Merits And Demerits Of Qualitative And Quantitative Procedures Psychology Essay

Merits And Demerits Of Qualitative And Quantitative Procedures Psychology Essay Research methods are technique(s) for gathering data (Harding, 1986) and are generally dichotomized into being either quantitative or qualitative. It has been argued that methodology has been gendered (Oakley, 1998), with quantitative methods traditionally being associated with words such as positivism, scientific, objectivity, statistics and masculinity. In contrast, qualitative methods have generally been associated with interpretive, non-scientific, subjectivity and femininity. Quantitative Research Techniques and Procedures Qualitative analysis is a process that is often the precursor to quantitative, statistical work; a process to make the tacit underpinnings of an issue explicit; a process you can use to deepen your understanding of complex social and human factors that cannot be understood with numbers; a process that helps you figure out what to count and what to measure (Kerlin, 1999, p. 1). A common way of conducting quantitative research is using a survey. Surveys usually involve filling in a questionnaire. There are, of course, many different kinds of quantitative research besides the survey. Observational research involves watching or observing various behaviors and patterns. More complicated forms of quantitative research are experimental research or mathematical modelling research (Peter J.P. Donnelly J.H, 2000). In the social sciences, quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena. The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships. Quantitative research is used widely in social sciences such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science. Research in mathematical sciences such as physics is also quantitative by definition, though this use of the term differs in context. In the social sciences, the term relates to empirical methods, originating in both philosophical positivism and the history of statistics, which contrast qualitative research methods. Qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only hypotheses. Quantitative methods can be used to verify, which of such hypotheses are true. Qualitative Research Techniques and Procedures Qualitative research is a generic term for investigative methodologies described as ethnographic, naturalistic, anthropological, field, or participant observer research. It emphasizes the importance of looking at variables in the natural setting in which they are found. Interaction between variables is important. Detailed data is gathered through open ended questions that provide direct quotations. The interviewer is an integral part of the investigation (Jacob, 1988). This differs from quantitative research which attempts to gather data by objective methods to provide information about relations, comparisons, and predictions and attempts to remove the investigator from the investigation (Smith, 1983). According to Andrew (2007), qualitative research is a method of inquiry appropriated in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, when. Hence, smaller but focused samples are more often needed, rather than large samples. According to Andrew (2007), qualitative research is used to denote approaches which are supported by a set of hypotheses concerning the way the social world functions. It deduces many of its basic principles from the perspective that there are fundamental differences between the science of human world and science of natural world and consequently needs to use distinctive methods. Here, attention is focused upon looking at the world through the eyes of studied objects and upon evolving concepts and theories which are grounded in the collecting data. So, qualitative research connected with own accounts of the individuals of their attitudes and behavior. The significance of qualitative research consists in setting stress on describing, understanding complex phenomena. It investigates, for instance, the relationships and patterns among factors or the context in which the activity happens. It is concentrated on understanding the full many-dimensional picture of the subject of investigatio n. Qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only hypotheses (informative guesses). The aim of qualitative research is to deepen our understanding about something, and usually this means going beyond the numbers and the statistics. Qualitative research helps us to give reasons why the numbers tell us what they do. It is often contrasted to quantitative research and they are very often used together to get the bigger picture of what we are trying to find out. Qualitative research helps us flesh out the story. Face-to-Face Interviews and Focus Groups The most common forms of qualitative research are face-to-face interviews and focus groups. Face-to-face interviews are just that: Meeting someone in person and discussing various issues. The informant or person you are interviewing may be an expert in a particular field (e.g. the editor of a newspaper) or they may be someone who is affected by the issues you are researching (e.g. someone who is HIV positive or who reads the media). Focus groups involve discussions with two or more participants. While questions for focus groups need to be prepared to guide and focus the discussions, the responses are often free-ranging, as the participants are encouraged to explore the issues at hand in an in-depth way. While focus groups and interviews will help you develop explanations for quantitative data, sometimes they can provide you with quantitative data themselves Basic Differences between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Techniques Quantitative and qualitative research methods differ primarily in: their analytical objectives the types of questions they pose the types of data collection instruments they use the forms of data they produce the degree of flexibility built into study design The key difference between quantitative and qualitative methods is their flexibility. Generally, quantitative methods are fairly inflexible. With quantitative methods such as surveys and questionnaires, for example, researchers ask all participants identical questions in the same order. The response categories from which participants may choose are closed-ended or fixed. The advantage of this inflexibility is that it allows for meaningful comparison of responses across participants and study sites. However, it requires a thorough understanding of the important questions to ask, the