It's always a question a researcher must answer: What is suitable data collection method? Qualitative or Quantitative?
I am currently reading a dissertation from RMIT University in Australia entitled The Internationalisation of Higher Education in Thailand: Case Studies of Two English-Medeum Business Graduate Programs. The author Ms. Supaporn Chalapati used a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques but with the emphasis on the qualitative approach. Quantative data was collected from surveys as a supplement to data collected from interviews, focus group, literature research and observation. While Qualitative data are likely to take the form of the language of images, feelings and impressions; as repondents describe the qualities of the events under study.
It is generally defined that Qualitative approaches are complex rich data and deals with the meaning, understanding, interpretation of data collected. While Quantitative approaches are simple numeric data and deals with the measurement, explanation and prediction of data collected.
As Dr. Arunee said; "hybrid approach is commonly used nowadays". I think because it is more likely to give a concerntrated reult of the study. Collecting data in both ways will provide the researcher the benefit of seeing all views of the study.
Educators, are two techniques used in this research and development, social and educational systems. Do not have anything better out.
I try to fight against
Thank you for the comment classmate.
I found an Issues In Educational Research, Vol 16, 2006 entitled Research dilemmas: Paradigms, methods and methodology. when I was searching for R. B. Burns. He said:
Educational research traditionally followed the empirical "objective scientific model" (Burns, 1997, p.3) which utilised quantitative methods of data collection, analysis and reporting modes. In the 1960s there was a move towards a more constructivist approach which allowed for methods which were "qualitative, naturalistic and subjective" (p.3) in nature. It would appear that at the time there was considerable debate regarding the introduction of this form of data collection. This philosophical debate "left educational research divided between two competing methods: the scientific empirical tradition, and the naturalistic phenomenological mode" (Burns, 1997, p.3).
If you want to read more you can use this link http://www.iier.org.au/iier16/mackenzie.html .
Reading this issue helps me a lot to understand the dissertation that I've been reading for while now. My previous study was in business and quantitive approach is use most of the time in conducting feasibility study and research. It is a must for a business to show evidence of the study in numbers to prove the gain or the success of its operation, showing the market share and it's growth and development.
Is very much like to read and understand feelings, thank you for interesting article.