the
quantitative research (Benard 2013).

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Qualitative social research

Qualitative research refers to studies that are not based on data that can be statistical
manipulated to obtain result as with quantitative research approach. The aim
associated with the qualitative research is to gain an understanding and reason
something happens. The research may also be aimed at just providing an insight on an
issue or to note prevalent trends in the society. The sample used for this type of social
research is typically small, where respondent are required to represent a specific
number of people the result of these research are exploratory and/ investigative.
However, the research obtained cannot be used to make generalizations concerning a
specific population of interest (Benard 2013).

Qualitative research techniques

While doing a qualitative research, various techniques are available for use in the
collection of data. Making conclusion is mainly thorough the researchers
interpretation of the collected data. The main techniques used in the collection of
data include: interviews, focus groups, observation case study role play and
ethnography.

Interviews

Interview refers to the collection of research data through the initiation of
conversation with the person who has the required information. The main aim of
conducting an interview, in a qualitative research is to get an understanding of some
themes which are considered important in the research at hand. Through an interview
the researcher is capable of getting the perception of others on the topic of
discussion.

Focus group

Focus group is a method used in qualitative research. The focus group technique
involves the selection of a small group of people normally between five and fifteen
and allowed to discuss about a specific thing. Through their discussion and argument
the researcher is capable of documenting their view concerning the research
question at hand.

Case studies
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It is a qualitative research approach that focuses on a specific instance of a specific
study with the aim of offering a detail account of happenings, experience and the
relation of the aspect (Denscombe, 2004, p.32).

Observation

Refers to the process of monitoring people with the aim of obtaining some specific
information about them in social research observation can be mostly associated with
ethnography. Ethnography refers to a method of social research where the
researcher stays with a group of people with the aim of obtaining specific information
regarding the people’s culture (Denscombe, 2004, p.32).

Administration of questionnaires

Questionnaires can be used for both qualitative and quantitative research
approaches. In qualitative research approach the questionnaires are open ended.
Being open ended makes it possible for the researcher to obtain relevant information
concerning the research from the person filling the questionnaire. It is a good
approach of collecting qualitative data since the individual being interviewed has his
or her time responding to the questions. However, in some instance it might be
delayed or the respondent might be bias while responding to it (Denscombe, 2004,
p.32).

Advantages of qualitative approach of research

The main advantage associated with the qualitative research is the fact that is useful
during the early stages of a research when the research is not sure about what to
study and concentrate on. This is from the fact that qualitative research does not
restrict the researcher on the design or approach of the research. This gives the
researcher flexibility which is required at the initial stages of a research. Furthermore,
this approach offers the researchers more details and rich written descriptions as
well as visual data through the social meaning and how It affects different people in
the society (Watzlawi & Born 2007, p 50).

Another advantage associated with this approach of research is the fact that it does
not require experience by the researcher. Thus this makes it suitable for individual
who are doing research for the first time to be able to perform it. From the fact that it
has little complexity, a person doing a research for the first time is capable of doing
the research comfortably (Watzlawi & Born 2007, p 50).
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Disadvantages of the qualitative approach of research

One disadvantage associated with this method is the fact that it has a lot of
procedures which are redundant thus making the research not to be interesting. The
research approach is also subjective and the results are based on one’s
interpretation. This can also result to bias since conclusions are made basing on the
interpretation made by the researcher. The method also requires a lot of time for the
data to be collected analyzed and then conclusion made (Watzlawi & Born 2007, p 50).

Quantitative research

Quantitative research, on the other hand, defers by qualitative research on their
approaches. Quantitative research frequently involves the gathering of information in
a way that they can be statistically manipulated to reach a conclusion. In these forms
of research, the research question has to be precisely defined and narrowed to the
objective of the research. This method is not a subject to bias as with the qualitative
method since statistical backup is always required for the conclusion made. As
opposed to the qualitative research the focus of quantitative research is normally to
quantify data and make generalization from the sample to represent the targeted
population (Benard 2013, p.104).