best way to ask them, and the range of possible responses. Qualitative methods are typically more flexible that is, they allow greater spontaneity and adaptation of the interaction between the researcher and the study participant. For example, qualitative methods ask mostly open-ended questions that are not necessarily worded in exactly the same way with each participant. With open-ended questions, participants are free to respond in their own words, and these responses tend to be more complex than simply yes or no. In addition, with qualitative methods, the relationship between the researcher and the participant is often less formal than in quantitative research. Participants have the opportunity to respond more elaborately and in greater detail than is typically the case with quantitative methods. In turn, researchers have the opportunity to respond immediately to what participants say by tailoring subsequent questions to information the participant has provided. Merriam (1988) provided a basis for differentiating qualitative and quantitative research techniques based on their characteristics. Characteristics of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Point of Comparisons Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Focus of research Quality (nature, essence) Quantity (how much, how many) Philosophical roots Phenomenology, symbolic interaction Positivism, logical empiricism Associated phrases Fieldwork, ethnographic, naturalistic, grounded, subjective Experimental, empirical, statistical Goal of investigation Understanding, description, discovery, hypothesis generating Prediction, control, description, confirmation, hypothesis testing Design characteristics Flexible, evolving, emergent Predetermined, structured Setting Natural, familiar Unfamiliar, artificial Sample Small, non-random, theoretical Large, random, representative Data collection Researcher as primary instrument, interviews, observations Inanimate instruments (scales, tests, surveys, questionnaires, computers) Mode of analysis Inductive (by researcher) Deductive (by statistical methods) Findings Comprehensive, holistic, expansive Precise, narrow, reductionist However, there is a range of flexibility among methods used in both quantitative and qualitative research and that flexibility is not an indication of how scientifically rigorous a method is. Rather, the degree of flexibility reflects the kind of understanding of the problem that is being pursued using the method. Merits of Quantitative Analysis The use of surveys permit a researcher to study more variables at one time than is typically possible in laboratory or field experiments, whilst data can be collected about real world environments. The usefulness of a survey is that the information you get is standardized because each respondent the person who fills out the questionnaire is answering the exact same questions. Once you have enough responses to your questionnaire, you can then put the data together and analyze it in a way that answers your research question or what it is you want to know. Since case studies follow a structured format, different situations can be compared or analyzed comparatively. Case studies are typically short (often no more than 5 pages long) and usually only contain the essential information needed to present a situation and, if necessary, to describe and properly analyze a problem. Quantitative data can determine when students have achieved or failed a task, and they can provide national ranking, percentiles, and allow researchers to conduct comparison analyses. Nevertheless, they cannot provide the total picture of why a particular student has either succeeded or failed (Burnaford et al., 2001; Gall et al., 1996 and Mc Bride Schostak, 2000). In quantitative research, the researcher neither participates in nor influences what is being studied; thus, he/she examines the circumstances objectively. In some qualitative research, the researcher may play a more subjective role and participate by being immersed in his/her research. That is, the observer may be the teacher or the facilitator. This role is often the case with when action research, case studies, and focus groups are used in educational research. Advantages of surveys Good for comparative analysis. Can get lots of data in a relatively short space of time. Can be cost-effective (if you use the Internet, for example). Can take less time for respondents to complete (compared to an interview or focus group) Specific concrete example; Can help with problem solving; Are often interesting to read. Demerits of Quantitative Analysis A key weakness of quantitative analysis is that it is very difficult to realise insights relating to the causes of or processes involved in the phenomena measured. There are, in addition, several sources of bias such as the possibly self-selecting nature of respondents, the point in time when the survey is conducted and in the researcher him/herself through the design of the survey itself. It could be argued that the quantitative researcher is more precise, but the response would be that with people it is not possible to be so precise, people change and the social situation is too complex for numerical description. Quantitative research has a tendency to clarify where clarification is not appropriate. (Mc Bride Schostak, 2000, pp. 1-2) Disadvantages of Surveys Responses may not be specific. Questions may be misinterpreted. May not get as many responses as you need. Dont get full story. Can take time to develop; Depending on format, may need some level of good writing skills; Do not usually give broad overview of issue at hand. Merits of Qualitative Techniques The approaches of the qualitative research differ from the methods of the quantitative research. Quantitative methods have their aim in dividing into clearly defined parts, or variables. When we research an issue which we know how to quantify, for example, what can be quantified for sure, we may leave out the factors which are crucial to the real understanding of the phenomena under study (Andrew, 2007). Qualitative methods are helpful not only in giving rich explanations of complex phenomena, but in creating or evolving theories or conceptual bases, and in proposing hypotheses to clarify the phenomena. Besides, value of the qualitative research consists in validity of the information received; people are minutely interviewed so as the obtained data would be taken as correct and believable reports of their opinions and experiences. Its major disadvantage is that small group of interviewed