Quantitative research and Qualitative research

Quantitative research involves attaching numbers to relationships between variables (Hopkins, 2000). Quantitative research uses objective measurements and statistical analysis of data that is collected from a well-controlled setting. On the contrary, qualitative research is rooted in phenomenology. Qualitative research involves intensive narrative data collection in order to understand the way things are and to gain insights into how things got to be that way and how people feel about the way things are (Gay & Airasian, 2003). Qualitative data is collected in natural settings and “focuses on understanding social phenomena from the perspective of the human participants in the study” (Ary, Jacobs, & Razavieh, 2002, p. 22). Usually, qualitative research is for generating theory while quantitative research focuses on testing theory (Ary, et al., 2002).

Quantitative research has two types: non-experimental and experimental (Ary et al., 2002). In a non-experimental study, no attempt is made to change behavior or conditions; researchers measure things as they are (Hopkins, 2000). Major forms of non-experimental research are survey research (exploratory studies), correlational studies, and causal-comparative (or ex post facto) studies. Survey research is used to measure the characteristics of different groups or to measure their attitudes and opinions toward some issue; correlational research is done to determine relationships among two or more variables from the same group of people and to examine the strength and direction of relationships among variables (Ary, et al., 2002); causal-comparative research investigates “the cause for or the consequences of differences between groups of people” (Fraenkel & Wallen, 1996, p. 10). It should be noted that causal-comparative research does not establish a causal relationship among the variables, because it does not manipulate the independent variable that has already occurred naturally (Ary et al., 2002).

General considerations-research

Research papers usually have five chapters with well-established sections in each chapter. Readers of the paper will be looking for these chapters and sections so you should not deviate from the standard format unless you are specifically requested to do so by the research sponsor.

Most research studies begin with a written proposal. Again, nearly all proposals follow the same format. In fact, the proposal is identical to the first three chapters of the final paper except that it's writtten in future tense. In the proposal, you might say something like "the researchers will secure the sample from ...", while in the final paper, it would be changed to "the researchers secured the sample from ...". Once again, with the exception of tense, the proposal becomes the first three chapters of the final research paper.

The most commonly used style for writing research reports is called "APA" and the rules are described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Any library or bookstore will have it readily available. The style guide contains hundreds of rules for grammar, layout, and syntax. This paper will cover the most important ones.

Avoid the use of first person pronouns. Refer to yourself or the research team in third person. Instead of saying "I will ..." or "We will ...", say something like "The researcher will ..." or "The research team will ...".

A suggestion: Never present a draft (rough) copy of your proposal, thesis, dissertation, or research paper...even if asked. A paper that looks like a draft, will interpreted as such, and you can expect extensive and liberal modifications. Take the time to put your paper in perfect APA format before showing it to anyone else. The payoff will be great since it will then be perceived as a final paper, and there will be far fewer changes.