Research types / Research methods / Data collection Methods

Research types

1. Deductive
2. Inductive

Deductive Research Approach

Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. Sometimes this is informally called a "top--down" approach. down" approach. Conclusion follows logically from premises (available facts)

Theory -->Hypothesis-->Observation -->Confirmation (Waterfall)

Inductive Research Approach

Inductive reasoning works the other way, moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a "bottom up" approach Conclusion is likely based on premises. Involves a degree of uncertainty

Observation-->Pattern-->Tentative Hypothesis -->Theory (Hill Climbing)

 

Research methods

1.       Qualitative

2.       Quantitative

Differences between
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

Qualitative Methods	Quantitative Methods
Methods include focus groups, in-depth interviews, and reviews	Surveys
Primarily inductive process used to formulate theory	Primarily deductive process used to test pre-specified concepts, constructs, and hypotheses that make up a theory
More subjective: describes a problem or condition from the point of view of those experiencing it	More objective: provides observed effects (interpreted by researchers) of a program on a problem or condition
Text-based	Number-based
More in-depth information on a few cases	Less in-depth but more breadth of information across a large number of cases
Unstructured or semi-structured response options	Fixed response options
No statistical tests	Statistical tests are used for analysis
Can be valid and reliable: largely depends on skill and rigor of the researcher	Can be valid and reliable: largely depends on the measurement device or instrument used
Time expenditure lighter on the planning end and heavier during the analysis phase	Time expenditure heavier on the planning phase and lighter on the analysis phase
Less generalizable	More generalizable

Data collection Methods

1.       Primary

2.       Secondary

Secondary data – data someone else has collected

• County health departments
•  Vital Statistics – birth, death certificates
• Hospital, clinic, school nurse records
• Private and foundation databases
• City and county governments
• Surveillance data from state government programs

Primary data – data you collect

• Surveys
• Focus groups
• Questionnaires
• Personal interviews
• Experiments and observational study