Skills for the Social Sciences

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This report explores the theoretical approaches and main differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods in the social sciences. It discusses key arguments in qualitative and quantitative articles and examines the contributions of social science disciplines to contemporary social issues.

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Skills for the Social Sciences
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART 1, Section 1: Theoretical approaches tend to use qualitative and quantitative method........3
PART 2, Section 2: Main differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods......4
PART 2: Key arguments in qualitative and quantitative articles.....................................................6
Qualitative Article 1: Desperately seeking reductions in health inequalities: perspectives of
UK researchers on past, present and future directions in health inequalities research...........6
Qualitative Article 2: Mental Health in the UK Police Force: A Qualitative Investigation into
the Stigma with Mental Illness...............................................................................................6
Quantitative Article 1: Income inequality and self-rated health in Britain............................6
Quantitative Article 2: Mental health in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-
sectional analyses from a community cohort study................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
In Social Science research, quantitative and qualitative research methods are used.
Quantitative research enable researcher to discover patterns, correlations, associations and other
features of population on the basis of analysis of numerous measurements of individual. On the
other hand, qualitative research involves studies of single person, on the basis of observations
and interviews with the goal of determining their intrinsic behavioural and psychological
characteristics. This is an essay report that demonstrate an understanding and knowledge
regarding contribution made by social science disciplines to development of knowledge claims
and contested interpretations of contemporary social issues.
This report covers theoretical approaches that tend to use qualitative and quantitative
methodologies by describing theoretical ideas of different approaches to social science. Apart
from this, the report covers main differences between qualitative and quantitative research and
the types of methodologies which are commonly used in these researches. It also covers the
reason behind differing sample size between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
In addition to this, two qualitative and quantitative articles are selected and the key arguments in
those articles are discussed in the report. Moreover, the data collection methods between the
articles are compared and the reason behind chosen that particular method in the article is
discussed. At last, a brief summary based on the overall report is provided in this project.
PART 1, Section 1: Theoretical approaches tend to use qualitative and
quantitative method
The theories provide comprehensive and complex conceptual understanding regarding
things which cannot be pinned down like why people interact, how organisations operate and
how societies work in certain way. The qualitative research has varying relationship with theory.
The theoretical approaches which tend to use qualitative research includes narrative approach,
grounded theory, ethnography, phenomenology and case study approach. The narrative approach
retells story of someone across time and explore what the story means along with the lessons to
be learnt. The grounded theory approach investigates an action, process or interaction with the
aim of developing a theory. Case study is the common type of qualitative approach which looks
at episodic events in definable structure bounded by setting and time.
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Quantitative methods developed as a means of testing the theory. The theoretical approaches
which tend to use quantitative research includes descriptive research, experimental research,
correlational research and Quasi experimental research. The descriptive research describes
current status of ascertained variable and the investigation projects are developed to render
systematic information regarding of phenomena. In correlation research, the researcher attempts
to identify degree of relationship between two or more variables by using statistical data. The
relationship among and between number of facts are sought and interpreted in this type of
research design. The experimental research is often known as true experimentation and utilizes
scientific method to develop cause and effect relationship among the variables of the study. In
the social science, positivism interpretivism are the approaches which are used by researcher.
Positivists believe that society shapes the individual and utilise quantitative method. on the other
hand, the interpretivists believe that individual shape the society and utilise qualitative method.
The actions of a person can generally be explained through social norms they have been exposed
to by their socialization in positivism approach. On the other hand, individuals are complex and
intricate and distinct people understand and experience the similar objective reality in distinct
ways in interpretivism approach.
PART 2, Section 2: Main differences between qualitative and quantitative
research methods
There are some differences between qualitative and quantitative research. The quantitative
research is expressed in terms of graphs and numbers. Whereas, the qualitative researches
expressed in terms of words. The difference is that quantitative research is utilised to test the
theories and assumptions whereas, qualitative research is utilised to understand experiences,
thoughts or concept. The quantitative research can be utilised to develop generalizable facts
regarding the topic, whereas qualitative research enable researcher to collect in-depth insights on
topics which are not understood well. The common methods in quantitative research includes
observations, surveys and experiments. On the other hand, the common qualitative methods
involve observations, literature reviews and interviews that explore theories and concepts.
The quantitative research methods emphasize on objective measurements as well as the
mathematical, statistical or numerical analysis of the information or data gathered through
surveys, questionnaires and polls or through manipulating pre-existing mathematical data by
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using computational techniques. The method emphasizes on collecting numerical data as well as
generalizing it across groups or to explain a specific phenomenon. The quantitative research
study is conducted to determine the relationship between two variables within the population.
The different methodologies used in quantitative research includes experiment, observation,
questionnaire and survey. The experimental research method relies on theory and it has not been
proven previously and is merely a supposition. The analysis in this method is done around
disproving or proving the statement. The survey research method is the fundamental tool
quantitative outcome methodologies of research. This method is utilised to ask questions to the
respondents by using different types of online survey, web intercept survey, online polls, paper
questionnaires etc. This method enable researcher to collect data from pool of respondents and
analyse it to generate numerical results. This type of investigation can be conducted with specific
group of target audience along with comparative analysis.
Qualitative research method involves collection and analysis of non-numerical data and this
method emphasize on acquiring data by conversational and open ended communication. The data
can be collected through using one-to-one interview, focus groups, ethnographic research etc.