individuals can not be taken as representative (Andrew, 2007). Case studies involve an attempt to describe relationships that exist in reality, very often in a single organization. Case studies may be positivist or interpretivist in nature, depending on the approach of the researcher, the data collected and the analytical techniques employed. Reality can be captured in greater detail by an observer-researcher, with the analysis of more variables than is typically possible in experimental and survey research. Another type of qualitative analysis is site visits. Site visits help you understand your research better; site visits (e.g. when you visit an organization, a manufacturing plant, a clinic or a housing project) are very useful and sometimes even necessary ways of gaining additional insight and making your theoretical information concrete in your mind. They allow you to observe what is going on, and to ask questions you may not have thought about. Qualitative research has a phenomenological focus that can provide an enriched and detailed description of the participants actions and/or viewpoints (Veronesi, 1997). Advantages of Face-to-Face Interviews Can allow for in-depth knowledge sharing; Helps to develop the bigger picture; Helps with analysis of results; Good for networking (e.g. you may be referred to other people to interview). Advantages of Focus Groups Good for community participation (grassroots input); Helpful in developing ideas and sharing latent, or hidden, knowledge spontaneously; Enables you to get information from a number of individuals simultaneously. Advantages of Site Visits and Observation Demerits of Qualitative Analysis Case studies can be considered weak as they are typically restricted to a single organization and it is difficult to generalize findings since it is hard to find similar cases with similar data that can be analyzed in a statistically meaningful way. Disadvantages of Face-to-Face Interviews Can be time consuming; May be difficult to arrange an interview time; Can be difficult to compare and analyze information. Disadvantages of Focus Groups Can be difficult to set up; Participants may need to be paid; Need to be sensitive to who the facilitator is; May need a translator; Sometimes difficult to organize and analyze information. Disadvantages of Site Visits and Observation Take time; Can be expensive (depending how far you need to travel); With observation in particular, you need to be careful how you interpret what you see. With site visits, you may want to make sure you have a guide so that you can ask questions However, the disadvantage of the quantitative as well as qualitative research is that they do not always underpin understanding of multi-dimensional pictures (Andrew, 2007).

My Personal Theory of Counseling Essay

The important ingredients in counseling are: understanding of theory, process and skill. There are many theories of personality. Moreover, we will notice that within each theory, there are other theorists who slightly differ in their views from those of the exponent of the theory. More often, counseling is based on how the proponent of the theory views personality. Burrhus Skinner’s behavioral approach did not go deep enough while; Sigmund Freud’s theory on personality went too deep. Gordon Allport’s theory of individuality and functional autonomy also lack the foundation I need. My personal theory is more on the source of traits in describing personality, are deeper and more significant. It is however different from the factorial theory of Raymund Cattell. I admire Carl Rogers’ self-actualization; however I believe a person is capable of it only if his brain is structured for self-actualization. Analysis/Discussion I was contemplating to structure my personal theory on counseling on the various theories that we have learned so far; however, I find it illogical to base my theory on another theory of unproven facts. I want a concrete foundation of my theory. Do you suppose inconclusive studies of Frued, Skinner, etc. provide solutions to problems? Definitely not! I have read some articles about Sigmund Feud and I doubted whether he had treated his clients with success. It is my belief that psychotherapy can only help to remove the symptoms and prevent early recurring of these symptoms, however when triggered in the future, the symptoms again manifest. .Professionally, I opted to base my personal theory of counselling on pragmatisms, that is, â€Å"genetics. The conclusion of the study just completed by Dr. David Reiss on adolescent development was a surprise even to the doctor himself. Genetic qualities of a person make him unique and different from other people. It is the brain’s genetic components that determine the personality of a person and since no two persons have exactly the same genes, no two people have exactly the same brain structure. Even identical twins have different personality (â€Å"How does the brain works? †). Identical twins have different fingerprints when they come forth from a single fertilized egg. Personality does not begin during infanthood as theorized by Frued but at conception, that is, fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon, to be exact. Genetics influences proved that relatively, parents have little influence on child development, that genetic is responsible on how children do well in school, how these adjusted individuals turn out, whether they develop delinquent behaviors in their interactions with other people. â€Å"It’s a radical revision of contemporary theories of child development,† says Reiss. â€Å"I can’t even describe what a paradigm shift it is (Paul, A. M. 005). â€Å" This is the reaction of a George Washington University psychiatrist, Dr. David Reiss as described in a recent article in Psychology Today Magazine, after receiving the results of his more than 12 years of study on genetic and personality development (2005). Researches say that the genetic composition of a person brings forth peculiar responses from others, which suc cessively shape his personality. It cannot be denied that a baby or a child with a bright and pleasing disposition attracts other people’s attention and affection, thus creating self-image and importance. Studies proved, children in their interaction with the environment would pick experiences and opportunities that befit their genotype or genetic qualities. They make decisions in his choices in life, like choosing his friends, jobs, etc which determine their personality as they grow older. The children are in control of their own development through the