Critique Quantitative Data Collection Method and Its Use in the Selected Journal - Coursework Example

Critique Quantitative data collection method and its use in the selected journal Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts Tutor’s Name (18, August, 2012) Introduction Different data collection methods are used in studies depending on the objectives of the research. There is no one method that can be considered superior or better to the other as both are applicable in different settings and situations. Usually studies that are aimed at analyzing relationships between two or more variables use quantitative data collection methods and are known as quantitative research. Studies that are of descriptive nature employ qualitative tools of data collection. Data collection method being used in a study should be chosen keeping in mind the nature and purpose of the study. Many data collection tools are appropriate and can be used by researchers but they should be in line with the research methodology, purpose, and objectives of the research. In this paper a critique will be made on the use of quantitative method of data collection in a journal article. We will throw light on quantitative data collection method in general, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages. The use of quantitative data collection method in the journal article will also be discussed and evaluated in detail in this paper. Quantitative Data Collection Method Quantitative data collection methods are used to collect structured data by using instruments that accurately allow participants to communicate their thoughts or feelings through already chosen categories (University of Wisconsin, 2012). Such a data collection method is used mainly in quantitative studies where participants are given structured questions and there responses are recorded using a predetermined scale or list of answers. The main difference between structured and unstructured interview is that in the former participants are given a predetermined scale or a list of answers to choose from while in the latter participants are free to record their answers in whatever way they like. The aim of quantitative data collection method is to collect responses that may be generalized and compared easily. Using quantitative data collection method, researchers are able to collect a data from a large sample and are in turn able to generalize findings more as compared to qualitative research and data collection method. Quantitative method of data collection is used in studies where responses can easily be quantified using specific units. This allows researchers to summarize responses and results easily and effectively. The most common quantitative data collection methods are structures interviews, surveys or questionnaires, field experiments, and observation. All these data collection methods elicit countable and structured responses. Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Quantitative Data Collection Method  There are many pros and cons of using quantitative data collection methods much like other data collection methods. In some areas quantitative data collection methods provides benefit while in other areas it is not as beneficial as other methods. The main advantage of using quantitative data collection method is generalisation of results. Quantitative method employs random sampling to obtain participants for the research and this allows researchers generalise the results over a wide population. The results obtained from quantitative data collection methods provide a better picture as they facilitate generalisation. This is not possible when using qualitative methods of data collection. Another reason why quantitative data collection methods can provide generalised result is that it allows researchers to collect data from a wide population. Because data is collected from a wide sample results can be generalised to the whole population. Another benefit of using quantitative data collection method is the relative ease and affordability of using this method. Because this data collection method involves standardisation of instruments meaning that every participant gets the same instrument with same response categories, it is easy for researchers to easily test the data and come up with results. Affordability is also an added benefit of this data collection method because it allows researchers to perform experiments and collect data without incurring too much money. Experts are also not required to collect data under this method which is why it is more affordable than other data collection methods. There are also some disadvantages of using quantitative data collection method. Firstly this particular data collection method is not useful for descriptive studies. It is only good to measure relationships between variables but quantitative data collection method cannot be used for more complex and complicated studies. This data collection method also doesn’t allow researchers to understand a particular problem in detail. Structures interviews for example cannot explore a particular issue in great detail. For that unstructured interviews are more appropriate. This is one disadvantage of quantitative data collection method. Another problem with this data collection method is that it employs controls when collecting data which might not be representative of the real world. Using this method researchers attempt to study a few variables in isolation which is not possible in the real world. This is why the results obtained through quantitative data collection method might not be accurately applied to the real world in some cases. Also predetermined response categories might not be representative of true feelings of participants which is a shortfall of this method. The Use of Quantitative Data Collection Method in the Article The article by Wright, Royle, & Marshall (2001) talks about in door rock climbing. The article explores the factors that play a role in overuse injury of indoor climbers. The authors have also tried to determine the rate of occurrence of injuries and sites of injuries in this research article (2001). The authors have used quantitative data collection method to collect data in this research article. The main instrument used in the research article is a structured questionnaire. The authors have also used simple statistical tools to run tests of data and to come up with their results. The authors are interesting in knowing what sorts of factors play a role in injuring indoor climbers. Indoor climber usually experience overuse injuries and therefore the authors have restricted their research to overuse injuries only. Overuse injuries are those injuries that occur regularly and are of repetitive nature. Indoor climbing sounds like safe sports but there are injuries and therefore researchers are interested to know the factors that play a role in overuse