Quantitative Methodology

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the strengths of quantitative research, while also touching on the strengths of qualitative research, arguing that there is no single right way to do research. It argues that the preferences of the researcher, along with the constraints of the data, should guide the researcher into choosing the research design that is most suited for the project at hand.

From the Paper:

"The researcher setting to conquer a new field of knowledge must make a series of decisions from the very beginning of the research that will determine what type of data " and answers " he or she will find. In most cases, the very first decision that a researcher must make in deciding to carry out a piece of research is the choice between qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Although there is no reason why the two cannot be combined to pursue creative and powerful research (an in fact the tendency to combine qualitative and quantitative methods is becoming more and more common) it remains the case that most researchers and therefore most pieces of research are based almost entirely upon either qualitative or quantitative work. The choice between these two is important because they reflect entirely different underlying epistemologies and research philosophies. The values of quantitative research and the ways in quantitative research might best be used are explored in this paper."

More papers on Quantitative Methodology:

• Essay # 45755 : "Types of Methodology"
• Essay # 52846 : "Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research"
• Comparison Essay # 86544 : "Nursing Research: Quantitative vs. Qualitative"

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