choices they made. The genes lay the foundation of personality; the environment provides the color and refraction, the accent and significance. That is the correlation of â€Å"nature and nurture (2005). † Moreover, where there is conflict between nature and nurture, problems arise. This happens when society does not permit or support the child’s expression of his natural propensities or where the environment is unable to provide enough opportunities to develop his inner potentials as when he was born to a poor family or where the child’s genetically- determined inclination collides with that of the parents. Such conflicts may result in anti-social behavior, diminished motivation and poor mental attitude. The philosophy of genetics is consistent with my view about personality and humanity. The world is a great plan, a program where everything has a purpose, an essence. The seas are what they are, to contain other living things to live. Animals survive by instincts and conditioning, no need to be counseled. A building did not exist without a reason. It was planned and erected for a definite purpose. Man came to existence by essence of choice. We are not totally free to get want we want, to act what we want to do. There is always a choice. We are only free to choose. If we want to fly, we cannot, because we are not programmed to fly. However, we are free to do something about it. However, what we willed is subject to the will of nature and chance. Chances are, our wishes and desires will not be realized. We choose our attitudes towards the things around us and give meaning to our life. We try to understand things in life but our understanding is limited. Being raised in a Christian environment, I find it in accord with my spiritual beliefs as a person, in the sense that before we came to this world, we already existed in the spirit with God. Allow me to quote a Bible verse, in Jeremiah 1:4-5: â€Å"Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, before I formed thee in the belly I knew the; and before thou camest forth of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (cited in Richards, L. l979). † This may sound unscientific; however there is truth to it. It is true that even inside the womb; the baby has already his own unique personality. Darwin’s theory of evolution until now remains a theory and every theory on personality continues a concept. Structure of Therapy and Choosing Goals In choosing goals, initial assessment is very important because this is where the problems lie and where the outcome of the treatment ultimately depends. The therapist must go deeper into the root cause of the problem. Freud’s structure of personality centers on the id, ego and superego which are interrelated and based his psychoanalytic treatment on this structure. Sigmund Freud missed the foundation of the id, the genes. My structure of counseling will be based on the philosophy of genes, that no people are alike. It shall be dependent on the nature of the client’s personality. What a dilemma! I have to search for the genes that determine personality to go deeper, realization of which is next to impossibility. However, if science is unable to provide the truth about reality, philosophy can do that and spiritual beliefs do the same with the special job of construing the significance of otherworldliness within this structure. Before starting the therapy, I should consider determining the nature of the client. Knowing the client is a very important aspect of counseling. Of course I have to inquire about my client’s childhood, if feasible talk with the mother or the baby-sitter, the father and siblings. Gather all the information about the client from birth to adolescent, his fears, traits, attitudes, beliefs, desires, likes and dislikes. From there, the nurturing of the client must be dealt with also. Collect information about her/his peers, playmates, school, teachers and the environment. More or less, there is now a clearer picture of nature and nurture. After the history-taking session, the source of conflict will now be easy to determine by applying the â€Å"right brain† technique to the client. The â€Å"right brain† refers to the brain systems that fix or adjust the power to interpret, direct and get ahead in the world and also ascertain the quality and security of relationships with others. Right brain counseling centers on emotion and creativity. To bring this emotion and sensations into play, the â€Å"left brain† is used. The therapist must make use of both sides of the brain to optimize counseling. This is an approach to healing with a goal to balance the emotional, physical, moral, social and spiritual nature of a person called holistic and integrative approach. This is addressing a person as a whole in all aspects (Lacombe, S. McGraw, T. 2007). Both the therapist and the client must be comfortable with each other to arrive at a desired goal. The client must be made aware of the facts of life; that not everything we desire is attainable; that our understanding of the world is limited and that there is free will of choice; that we should not regret if we fail in our choice; that everything will pass naturally if there is acceptance. That there is always a chance to do better and the future is still fruitful and bright. That desires can be shifted to other endeavor. Learning produces alterations in gene expression. Genes contribute to behavior; in turn behavior feedbacks action on the brain and modify expression of the genes. â€Å"Thus all of nurture is ultimately expressed as nature (Kandel, E. l998)† However, I still believe that under extreme circumstances, nature predominates. Summary/Conclusion A psychotherapist must formulate his own unique standpoint based on profound precepts of knowledge. In doing so, it is necessary to be cautious about formulating a personal theory. Counselors must come to understand the nature of people and deeply look into their values, attitudes and beliefs about existence and good life. In going about choosing goals, a therapist must key out a substantially mature and functioning individual as a model. My personal theory of counseling is based on pragmatism that genetics provides the foundation of one’s personality, nurtured by his experiences and choices thereby reflecting and defining his personality development. Problems and symptoms arise as the genetic traits or characteristics of a person are in conflicts with his environment, where nature and nurture do not coincide. In learning, expressions of genes are modified thus nurture ultimately is expressed as nature.

