Research Methods: How to Apply Them on Young People and Children - Literature review Example

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS: HOW TO APPLY THEM ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN By Quantitative and qualitative research methods on young people and children Introduction Research is the process of taking creative work on a systematic basis with the aim of increasing knowledge on different cultures, societies and using this information in developing new applications. This application can be used in reaffirming facts, solving existing or new problems, and support theories. (Stephen, C., Stevenson, O. and Aden, C. 2013, p.14) Conducting research among children and young people is a psychological research. While tackling the issue of conducting research on children and young people, there are a wide range of psychological research methods that vary in different ways as the sources of information, how this information is collected, how it is sampled and the types of instruments used in both collections, sampling and analyzing data (Estrada, E. 2013, p 51). This paper is going to focus on two main types of research methods specifically, qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative psychological research process involves where the findings of the research are not obtained by quantitative or statistical methods. (Gay, L. R. 1996, p.101), while quantitative psychological research process involves results that are arrived at through findings obtained through mathematical models and estimations. (Daniel, J, Thompson, P & Jackson 2001, p. 96) Qualitative research method on young people and children Qualitative research design is commonly applied in the social sciences academic disciplines and sometimes in market research and other contexts. It usually aims to gather an understanding of human behavior deeply and what reasons that usually lead to such behavior. This process is especially useful in answering decision-making questions of when and how by using why and whether. Therefore, it is usually best applicable in smaller samples as compared to larger samples. Qualitative methods are, therefore, mostly used in seeking empirical support for research hypothesis of the quantitative researches that provide information on particularly studied cases. When and why to use qualitative research process on young people and children Qualitative methods are usually efficient in getting information that cannot be obtained by using quantitative research methods. The major notable areas where qualitative research process is applied especially in regard to research on kids and young people because the research is of a psychological nature of studying human behavior and behavioral changes, and what governs this behavioral changes and decisions. (Stephen, C., Stevenson, O. and Aden, C. 2013, p.14) Although complex behavior in young people cannot be well researched by quantitative methods since it only helps in identifying the variations of the complex behavior in the young people. So reasonable findings are usually arrived at by relating quantitative data to performance using different quantitative research methods. These results can be spiced up using the subject of study’s actions and words and in this case the actions and words of children and young people. Since qualitative research methods are both interactive and inductive they are mostly suitably used in; Conducting research in a new area. Qualitative research design comes in handy here because in venturing into a new area of research, there is not much information to guide you especially in the formulation of the hypothesis and development of a conceptual framework. The qualitative method becomes convenient since it makes formulation of research questions easier since your research subjects in this case children and young people become your guide in the formulation of the qualitative questions. By finding out what their priorities are, their life experiences in relation to the subject area and their current knowledge of your area of research. Try to understand if every child has the same issues and how each’s issues is related to the subject matter and to the other subjects of study. Then come up with a way of diffusing all the above mentioned issues together. These questions are suitable in comprehensive and qualitative data collection. When conducting an exploratory study. In collecting and analyzing exploratory data, qualitative research methods are quite easier to use. Not only in the formulation of the questions but making the questions easier to respond to by the respondents. Since the qualitative questions attract answers that are more detailed and this shines more light on the area of exploration. (Smith, L, Morris, H & Edwards, H 2005, p. 29) This detailed information can be broken down to various sections and thus making the finding easier to understand to the end users. In trying to find out effects and causes. While quantitative research yields correlations that are challenging in translation to effects and causes, qualitative research methods can be used in the testing of the hypothesis about the effects and causes (Estrada, E. 2013, p 51) severally a well-organized intervention with full implementation documents, a considerable sample size and appropriate analysis, often fail to show positive results. Therefore, qualitative methods are convenient in seeking for explanations. How to conduct a qualitative research study on young people and children Because of the numerous amount of information available and the detailed nature of the information, there are specific guidelines that have been set in conducting a qualitative research study. These are mere suggestions to guide the researcher to ensure a smooth flow of the study. They assist in ensuring that there are no loopholes in the course of the study. There are primarily several steps in conducting a qualitative research and they include; Determination of research questions. In order to formulate good research questions you need to focus on the area of research actionable. Great research questions are usually specific, clear and achievable. In this case because our area of focus is on young people and children, the questions need to captivate and interesting so as to make them interested in answering the questions. Conducting of a background literature review. By researching and finding out what has been discovered before about the subject matter can help become better informed about the subject area (Daniel, J, Thompson, P & Jackson, D 2001, p.23) this will assist you in designing the study and customizing it in a way that suits the respondents who in this case need something interesting so as to attract their attention or otherwise with the nature and attitude of children they will tend to lose interest. Choosing of a qualitative research methodology to be used. By having answered the question of who, where, when, and