Introduction
Soc3307f
Schools of Thought
Quantitative Research
-Meaningfully
expressed by
numbers
-Provides counts and
measures
-Positivist orientation
Qualitative Research
-Meanings, concepts,
and definitions
-Quality assessed
through words,
images, and
description
-Interpretivist or critical
orientation
Three General Research Approaches
(Paradigms)
APPROACH
POSITIVISM CRITICAL
INTERPRETIVE
USUAL TYPE
OF RESEARCH
experiment,
survey,
historicalcomparative
field research,
interviews
PERSPECTIVE
technocratic
transcendent
transcendent
TYPE OF LOGIC
reconstructed logic-in-practice logic-in-practice
PATH
linear
non-linear
/cyclical
non-linear
/cyclical
Quantitative/Qualitative Differences

Quantitative = deductive

Qualitative = inductive

Both involve measurement: the process of
conceptualization and operationalization
Ideas and Theory
The Deductive
(Quantitative)
Process
 Ideas and theory
come before
empirical research
 Ideas lead to
refutation through
research
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The Inductive
(Qualitative)
Process
o Research leads to
theory development
o Research initiates,
reformulates, deflects
and clarifies theory
Other Distinctions:
Quantitative vs. Qualitative

objective versus subjective

nomothetic versus idiographic

etic versus emic perspective
Measurement in Qualitative
Research
Empirical Observations
Working Ideas
Concepts
Generalizations/Theories
Triangulation
Theories
Multiple lines
of sight
Researchers
Data
Technologies
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Triangulation: To Create a Fuller
Picture of Social Reality


Alan Bryman (drawing on Norman Denzin)
states that that triangulation, “refers to the
use of more than one approach to the
investigation of a research question in order
to enhance confidence in the ensuing
findings” and is the primary rationale for using
multiple methods.
See Triangulation by Alan Bryman at
http://www.referenceworld.com/sage/socialsci
ence/triangulation.pdf
Norman Denzin (1970) on Triangulation
1. Data triangulation, which entails gathering data
through several sampling strategies, so that slices of
data at different times and social situations, as well
as on a variety of people, are gathered.
2. Investigator triangulation, which refers to the use of
more than one researcher in the field to gather and
interpret data.
3. Theoretical triangulation, which refers to the use of
more than one theoretical position in interpreting
data.
4. Methodological triangulation, which refers to the use
of more than one method for gathering data.
Symbolic Interactionism (Berg)
 Human
behavior depends on learning
 Human interactions form the central
source of data
 Participants’ perspectives form theory
 Definitions of situation (W.I. Thomas)
 Max Weber
 Verstehen
 Ideal
types
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Questions….
 What
is your impression of qualitative
research?
 What
might you be describing in qualitative
research?
 How
can we know what is really going on
in a certain context?
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010