Understanding different types and methods of research PowerPoint presentation Unit 543: Undertake a research project within services for health and social care or children and young people Understanding different types and methods of research

Learning objectives Critically compare different types of research (2.1) Evaluate a range of methods that can be used to collect data (2.2) Identify a range of tools that can be used to analyse data (2.3) Explain the importance of validity and reliability of data used within research (2.4)

Comparing different types of research Qualitative research methods Qualitative research gathers information that is not in numerical form.  It aims to find out about people’s attitudes, opinions, feelings or behaviours. Qualitative research methods can include individual case studies, open-ended questionnaires, open-ended interviews or focus groups and unstructured observations of practice.

Advantages of qualitative research Provides depth and detail: It looks deeper by recording attitudes, feelings and behaviours. Creates openness: It encourages people to expand on their responses, which can open up new topics not initially considered. Simulates people's individual experiences: A detailed picture can be built up about why people act in certain ways, and about their feelings regarding these actions. Attempts to avoid pre-judgements: If used alongside quantitative data collection, it can explain why a particular response was given (Burns, 2000)

Disadvantages of qualitative research Usually fewer people are studied: A collection of qualitative data is generally more time consuming and costly. Less easy to generalise: Because typically fewer people are studied, it is not possible to apply findings to the entire population. Difficult to make comparisons: People will give widely differing responses that are highly subjective. Dependent on skills of the researcher: Particularly in the case of interviews, focus groups and observation, the results can be easily influenced by the biases of the researcher. Qualitative data is typically descriptive data: As such, it is harder to analyse than quantitative data. (Burns, 2000)

Quantitative research methods: Quantitative research gathers data in numerical form. It aims to assess and measure, and to be objective and scientific in its approach. It aims to identify cause and effect relationships. Quantitative research methods include questionnaires with closed answers or a rating scale, and also observations of practice. (Burns, 2000)

Advantages of quantitative research It allows for a broader study, involving a greater number of subjects, and enhances the generalisation of the results. It can provide more objective and accurate results. It allows us to summarise vast sources of information and facilitates comparisons across categories and over time. Personal bias can be mitigated, in the sense that researchers keep a 'distance' from participating subjects and work with subjects unknown to them. (Burns, 2000)

Disadvantages of quantitative research It collects a much narrower and sometimes superficial dataset. Results are limited because they provide numerical descriptions rather than detailed narrative and generally provide less elaborate accounts of human perception. The research is often carried out in an unnatural, artificial environment, which can affect the results. Preset answers will not necessarily reflect how people really feel about a subject and in some cases might just be the closest match. The development of standard questions can lead to 'structural bias’ and false representation, where the data actually reflects the view of the researcher instead of the participating subject. (Burns, 2000)

A summary of the differences between qualitative and quantitative research

Worksheet 2 Using Worksheet 2, please discuss as a group your ideas about the strengths and weakness of the various research methods listed. Please record your answers on Worksheet 2 (2.1 & 2.2)

The importance of validity and reliability (2.4) What is reliability? The idea behind reliability is that any significant results must be more than a one-off finding – they must be inherently repeatable. Other researchers must be able to perform exactly the same study, under the same conditions, and generate the same results. This will reinforce the findings and ensure that the wider scientific community will accept the hypothesis. Without this replication of statistically significant results, the experiment and research have not fulfilled all of the requirements of testability. This prerequisite is essential to a hypothesis establishing itself as an accepted scientific truth. (Maltby, 2010)

What is validity? (2.4) The concept of validity states that a test is valid if it measures what it claims to measure. For example, a test of intelligence should measure intelligence and not something else (such as memory). Internal validity refers to whether the effects observed in a study are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not some other factor – in other words, that there is a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variable. External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other settings (ecological validity), other people (population validity) and over time (historical validity). (Maltby, 2010)

How can we analyse data we have collected? (2.3) We can analyse data manually or digitally. We could use tables to collate information. We could turn data into percentages, averages or find median figures. We could use software, such as EXCEL, to collate data in the form of a spreadsheet, bar graph or pie chart.

Plenary Have we met our learning objectives ? References Burns, R. (2000). Introduction to Research Methods. London: Sage. Maltby, J. and G. Williams (2010). Research Methods For Nursing and Health Care. London: Routledge. Minichiello, V. (1990). In-Depth Interviewing: Researching People. Longman: Cheshire.

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