The most common method of qualitative research is conducting in depth interview. It is a
personal interview which is performed with one respondent a time and is purely a conversational
method as well as invites opportunities to get in-depth details from respondents. This method
administers great opportunity to collect precise data regarding what individuals believes and
what are their motivations. Focus Group is also a qualitative method commonly used in research
to collect data. It involves limited number of respondents from within the target market. The
ethnographic research is in-depth observational method which studies individuals in their natural
environment. This method is use as it aims to understand challenges, motivation, cultures and
settings that takes place.
The difference in sampling methods between qualitative and quantitative research is because
of different goals of research approach. When determining sample size qualitative research, there
are no rules. Sample size is based on the approach of study or the method of collecting data used
in the research. The qualitative study requires small sample size to support the depth of analysis.
In qualitative research method, the sample size is often small than quantitative research method
as qualitative methods are concerned with garnering detailed understanding of phenomena or are
emphasized on meaning.
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PART 2: Key arguments in qualitative and quantitative articles
Qualitative Article 1: Desperately seeking reductions in health inequalities: perspectives of UK
researchers on past, present and future directions in health inequalities research
This article is based on seeking reductions in health inequalities and it presents analysis of
discussions among 52 investigators to consider the feasibility. The key arguments included in
this article was based on reduction in inequalities in infant mortality and life expectancy and the
macro level policies executed in United Kingdom over past 3 years. This is a qualitative research
in which focus groups were undertaken. A total of 14 groups in which 76 symposium attendants
were participated. the selection of participants was informed through to previous qualitative
research projects as well as by professional networks.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4950297/)
Qualitative Article 2: Mental Health in the UK Police Force: A Qualitative Investigation into the
Stigma with Mental Illness
This article is based on the mental health in police force of United Kingdom and aims to
explore institutional stigma and negativity in police force towards the mental ill health.
According to the study, policing is identified as stressful and hazardous occupation. The
education and awareness regarding mental health at organisational level is very necessary in
helping to elevate psychological symptoms. The key arguments in the study was made on
labelling theory and stigmatizing attitudes and discrimination. The research method used in the
study was qualitative research method. Five participants were recruited in the study by reference
from personal network, charity and police forum. Semi structured interview method was used in
the study in order to gain in-depth understanding of lived experiences of participants. In order to
encourage meaningful discussion, the interview was guided through open ended questioning.
Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data as this is the most appropriate method to
research into under researched areas.
(https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11469-019-00214-x)
Quantitative Article 1: Income inequality and self-rated health in Britain
This article is based on income inequality and self-rated health in Britain. the study tested
hypothesis that population in region of Britain with highest income inequality would report
worse health in comparison to those in other regions. Cross sectional survey design is used in
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this research and what is the quantitative based research. the number of participants involved in
the research was it 8366 individuals living in private households. the data were collected as a
part of initial wave of British household panel survey which is an annual survey of representative
sample of population and private households in Scotland, Wales and England.
(https://jech.bmj.com/content/56/6/436)
Quantitative Article 2: Mental health in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional
analyses from a community cohort study
This research article is based on the mental health in United Kingdom during covid-19
pandemic. This article aims to determine the significant consequences on mental health reported
during initial four to six weeks of social distancing measure. The findings of the article were
based on large community cohort of 3097 adults who were aged 18 years or older. This research
involves assessment of modifiable psychological and democratic variables which allow a
researcher to report that which group is at the greatest risk of maximize psychological morbidity
and determines the rule of public health and psychological interventions. Social and mainstream
media campaign along with Twitter and Facebook were used to recruit the participants in the
research. 252 participants were estimated to detect R2 value of 0.1. An online survey was
conducted which included validated measures capturing mental health outcomes. The final
number of participants in the study was 3102 people.
(https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e040620)
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that there are different approaches
used in qualitative and quantitative research including interpretivism and positivism research
approach. The quantitative research methods include descriptive research, experimental research,
Quasi experimental research and the qualitative methods include case study, grounded theory
and the narrative approach. There are some differences between qualitative and quantitative
research methods according to which the sample size will be selected. In quantitative research
method, online survey, experiment and observation methods are used and qualitative research
focus groups one to one interview and ethnographic research methods are used. There were
different key arguments presented in qualitative and quantitative research articles and method
used in this study were based on the nature of research.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Blackstone, A., 2018. Principles of sociological inquiry: Qualitative and quantitative methods.
Brannen, J. ed., 2017. Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Park, J. and Park, M., 2016. Qualitative versus quantitative research methods: Discovery or
justification?. Journal of Marketing Thought, 3(1), pp.1-8.
Brown, G., Strickland-Munro, J., Kobryn, H. and Moore, S.A., 2017. Mixed methods
participatory GIS: An evaluation of the validity of qualitative and quantitative mapping
methods. Applied geography, 79, pp.153-166.
Hartas, D. ed., 2015. Educational research and inquiry: Qualitative and quantitative
approaches. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Morgan, D.L., 2015.
Qualitative health research, 25(6), pp.789-793.
Hammarberg, K., Kirkman, M. and de Lacey, S., 2016. Qualitative research methods: when to
use them and how to judge them. Human reproduction, 31(3), pp.498-501.
Shekhar, P., Prince, M., Finelli, C., Demonbrun, M. and Waters, C., 2019. Integrating
quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine student resistance to active
learning. European Journal of Engineering Education, 44(1-2), pp.6-18.
Hafford-Letchfield, T., 2015. Doing a successful research project: Using qualitative and
quantitative methods.
Halcomb, E.J. and Hickman, L., 2015. Mixed methods research.
Almalki, S., 2016. Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Mixed Methods Research--
Challenges and Benefits. Journal of education and learning, 5(3), pp.288-296.
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