Research Methodologies Report: Approaches, Strengths, and Limitations

This report provides a comprehensive overview of research methodologies, focusing on quantitative and qualitative approaches within the social sciences. It begins by defining these methodologies, explaining their underlying paradigms (positivism, interpretivism, reflexivity, and community of practice), and exploring their historical context. The report then identifies the types of research each method is best suited for, emphasizing the use of quantitative methods for numerical data and qualitative methods for in-depth analysis and attitudinal surveys. The impact of each methodology on social research is evaluated, highlighting the importance of integrating both approaches for comprehensive analysis. Furthermore, the report critically analyzes the strengths and limitations of both quantitative and qualitative methods, discussing the importance of validity, reliability, control, and generalizability. The report also includes references to relevant research and literature.

Running head: RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
Research methodologies
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Executive summary
The purpose of this research is to discuss the research methodology and different approach that
are taken to conduct the method. The paradigms of the social research methodology are also
discussed in the following chapter. The two approaches as qualitative and quantitative approach
and their strength and limitation is discussed in the following report. The evaluation of the
impact of the research method and explanation of the social research methodologies and where
this to different process is used has been discussed in the report.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Explanation of quantitative and qualitative social research methodologies and paradigms that
inform them.....................................................................................................................................4
Explanation of their historical context and identification of what kind of research each method is
best suited to....................................................................................................................................5
Evaluation of the impact of the two methodologies on social research..........................................6
Demonstration of critical analysis of the strengths and limitations of each of the methodologies. 7
Reference.........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Research is a systematic investigation process to get answers of the identified problem.
Social science area is an extended field that uses the objective scientific method. This vast field
is divided in two approaches, one is naturalistic and another is more traditional (Payne S. L.,
2000). This report mainly discusses the research methodology and two different approaches. The
qualitative approach, which is mostly used in attitudinal survey and categorical analysis, whereas
the quantitative method is used in numerical data analysis. The shift from ontology to data source
identification and all the process in between is identified and explained in the chapter (Cameron,
2010).. Further, the research methodology, key characteristics, strengths and weaknesses are also
discussed in the following discussions (Baumann, 2011).
Explanation of quantitative and qualitative social research methodologies and paradigms
that inform them
Before investigation it must be identified what research paradigms do, the research
belongs to. The positivists, constructivists and pragmatists are three main criteria of the most
common paradigms. The first step of the research is to connect the reality of the research through
ontology, epistemology. Then comes the theoretical perspective and deciding on the
methodology and data sources. This is the main paradigm shift in old research methods
(Cameron, 2010).
Quantitative research
This method consists of the study of data that are analysed in concern of interpretation of
numbers. The quantitative method of research is concerned with describing events and scientific

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data. Collection of numerical data that represents sets of data to analyse. Quantitative research
has some general characteristics (Theobald, 2008).
 Control element is important for quantitative method and necessary for unambiguous
answer to questions. Inquiry of the questions is necessary for control.
 Operational rule must be applied to measure the steps taken in research.
 Replication of the data should be reliable
 Systematic approach to hypothesis testing is done in empirical test
Qualitative research
This method is more time consuming and critical analysis. This method is less dependent on the
numeric data.
 The qualitative research method is natural and inquiry are not contrived
 This is also not dependent in the separate variables
 In major areas of research, qualitative method is used as this provides more in-depth and
critical analysis as well as considers the different perspective of the researchers
It has been identified that there are four different paradigms in research identified by researchers
Positivism – in both of the two methodologies, it involves hypothesis testing to gain the main
objective of the research numerically tested. Thus, a prediction of happens in the future date and
critical realism incorporates value of the assumption. This is mainly focused on quantitative data.
Interpretivism – Critical humanism is a subordinate type of interpretative paradigm. The
approach of the researchers involves people and they studied the process of research. The data
gathered in the process is for social change.

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Reflexivity– the reflexivity of the relationship between the research and people being studied.
The more focus of the reflexivity element is given in emphasis in qualitative research.
Community of practise – the people in the work community and their consult with the course of
study and helps incorporate other’s points in the work. This also helps in taking perspectives of
their contribution to the research.
Explanation of their historical context and identification of what kind of research each
method is best suited to
Since 1960, the strong move toward qualitative method, the naturalistic or subjective
approach is in social science research method has caught the attention of the researchers.
Scientific method has always leaned toward the quantitative approach. It was also termed, as
homothetic and social reality is the main objective of the individual. When the subject of the
social research is based on the variables in and observations are high in numeric values the
effectiveness of quantitative method rises compared to qualitative method of researching.
Qualitative method is required for attitude-based research. The attitude survey, demographic
analysis, statement based interpretation comes under qualitative method of survey (Theobald,
2008). The quantitative method is interpretative and regarded with numbers. Therefore, the
analysing with the research is subjective, diagnostic or impressionistic are also taken into
consideration while choosing the method. Various factors must be accounted and evaluated. For
chemistry and astrophysical experiments, the experimental research design methods are selected.
The opinion-based research is used in experimental, arbitrary, interval and ordinal type of
research. Quantification of the behavioural measurements is applied in numerical scale, intensity

