Research Methods and Designs - Essay Example

A researcher does the analysis and interpretation of data to develop meanings of observations or identify patterns in associations. The non-numeric definition of qualitative research identifies the use of narrations to describe observations. Types of qualitative research include “field interviewing,” “focus groups,” “field observations,” and ethnography (Dantzker and Hunter 2011, p. 57- 62). Qualitative research, according to Wimmer and Dominick (2013, p. 120), can also be defined as a research method that applies a “flexible questioning approach” to data collection and analysis.

Quantitative research, however, is a research method in which data collection and analysis involve numeric values. This identifies an objective approach to research in which data is measured on a scale. The objective scope of the research method also identifies reliability and validity concepts, features of which qualitative research is devoid, for analysis of relationships between variables and description of variables (Dantzker and Hunter 2011, p. 68). The application of a “static or standardized set of questions” for data collection and data analysis also defines quantitative research (Wimmer and Dominick 2013, 120).

Primary and secondary research, definitions

Primary research is research in which original data is collected and analyzed and its scope identifies knowledge development with such aims as bridging the knowledge gap or solving an identified problem (Gratton and Jones 2010, p. 8). Examples of primary research therefore include research through interviews, focus groups, observation, and quantitative research methods such as tests experiments, and surveys. Secondary research, however, defines a research approach in which data is collected from existing sources such as periodicals and journals. The research explores existing knowledge and is suitable for identifying and understanding existing knowledge and for identifying knowledge gaps in social problems (Collins 2010, p. 120).

Rationale for sequencing and dependencies

Application of secondary research, then survey, and lastly focus group, in a sequential order is the most appropriate dependency arrangement for mixed research method because of its consistency with an explanatory mixed research design that focuses on a quantitative approach. The explanatory research framework for the mixed research method explains the application and justifies the need for testing existing theories for validity in the dynamic environment. In implementing an explanatory mixed design, a researcher completes a quantitative research method such as a survey then implements a qualitative research method such as focus groups to understand developed knowledge from the quantitative study. The quantitative study would however follow secondary research for the identification of the knowledge gap of a social problem (Mathews and Kostelis 2011, p. 133). The fact that secondary research is preliminary research for problem identification also identifies its first position in the sequence of interdependent research types (Collins 2010, p. 120).