Analyze Ducati’s Essay

As the case mentioned, Ducati was experiencing a financial crisis before 1996. Just right before Ducati’s bankruptcy, Texas Pacific Group took over the company and appointed Minoli as the leader for the new management team. Despite having high tech motorcycles, Ducati suffered from lack of high quality reputation due to poor management and inefficient production. Under Minoli’s management, he successfully established Ducati’s core logic as a sports bike leading brand, and set company’s core goals as to increase growth as well as maintain profit margin. Minoli began this goal-oriented strategic decision and pointed out a blueprint in order to reshaped Ducati from head to toe. He not only made Ducati to be perceived as a brand to compete in its niche sports segment, but also reeducated the public’s thoughts toward Ducati as a lifestyle and entertainment rather than just motorcycles alone. One key to branding is to maintain customer retention. As mentioned in the case, since 55 percent of Ducati’s customers tend to purchase more than one motorcycles, it is essential for Minoli to establish a high customer loyalty in order to have repurchase intentions. With that aim in mind, Minoli launched levels of investments in customer retention activities to accompany his branding strategy. Implementations include things such as advertising to broaden customer base, creating customer service for quality satisfaction, bike customization for brand niche segmentation, and building Ducati heritage to reconstruct customer loyalty. In addition to branding, Minoli also reorganized production system by outsourcing majority of Ducati’s basic components to maintain the flexibility and efficiency for the production process (76 to 87 bikes produced per worker in 3 year) . Standardizing cylinders and crank cases for different models, acquiring accessories and apparel company also allowed Ducati to yield a higher profit margin (12%) and turnover rate. Furthermore, Minoli also started a new distribution strategy by reorganizing dealerships. To improve the quality and control of the dealerships of Ducati, Minoli began to limit dealerships by carrying only Ducati motorcycles and accessories. Although this act subsequently reduced a number of dealerships in the region, total annual registration still had increased by more than 300% from 2310 to 9750 within 4 years in Italy. In sum, Minoli’s turnaround program has allowed it to create core competencies in brand, product, and R&D technologies by implementing strategies mentioned above. Lowering the cost as well as raising the revenue made Minoli’s goal of long term profit sustaining possible. work cited:Gavetti, Giovanni: Ducati page 11.

Carl Jung Psychological Concept What You Resist-Persists Free Essay Example, 750 words

Carl Jung gave a seemingly complex and ironical psychological concept that what you resist persists . Since ages, the hallmark of the well-evolved civilizations has been to hold and believe that one ought to zealously resist and oppose what one intends to stop or put an end to. The object of detestation in such a scenario may be a personal habit like procrastination, smoking or faulty eating habits, or some social evil like drugs, crime, abuse or political issues like pollution and global warming, war, and terrorism. Certainly, it sounds sensible and rational than most of the above-mentioned problems are largely, generally detestable and hence the only plausible way to check them or to put an end to them is to vehemently resist them. In the given context, the proposition of Carl Jung that resisting a thing not only assures its persistence but also makes its end or demise even more difficult may sound strange. Still, the truth is always stranger than fiction. The theory given by Car l Jung is not only relevant but is backed by ample psychological credibility and truth. We will write a custom essay sample on Carl Jung Psychological Concept: What You Resist-Persists or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page