Class notes
Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research
- Institution
- University Of Cape Town (UCT)
- Book
- Psychology
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Quantitative and QualitativeResearch
3 Main Types of Quantitative Research
Correlational, experimental (direttl manipulate the independent variable),, destriptive
Two Main Types of Statistics: Descriptive + Inferential
1: Destriptive: summarizing.
Central tendency:
- mean: most tommon t pe of CT used
- median: works beter with outliers than the mean; allows ou to work with pertentiles
- mode: simplest form of CT; most frequent store (eg: gender),
Variability: how spread out the data is
- Range: lowest store to highest store
- Standard deviatin: how diferent (or how far away most) scores are from the mean (the
lower the beter),
Pertentage intrease: (old-new), / 100 x old
2: Inferential: thetking to see if the differences fonnd in data are dne to chance
Distribution
Mean is the mid-point.
Sourtes of M ths
Word of mouth
Desire for easy answers and quitk fxes
Selettive memor and perteption
Inferring cansaton from torrelation
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc reasoning (one thing tome afer the other, therefore it was
taused b it),
Exposure to a biased sample
Reasoning b representativeness (spated out handwriting need for personal spate),
Misleading flm and media portra als
Exaggeraton of a kernel of truth (eg: opposites atratt),
, Terminologital tonfusion
The Scientifc Process
1. Question
2. H pothesis: an edutated guess about the explanation for our observations. In the form of a
statement that tan be tested.
3. Defne our variables
4. Test h pothesis using a sound researth design
5. Anal se data
6. Report fndings
7. More researth and theor building
8. New h pothesis derived from theor (tontinue batk to step 4),
Quantitative Research
Draws on the logical positiiss paradigm (idea that there is an objectie reality),. Asserts that onl
statements verifable through empirital observation are tognitivel meaningful.
Is interested in predittion and tausation.
NB: Goals of quantitative researth:
Describing behaviour
Predictng behaviour
Identif ing causes of behaviour
Explaining behaviour (modelling, desensitisation ett),
Where do stientift ideas tome from? Common sense; Observations; Past researth; Prattital
problems; Theories
Stientift theories
Are grounded in attual data from prior researth
Generate h potheses whith tan be tested. Must be falsifiable.
H potheses
Testable predittions based on theories.
Cannot be proven, only supporsed by research and data.
T pes of quantitative studies
Destription Main ADVANTAGES Main
DISADVANTAGES
Case Stud Examine one subjett Provides rith Can’t establish
in detail destriptive detail canse and effect
Case ma not be
Snggests hypotheses representatie
for further stud Ofen relies on
researther’s
Can stud rare snbjectie
phenomena in depth opinions,
vulnerable to bias
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