I am really impressed by the “what” versus “why” question, which could be a good
way to differentiate quantitative research method and qualitative method.
Qualitative method asks the why question whereas quantitative question asks the
what question. We also discussed this in our small group. We thought
quantitative method gave us an overall feeling of the data whereas, qualitative
method was used to uncover the question of what was happening. The difference
between qualitative and quantitative method also has implications of
subjectivity. We talked in class that qualitative researchers need to be
explicit about his/her standpoint. Dan pointed out the issue of in qualitative
research, researchers are instruments. This highlighted the issue of bias and
subjectivity. As research instruments, one needs to know the degree of
preciseness of instruments (this is especially true in hard science).
Therefore, as researchers would have personal interpretation imposed on the
data which inevitably would affect the degree of preciseness.
Technology has been used in the data-collection
process. I kept thinking of whether using technology in the process of data
collection increases the objectivity of the data or decreases. I was thinking
of some log data that was collected automatically by the system. This sounds
like increasing the objectivity as it is the system which collects the data.
Being unlike researchers’ data collection (e.g., one holds the camera and video
recording the classroom), which has researchers’ opinions imposed, log files
are created by the system and with a character of comprehensive and exhaustive.
I
don’t necessarily remember who brought up the issue that technology would shape
our view of data. I am wondering is it because of this, Merriam suggested
technology placed a distance between researchers and data?
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