Qualitative and quantitative methodologies are the foundation for educational dissertation research projects and should be considered carefully as you begin to explore a topic for doctoral study.
Each type of methodology has specific research designs associated with it. Qualitative approaches include, but are not limited to, basic qualitative, phenomenology and case study. For quantitative, that includes quasi-experiemental, casual-comparative, correlational and others.
Doctoral students preparing to tackle their dissertations should carefully consider both the methodology and research design they want to use. They should align with your problem and purpose statements, research questions, hypotheses (if using quantitative methodology), instrumentation and data analysis methods. These are all critical to the success of your data collection and, subsequently, your doctoral degree. Alignment of these items in the dissertation is also extremely important to your success as a researcher.
What Is Qualitative Research?鈥�
Qualitative methodology is a research approach that focuses on understanding human experiences, behaviors, social phenomena or cultural contexts through non-numerical data. This methodology involves gathering insights that provide depth and detail, often through methods like interviews, focus groups and observations. Specific data analysis models are then used to understand and interpret the data.
What Is Quantitative Research?鈥�
The goal is to quantify the problem by generating statistical data or mathematical models, which can then be analyzed to draw objective conclusions. This methodology involves the use of statistical data such as surveys and archived data. Statistical analysis testing is then used to understand the data.
What Is Mixed-Methods Research?听
Mixed methods research is an approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative research methods in a single study. Instead of relying only on numbers (quantitative) or only on words and experiences (qualitative), it integrates the two to give a more complete picture.
While the mixed method approach can provide valuable data in both numbers and words, it increases the complexity of study design, execution and data analysis. Other challenges to mixed-methods research include needing more time and resources for data collection, difficulty interpreting potentially conflicting qualitative and quantitative data, and creating a clear way to communicate complex findings from both types of research.
番茄视频 (ACE) encourages doctoral candidates to focus on one methodology when conducting research for their doctoral degree. This allows for a more in-depth understanding of the method and the associated data analysis.
Key Differences Between Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research听
There are significant differences between qualitative and quantitative dissertation research methods. The purpose of qualitative research is to explore meanings and experiences, whereas quantitative research aims to measure and quantify information. As a general rule, qualitative research uses non-numerical information such as words and images to provide an exploratory or interpretive approach. Quantitative research uses statistics and numbers for a more deductive and objective approach.
In most cases, the sample size for qualitative studies is smaller and purposive, whereas quantitative studies use larger and more random samples. To simplify with a concrete example, a researcher using qualitative methodology will ask 15 participants about their experiences with professional development, but the quantitative researcher will seek to know the percentages of people from a large random sample who have successfully completed professional development.
Choosing a Research Method for Your Ed.D. Dissertation鈥�
Choosing the appropriate methodology for your Ed.D. research is extremely important. Much of that decision hinges on your problem and purpose statements, along with your research questions.
For qualitative research, you want to explore experiences, perspectives and meanings. Research questions often start with 鈥渨hy鈥� or 鈥渉ow,鈥� such as, 鈥淗ow do school principals experience the challenges of implementing professional development?鈥�
For quantitative research, you want to examine relationships, patterns or the impact of variables. Research questions often start with 鈥渨hat differences exist鈥� or 鈥渨hat is the relationship between,鈥� such as, 鈥淲hat is the relationship between teacher professional development hours and student achievement scores?鈥�
There are also other factors to consider when determining the best research methodology for your doctoral research.
As part of the dissertation process, you will conduct a literature review. This helps you understand what is already known about your topic and what literature gaps exist. Fully understanding the extent of literature related to your topic may help guide you to the type of study you want to conduct. For example, if little is known about a topic, a qualitative, exploratory study may be most appropriate.
It鈥檚 also important to think about your resources as a researcher. You must ensure the design of your research is feasible based on the resources you have access to. Will you have easy access to potential participants? What is your anticipated timeline to complete your research and degree? What is your comfort level with qualitative and quantitative methods? Some self-analysis goes a long way in determining what approach will be best for you.
If you鈥檝e considered all these elements and are still not sure about the right approach to take, reach out to your dissertation chair and/or committee. They have a wealth of knowledge around dissertation methods, structuring studies and research methodologies. Based on your purpose statement and problem, they can use their expertise to make recommendations on which approach aligns best.鈥�
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As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing a methodology for your doctoral research project. Basically, the qualitative method looks at perceptions and experiences of the participants using instruments such as interviews, focus groups and questionnaires. The quantitative method, on the other hand, examines statistical information to determine trends, differences and relationships.
Both methodologies are extremely effective in helping you to explore your topic and problem. It is up to you, as the researcher, to determine what methodology best suits your doctoral research project.
FAQs About Research Methodologies鈥�
No method is better than the other. As discussed, the choice of methodology depends on your problem and purpose statements coupled with the existing literature in the field. The literature review you conduct as part of the dissertation process may also reveal whether one methodology would be more appropriate for your study than the other. Doctoral candidates should carefully evaluate all components of their potential research to determine the best approach. They can also leverage the expertise of their dissertation chair and committee for recommendations.听
Mixed-methods research is an acceptable choice for doctoral research. It does, however, come with many challenges, as it increases the complexity of the study design and data analysis. It also tends to require more time and resources. These challenges are often quite intimidating, especially for first-time researchers.听
There is no 鈥渆asier鈥� method. What might make one methodology feel easier over another depends on whether it aligns well with the purpose of the research project and your strengths as a researcher.听
Some doctoral candidates have a fear of statistics, so they lean towards qualitative research. Conversely, those who excel in math and numerical manipulation might prefer a quantitative approach. Both methodologies offer their own complexities and difficulties. Focus on your topic, problem statement, purpose statement and research questions to guide you in choosing the best methodology.听
In some cases, it can. If you are conducting research using qualitative methods, that generally involves interacting with people through interviews, etc. That approach may take time, as you need to schedule times that work for your participants. If you are going to conduct a quantitative study using archived data and if the data is readily available, there are no real-time constraints in beginning the data analysis process.听
Keep in mind that all doctoral research must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before data collection can take place. This can also affect how long your doctoral research takes, as some institutions have lengthy approval timelines running upwards of a month. At ACE, we ensure our doctoral candidates aren鈥檛 delayed due to institutional processes by committing to a five-business-day window for each IRB review. For more information on how to obtain permission for research, we鈥檝e compiled some essential tips here.听
Conducting research and writing a dissertation is a marathon, not a sprint. All doctoral dissertations consist of five chapters that build upon each other, and each of these chapters takes time and perseverance. (For a deep dive on the dissertation itself, check out our comprehensive guide.) If you plan on pursuing a doctorate, you should prepare yourself for an intellectual challenge that requires time and effort. But rest assured, the final reward is well worth it!
番茄视频 offers fully online doctoral programs at a fraction of the cost of other institutions. Additionally, you complete your dissertation through a coursework sequence built right into the program. Find the doctorate that fits your career goals today.
