Our orders are delivered strictly on time without delay
Our orders are delivered strictly on time without delay
Discuss the role of objectivity and subjectivity in qualitative and quantitative scientific inquiries
2. Identify the key types of designs used in quantitative methods of inquiry
3. Identify the phases of the research process and the ways in which they are similar and different in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods of inquiry.
Experimental Designs:
True Experiments: Characterized by random assignment of participants to an experimental (treatment) group and a control group, and the manipulation of the independent variable. This design offers the strongest evidence for cause-and-effect (e.g., Randomized Control Trials, or RCTs).
Quasi-Experimental Designs:
Lacks the random assignment characteristic of a true experiment, often due to ethical or practical reasons. The independent variable is still manipulated (e.g., pre-test/post-test without a randomly assigned control group, time-series designs). It suggests, but does not definitively prove, causality.
Non-Experimental Designs (Descriptive and Correlational):
The researcher does not manipulate the independent variable. These designs observe and describe phenomena or relationships.
The concepts of objectivity and subjectivity are central to the philosophical foundations (paradigm) of both quantitative and qualitative research, defining what is considered valid "truth" or knowledge.
| Feature | Quantitative Inquiry | Qualitative Inquiry |
| Philosophical Aim | Objectivity (Positivist/Post-Positivist Paradigm) | Subjectivity/Intersubjectivity (Interpretivist/Constructivist Paradigm) |
| Definition of Reality | Reality is objective and external to the researcher; it is governed by natural laws and can be measured and generalized. | Reality is socially constructed, complex, and exists only as perceived by individuals; it is context-bound. |
| Role of Objectivity | Primary Goal. Researchers aim to remain detached and neutral to prevent bias. Tools (surveys, scales, experiments) are standardized to ensure measurements are reliable and independent of the person conducting the research. | Not the Goal. The researcher attempts to be objective in methodology (e.g., documenting bias) but accepts that the human experience being studied is inherently subjective. |
| Role of Subjectivity | A Threat. Subjectivity is seen as a source of bias (e.g., leading questions, researcher influence) that invalidates the findings. Efforts are made to minimize it through blinding and rigorous control. | A Resource. The researcher's subjective understanding and interpretation are essential to making sense of the data (e.g., interview transcripts). The goal is to capture the subjects' unique perspectives (intersubjectivity). |
Quantitative designs focus on measuring variables and testing hypotheses using statistical analysis. The key types are categorized by the degree of control the researcher has over the variables.