how. You will be in a better position to come up with a way to conduct the research and decide on what method to use. (Smith, L, Morris, H & Edwards, H 2005, p. 33) Whether it is ethnography in that the direct participation in the activities of the young people so as to have hands on experience. You can also use phenomenology- by taking other peoples experiences into account and how each young person interprets their personal experience. Alternatively using the case study research design by deeply studying each child individually and knowing every aspect and cause of their behavior and reactions. And lastly using the grounded theory method, which focuses on developing a theory on the basis of the data collected and the reasons and theories are derived for the phenomena. Data collection. The researcher should only play the role of observation so as to have no impact or manipulation of the subject being researched. Alternatively he can use the various data collection methods at his disposal like, interviews, surveys, focus groups, participant observation or the direct observation (Smith, L, Morris, H & Edwards, H 2005, p. 33). Data analysis. After data collection, analyzing the data so as to come up with theories and answers to the research question. This can be through various techniques like coding of the research data obtained in the most suitable method for the research. Statistical analysis through tables and chats so as to make analysis easier. Also using narrative analysis and content analysis. Generation of findings. This can be achieved through synthesizing the notes and all the data analyzed since in the quantitative type of research with open ended answers is difficult in identifying patterns and hence a careful study should be conducted since each respondent under this area of study voiced their response in their own words. (Estrada, E. 2013, p. 48) Validation of findings. This can be efficiently done by triangulation using other methods like having additional sources and including surveys. The feedback obtained from these surveys are important since they help in ensuring the researcher never swayed from his research topic (Gay, L. R. 1996, p.109). It also helps in reducing researcher’s bias since by including the investigators background so as to determine how it might influence his decisions. Preparation of the report. This is done keeping in mind the target audience and mode of delivery. Therefore, the design of the research should be compelling and the study should be in detail. When and why to use quantitative research method on young people and children Quantitative research is best used and relevant in trying to answer the question of ‘how many’ or ‘how often. Quantitative research method is also best relevant when trying to profile a specific group. By trying to determine what proportion of the subject group has certain behaviors and in this case the young people’s attitude and the determinants of these attitudes and behaviors at a significant statistical level (Daniel, J, Thompson, P & Jackson 2001, p. 134). It is also very suitable especially in surveying a larger group of subjects, usually in hundreds and above. This brings in the need of a structured questionnaire which is predominant with closed ended questions or choice question. The quantitative method in this case is appropriate in comparison of data, in a systematic way and to make generalizations on the whole group and to test theories that have been formulated with hypothesis. (Gay, L. R. 1996, p.106). This is so particularly in comparing or generalizing information extensively within a specific or different target groups like countries. How to conduct quantitative research study on young people and children. There is a systematic process and guidelines in conducting a quantitative research study. These are mere suggestions to guide the researcher to ensure a smooth flow of the study. They assist in ensuring that there are no loopholes in the course of the study and this steps include; Stating the research problem, the research problem should be strictly focused on the problem being studied. The researcher should try as much as possible to state it as a question, so as to guide him in his research. Defining the purpose of study. This is helpful in answering the question ‘why’ the study of the problem is important and how useful the findings will be. Reviewing of related literature, this is to provide the researcher with information of what is already known in terms of ideas and how they have been measured. (Estrada, E. 2013, p 50) This will also assist in identifying the gaps in information that has yet to be researched. Formulation of hypothesis and variables, a statement on two or more variables and ideas. These variables are the ideas of varying levels of measured or manipulated abstractions that are controlled in a research study Selection of the research design, the study plan should be systematically determined and controlled carefully so as to find the answers to the question of the study. Therefore providing a roadmap for all the study aspects with an inclusion of how to collect and analyze data. Selecting the population and sample, the study sample is specific events or people that data will be collected. Collecting the data. The different sources of data include people, documents, findings and literature. Collection of data may be from interviews, direct measures and questionnaires. Analysis of data.-This is done through statistical procedures that answer the research question. Communication of findings and conclusions. Through presentation and publications, the researcher can link the existing body of knowledge and the researched literature. The inclusion of implications of the study helps suggest further direction for the research. Summarily in an attempt to find differences in children’s beliefs, behaviors and attitudes we apply quantitative measures and in interpreting meanings related to this behaviors and to what influences them to react in a particular way we then employ qualitative measures. (Estrada, E. 2013, p 54) Works cited Estrada, E. (2013) Changing household dynamics: Children’s American generational resources in street vending markets, Childhood, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 51–65. Daniel, J, Thompson, P & Jackson, D (2001), Qualitative psychological research, Elsevier, New York. Gay, L. R. (1996). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and application. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill. Smith, L, Morris, H & Edwards, H (2005), ‘A guide to conducting a qualitative research on children: an historical overview’, Journal of research methods, vol. 42, no. 6, pp. 578–86. Stephen, C., Stevenson, O. and Aden, C. (2013) Young children engaging with technologies at home: The influence of family context, Journal of Early Childhood Research, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 149–64. Read More