Question:
Answer the following essay question:
Using the ‘words’ of respondents in exploring social phenomenon reduces qualitative research to little more than
story telling. Using this statement as a starting point, critically evaluate the key criticisms levelled at qualitative
research.
Your answer must be supported by appropriate academic underpinning.
Assessment Criteria
This assignment will be marked using the HRM Department’s standard template Assignment Assessment Sheet.
The breakdown of the marks will be as follows:-
Nature of the topic(s) 10%
Literature Review 30%
Analysis & Discussion 35%
Conclusions & Recommendations 15%
Presentation & References 10%
Solution:
1.0 Introduction
Qualitative research characteristically identified from its aims which is related to an understanding of some aspects of social life with the approaches adopted generating phrases as opposed to the number after analysis of data. This is contrary to the quantitative research which aims to measure different aspects through the adoption of percentages and other metrics. According to Mertens (2014), in research, there are distinct sorts of questions which demands to answer using either quantitative or qualitative method. In case the question is qualitative, the most ideal and rigorous approach to answer it is through qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, and observations. Additionally, in an event the final report is to be adopted for lobbying, the quantitative and qualitative data are the most powerful. This is since the survey determines the level of the issue while the interviews used in offering detailed information on the issue under investigation. It is hence worth noting that qualitative approach is best suited for an event there is a need of generating hypotheses that can be tested using the quantitative approach. Despite its broad use in research, critics of this approach indicate that it is a mere anecdote and personal impressions, intensely exposed to researcher biases (Olesen, 2011; Olesen, 2011). Additionally, it is argued that the qualitative research is devoid of reproducibility which means that the research is personal to the researcher with zero guarantees that a researcher can achieve radically distinct conclusions. This is coupled with the lack of generalizability of the research process. Hence, using the words of respondents to explore social phenomenon conforms qualitative research to a little more than storytelling. In this context, this paper will critically evaluate on the principal criticisms leveled at qualitative research.
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Qualitative Research Method
According to O’reilly and Parker (2013), qualitative research is a social and scientific research which seeks to answer questions, collecting evidence, producing findings not pre-determined in advance and developing findings that can be adopted beyond the immediate boundaries of the study. Also, the qualitative approach is used in sourcing for an understanding of a particular research issue or topic from the perspectives of the local population involved. As noted by Tufford and Newman (2012), the effectiveness of the qualitative research is hedged on its efficacy in sourcing culturally specific information regarding values, opinions, behaviours, and social contexts of particular populations. Additionally, the qualitative approaches are useful in identifying the intangible factors such as social norms, socioeconomic status, gender roles, ethnicities, and religion. Often, the quantitative approach can be used collaboratively with a qualitative approach for interpreting and having an improved understanding of the reality complexities and quantitative data implications.
Despite the findings sourced from qualitative data having a potential of being extended to people with characteristics ideal to those in the study population and sourcing a rich and complex appreciation of particular social contexts of a phenomenon. This generally takes a precedence on eliciting data possibly generalizable through the adoption of distinct geographical areas of scientific research in a generalized manner (Polit & Beck, 2010; Tracy, 2010). In this context, qualitative refers is to a large extent distinct from the scientific research.
The significant methods in qualitative research method include the participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus groups (Seidman, 2013). In regard to participant observations, they are used in collecting data in naturally occurring behaviors in their usual contexts. On the other hand, in-depth interviews are optimally used in data collection on people history, perspectives, and experiences. Lastly, focus groups are adopted to source data on issues of cultural norms of a group and a broadened overviews of aspects of focus to the cultural groups.
2.2 Key Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research The quantitative approach enhances measuring of multiple subjects…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Please contact our team to receive guidance, support and tutorial services on this assessment in full based on your expectations level
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