Friday, 29 January 2016

Research Diary 1

In the Media culture 2, we need to finish the individual research essay with academic research on media and culture. Then when we need to collect some data to do our project, we may use the quantitative or qualitative research methods. So I will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of those methods.

1.      Quantitative research
Basically, qualitative research is the use of statistical, mathematical or computational techniques and other methods to carry out systematic empirical study of social phenomena. If we would to carry out this research, we have a few steps, first of all we need generate a hypothesis based on theory, secondly is collect data and process data, in third step we should quantify all the data and analyses it, at the last is conclusions.
In qualitative research, we will most to use questionnaire to collect data. For example, we can survey on the street or Email. Qualitative research is based on a fixed-form questionnaire, using a large number of samples to obtain the data.
This research is use most people to collect the data, so the strengths of quantitative research is studying large numbers of people, it will make the research findings can be generalized with random samples, that's mean qualitative research can give we more and extensive information. Quantitative data or statistical information is presented in the form of numbers and percentage, so it’s easier to show to other people. But in the measurement process, we can control results interviewed.

2.      Qualitative research
Relative quantitative research, qualitative research focused on smaller but more concentrated samples generated information or knowledge about a particular case study. It is because the difference is qualitative research telling you "why", the quantitative research is "how much". When we use qualitative research, is hope can in-depth to target of the specific features or acts to further explore its causes.
And the qualitative research great majority is use in-depth interviews to collect the data, so it has more in-depth information and less emphasis on reliability and validity. The disadvantage of this research is it need more time to collect and analyse the data.

So, what the difference of quantitative and qualitative research? The first is those have different focus, such as quantitative research focuses on aspects of the amount of things, qualitative research focuses on aspects of material things.
Next, quantitative study using empirical measurements, statistical analysis and modeling methods, but qualitative research is mainly to use of logical reasoning, comparison of example.
Last, it has the presentation of different conclusions. Quantitative research mainly the data, models, graphics, etc. to express, qualitative research findings mostly to use text-based description.

But in this time, I can’t choose which research method in my essay, because I can’t decide my topic now.


Student Name: Leung Yu Hin

1 comment:

  1. Dear Nicky, The summary of the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative research methods is comprehensive. It demonstrates your understanding of the two big categories of research methods. Presentation needs to be more accurate. For example, I can't really get what you mean by this sentence: "But in the measurement process, we can control results interviewed." It's fine if you cannot decide your research topic. You can refer to the suggested ones in the assignment brief.

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