Advantages of quantitative approach of research

Using this approach of study the researcher is able to measure and analyze data. This
means that the conclusion made from the research are backed up by statistical
evidence. Bias is thus eliminated and accuracy is usually achieved through various
approaches that are statistically acknowledged. Additionally bias is removed in the
research since the procedures that are to be used needs to be validated by
determining and setting the margin of error. Doing this enables the research to deal
with values which will enhance accuracy of the data obtained (Taylor 2005, p 23).
The approach ensures that research is done in details. In the process of doing the
detail research an individual gains a lot of knowledge regarding the subject of study.
The detailed structure of this method also makes people to produce studies that are
of high quality (Taylor 2005, p 23).

Quantitative research techniques
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Questionnaires are one approach of quantitative research. This is specifically when it
is closed ended question. The closed ended questionnaires can be statistically
evaluated and analyzed (Taylor 2005, p 23).

Correlation analysis

In quantitative research correlation techniques is a technique that involves describing
the extent of a relationship between two variables. The single value used to describe
the relationship between the two values is referred to as coefficient. Coefficient
refers to a number representing the level of relationship between two individual
variables (Washington et al, 2010). There are various forms of correlation that are
used in analyzing statistical data these are Pearson product- moment, spearman rank
lagged, and autocorrelation approach.

Regression technique

It is a quantitative research method when the study being performed involves the
modeling and analyzing various variables including a dependent variable and
independent variable.

Administration of questionnaires

It is considered one of the popular approaches of data collection. This is from the fact
that it is used in both the quantitative and qualitative research. It normally involves
allowing despondence to take on the question asked. The design of the questionnaire
makes it possible for the respondent to respond to it with minimal assistance. The
various forms of questionnaires that are used in quantitative research are the self-
completion questionnaires and questionnaires question which are asked by someone.
Administration of questionnaire can be through the computer often referred to as
mail questionnaire. Telephone questionnaire and and in house questionnaire. The
questionnaires can as well be ranked depending on how questions are framed and this
classification results to the following types of questionnaires: open question
questionnaires, multiple choice questionnaire, dichotomous question and scaling
question (Creswell, 2014 p. 45).

Disadvantages

In most instances the context of the study is usually ignored. This is from the fact that
a lot of statistical work normal takes place and this might interfere with the context of
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the research. This is from the fact that with the quantitative approach of doing a
research the techniques used in collecting data, validating the data and analyzing them
have to be explained in detail thus interfering with the documentation of the result
outcome. Another disadvantage is the fact that the sampling size has to be big for this
increases the accuracy of the results obtained. Another disadvantage associated to this
method is the fact that it requires individuals who have skills in statistical data analysis
since it involves interpretation of statistical data (Creswell, 2014 p. 45).

Summary

The main purpose of any form of a research is to look for pertinent information in the
area of study. The need to do a research is as a result of various things such as curiosity.
While conducting a research the researcher has the responsibility of coming with a way
that will make it possible for him or her to collect information that the conclusion of the
research will be based from. While selecting the method of doing a research a
researcher needs to consider the aim of the research, the expected outcome,
knowledge on conducting the research and the resources available. From the essay it is
evident that there exist various differences regarding these two approaches of
research. The main difference between these two methods of research is the fact that
with the quantitative approach the data is collected in a form that it can be statistically
manipulated. The approaches used in collecting this type of data include correlation
methods, regression analysis and the administration of questionnaires. On the other
hand qualitative research design refers to the research that is mainly aimed towards the
collection of data that will be possible to describe a specific phenomenon. The
techniques used in doing this research include the administration of interviews,
questionnaires and observation.

The research techniques (qualitative and quantitative), are associated with some
disadvantages and advantages. In qualitative research the method is advantageous
when a researcher has not yet settled for something to do, it is also good for young
researcher who do not have good experience in doing research. However the method is
associated with bias. The conclusion made from this research is based on the
interpretation by the researcher on the data and information collected. On the other
hand the quantitative research is a disadvantage since it can result to the loss of focus
while doing the research, the process of doing quantitative research is also involving and
time consuming. The advantage associated with his method is the fact that bias is
eliminated from the fact that the conclusions made are not based from personal
information bat rather from the data collected and analyzed.
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