IRM 1501 Portfolio
Semester 1
Due date 11 May
IRM1501 Portfolio
Question 1.1
Make a distinction between quantitative and qualitative research methodology
and provide examples.
Research methodology is the tactic a researcher uses in order to carry out a research
project. Quantitative resea...
Question 1.1
Make a distinction between quantitative and qualitative research methodology
and provide examples.
Research methodology is the tactic a researcher uses in order to carry out a research
project. Quantitative research is one which relies on a method of generating
numerical data converting it into meaning and informative statistics. Quantitative
research method involves a numeric or statistical approach to research design1. The
final data from a quantitative research methodology is measurable and can be used
to convey actualities and reveal patterns in research.
The methods used for data collection when conducting quantitative research include
but are not limited to several forms of surveys, face-on interviews, experiments,
online polls and systematic analysis of existing data. An example of quantitative
research could be that of a survey that concludes that the average patient has to wait
two hours in the waiting room of a certain doctor before being selected.2
On the other hand, qualitative research also known as document based research
involves scrutiny of content from written documents in order to make certain
conclusions based on the study parameter. These written documents include and are
not limited to law reports, legislation, textbooks, law journals and any other relevant
literature available to the researcher.3 Therefore qualitative research methodology
entirely relies on the analysis of available literature in order to arrive at significant
suppositions. An example of a qualitative study is Social networking use4, a study
which was conducted to explore how social networking users describe their offline
and online social relationships.
1 Carrie Williams, Journal of Business & Economic Research – March 2007
3 Williams C “Research methods” 2007 (5) Journal of Business & Economic Research 65–72
67.
4 Powell et. al., 2013, Connecting with Others: A Qualitative Study of Online Social Networking Site
Usage
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Tutor23. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R61,71. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