injuries in the sport. Authors are also interested in the most common places of the body that have injuries. This is an important area of research as indoor climbers experience many different kinds of overuse injuries. The material that is being used in the indoor climbing is also a point of analysis for the researchers. Materials used might also affect the frequency of injuries occurring to indoor climbers. This is why question about materials is also included in the questionnaire. Questions about overuse injuries and its nature are also included in the questionnaire. The authors have used random sampling in the research. Sampling was done from spectators and participants of Enterprises World Climbing Championship of 1999 (Wright, Royle, & Marshall, 2001). Questionnaires were randomly selected and correctly filled questionnaires were used in the study. Advantages of using Quantitative Data Collection Method in the Article There are certain advantages of using quantitative data collection method in the study. By using this method of data collection authors have analyzed how participants think about the factors that can contribute to indoor climbing injuries. One of the advantages of using quantitative data collection method is the relative ease with which the data was collected (Brown, 2001). Questionnaires were distributed easily and they were of semi supervised nature, therefore experts were not required to administer them. Through this data collection method, the authors were also able to identify relevant participants for the research. The easiness with which data was collected from this method is a very big advantage. Another advantage of using quantitative data collection method in the article is the increase in the reach of the research. The authors have used a sample size of 300 which is quite big. Such a sample size would not have been possible if other data collection methods like in-depth interviews were used. Quantitative data collection method has given the research result increased generalisation. The large sample size makes the study more credible and make it seems that the research results can be generalised to a large population. One of the benefits of using quantitative data collection method in this particular study is that the method is in line with the overall objective of the research. The authors are trying to identify variables that might affect the frequency of overuse injuries in indoor climbing. Such injuries are common and many people experience overuse injuries in the sport. It was therefore essential for the authors to collect data from a variety of participants and quantitative data collection method was the only way to do this. The use of quantitative data collection method was also justified, in a way, because the nature of research descriptive. The problem was not obscure enough to require other data collection methods like unstructured interviews. Everyone knows the sort of injuries that occur in the game and therefore it was appropriate to inquire from them about what they think in a very structured manner. The relevance of the research paper objective to the data collection method is appropriate in the article. Disadvantages of using Quantitative Data Collection Method in the Article There are also some disadvantages of using quantitative data collection method in the article. Firstly, this method doesn’t allow respondents to answer in an open manner because they only have a list of option against questions from which they have to choose one. At times respondents might not want to answer with anyone of the options which can dilute the overall results. For example researchers have included only four options in the questions where they ask about the materials used in indoor climbing. Some respondents might not want to choose anyone of them but they will have to choose the closest and this will not yield accurate results. This is one of the most important shortfalls of quantitative methods of data collection because it can give misleading results. Another disadvantage of using quantitative data collection method in the article is researcher bias. Because the main instrument through which data is collected is designed by the authors, they might have unconsciously have focused on factors that they think yield injuries instead of exploring what respondents think cause injuries. All the questions in the questionnaire have been designed by the authors but they have only chosen a few factors like two kinds of material. They are in way imposing some factors on participants (Densecombe, 2010). There might be other factors like inexperience and lack of appropriate equipment that might be causing the injuries in the first place. Such factors will go unchecked and authors will get only results of the questions they have asked to the respondents. Other data collection method would have been to ask unstructured interview question where respondents would have explained what they think caused injuries in indoor climbing sport. This would have explained all the factors in a better way. Respondent bias might also have affected the results because people often fill questionnaires quickly without giving too much thought about the questions. This might affect the validity of the research. Also questionnaires were distributed between a sports tournament in which people were busy in enjoying sports. This might have forced people to answer all the questions quickly so that they can get back to enjoying the game. This might have affected the results. Conclusion Quantitative data collection methods have many advantages and disadvantages. They offer solutions to problems that are not solved by other methods, yet lack openness that might be necessary for any topic. In the article discussed above, authors have used quantitative data collection method to find out the factors that result in overuse injuries in indoor climbing. The authors have used a close ended questionnaire to collect data in the study. Using questionnaire has allowed the authors to increase their reach and make their results generalised but on the other hand has also made the research more restricted. Researchers have selected questions themselves leaving room for researcher’s bias. Quantitative data collection method, therefore, has both benefits and disadvantages. Bibliography Brown, J. (2001). Using Surveys in Language Programs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Densecombe, M. (2010). The Good Research Guide. London: McGraw Hill International University of Wisconsin. (2012). Data Collection Methods. Accessed on August 18, 2012, from < http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/researchmethods/data%20collection%20methods/ data%20collection%20methods.htm> Wright, D., Royle, T., & Marshall, T. (2001). Indoor rock climbing: who gets injured? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 35, 181-185 Read More