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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 11 page paper begins with a stimulus statement alleging research in social sciences, including education lack rigor. The essay discusses the criticisms levied against social science research and then discusses different qualitative methods that have been shown to be effective and valid. A table illustrates the criteria of good research and how that is translated into quantitative and qualitative approaches. Bibliography lists 11 sources.
Page Count:
11 pages (~225 words per page)
File: MM12_PGedrsc.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
that the purpose(s) of research is not eroded by people (often unqualified) engaging in activities that masquerade as research." This statement alludes to the controversy and debate concerning qualitative versus
quantitative research methodologies, a debate that has been raging for decades. A quantitative approach is described as: "one in which the investigator primarily uses post-positivist claims for developing knowledge (i.e.
cause and effect thinking, reduction to specific variables and hypotheses and questions, use of measurement and observation, and the test of theories)" (Maczewski, 2003). There are three primary methods for
the quantitative research approach: experiments, quasiexperiments and surveys (University of Nevada, n.d.). The qualitative approach is explained: "qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of
or interpret phenomenon in terms of the meanings people bring to them" (Maczewski, 2003). Methods included in the qualitative approach include case studies, ethnographic studies and phenomenological studies (University of
Nevada, n.d.). Educational research, in fact, research in all social science fields often use qualitative approaches. However, despite the criticism and ongoing controversy, there is a significant amount of evidence
that supports qualitative research in the social sciences (Davis, 1997). A comparison of the concepts in quantitative and qualitative research as related to the four criteria for adequacy or rigor
in scientific research demonstrates the validity of the qualitative approach: Criterion Quantitative Research Qualitative Research Truth-value Internal validity Credibility Applicability External validity Fittingness Consistency Reliability Auditability Neutrality Objectivity Confirmability (Source:
Davis, 1997). The terminology used for qualitative research may not be as well-understood as that used for quantitative research, thus, a brief explanation is provided: 1. Credibility is the presentation
of interpretations or descriptions related to the human experience that others will recognize when they read about them (Davis, 1997). 2. Fittingness relates to how research findings fit into contexts
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