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or behaviour, testing emotions or preferences. Observation research methods are also used quasi-
experimental methods, case study solution to know the and why of the problem. It is mainly used
in social sciences and anthropology study (Hoggart, 2017, April).
Evaluation of the impact of the two methodologies on social research
Utilising the approaches of the qualitative and quantitative method is needed and
evaluating the impact on research has become an enhanced area of research methodology
assessments. The implementation and adaption of the combined research study is needs to be
aggregated. Quantitative method of data analysing predict relationships among variables but
qualitative method uses social analytical frameworks and relationships, interpret patterns and
observed trends (Card, 2015).
Analytical insights or in depths analysis takes interventions of interpretative leaps based
on the two research methods. Combining the impact of evaluation of qualitative and quantitative
method needs integration of fieldwork and knowledge gap analysis. Qualitative analysis suggests
the importance of construction and complementary indicators and replaces the existing
indicators. Sequencing the information according the specific and predefined questions generates
the qualitative study. In that case, the contextual study conducted in a sample and subsample
survey allows to do comparison in the investigation and large survey in the same quantity
(Makagon M. M., 2012). Merging the findings sufficiently to evaluate the impact, improves the
analysis process as well as influences of policies of the research.

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To measure the change in qualitative methods the consideration of quantifying the
qualitative impacts is necessary. Quantification addresses the application of indicators and
indexes that includes both of observing changes in behaviour or perception of scoring data. In the
contextual way the indicators can be collected in various ways, for example survey instrument in
existing longitudinal survey of a relatively large sample of targeted population (Payne, 2000).
These data are analysed with the approach of community scorecard or citizen report card.
Qualitative research triangulates the results, in addition explains the relationships, trends and
patterns (Hoggart, 2017, April).
Demonstration of critical analysis of the strengths and limitations of each of the
methodologies
The strength and limitation of qualitative method
Strengths
 Validity and reliability is a major concern for qualitative method of research
 Qualitative research is important for the suggesting the possible relationships, dynamic
processes, cause and effect of relationship.
 This research methodology is a dependent on social analysis (Makagon M. M., 2012).
Limitations
 It is difficult to apply conventional standards of reliability and validity to every hybrid
research
 The context of research, conditions and events cannot be generalised in this approach of
research. Data collection, interpretations and analysis is lengthy process
 Researchers always emphasised on the subject of the study (Payne, 2000)

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The strength and limitation of quantitative method
Strengths
 Precision through this approach is highly managed
 Control of the research is maintained through sample design
 Statistical techniques are a approach to sophisticated analysis and also the replicability
 This approach can be used in producing causality statement, thus controlled experiments
(Hoggart, 2017, April)
Limitations
 As this research method is mostly based on numeric method complexity rises if it is
difficult to control all the involved variables
 The mechanistic of ethos to exclude notions of freedom and moral responsibility
 It also fails to take into consideration the different perspectives of interpretation
 The hypothesis is mostly based on assumptions and the facts may not be true for all
context (Baumann, 2011).

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Reference
Baumann, A. N. A., Domenech Rodríguez, M., & PARRA‐CARDONA, J. R. (2011).
Community‐based applied research with Latino immigrant families: informing practice
and research according to ethical and social justice principles. Family process, 50(2),
132-148.
Cameron, L., & Maslen, R. (2010). Metaphor analysis: Research practice in applied linguistics,
social sciences and the humanities. Equinox.
Card, N. A. (2015). Applied meta-analysis for social science research. Guilford Publications.
Hoggart, L. (2017, April). Collaboration or collusion? Involving research users in applied social
research. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 61, pp. 100-107). Pergamon.
Makagon, M. M., McCowan, B., & Mench, J. A. (2012). How can social network analysis
contribute to social behavior research in applied ethology?. Applied animal behaviour
science, 138(3), 152-161.
Payne, S. L. (2000). Challenges for research ethics and moral knowledge construction in the
applied social sciences. Journal of Business Ethics, 26(4), 307-318.
Payne, S. L. (2000). Challenges for research ethics and moral knowledge construction in the
applied social sciences. Journal of Business Ethics, 26(4), 307-318.
Theobald, S., & Nhlema-Simwaka, B. (2008). The research, policy and practice interface:
Reflections on using applied social research to promote equity in health in Malawi. Social
Science & Medicine, 67(5), 760-770.

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