Qualitative Research Methods - Essay Example

Running Head: Methodology Methodology [Institute’s Methodology Quite understandably, there has been a heated debate over the past many years regarding the superiority of quantitative research over qualitative research and vice versa. These debates have gone to take extreme forms as Donald Campbell says, “All research ultimately has a qualitative grounding” (McBurney & White, 2009). In the same way, one staunch supporter or believer of quantitative research has gone on to say, “Theres no such thing as qualitative data. Everything is either 1 or 0” (Silverman, 2004). However, the truth is that there are pros and cons of both of them and none of them is perfect under all conditions. Qualitative research methods provide the researchers with rich data and help him to broaden his horizon during the research. Moreover, it allows the researcher to look at the data with several perspectives and conclude it with the one that seems the most feasible in terms of research question and scope. Qualitative research, as mentioned earlier, is mostly used when the researcher is not completely aware about the fact that what exactly is being looked for (McBurney & White, 2009). In this case, the same is very much true. The topic here is the effect of globalization on Saudi Arabia. However, important here to note is that the effects are unknown and hidden and only this research would be able to reveal the same. One may start this research with a narrowed perspective, a presupposition in mind that the globalization may only have affected the GDP, trade volume, services sector and employment levels. A quantitative research method would allow the researcher to check out the relation and impact on all these elements in terms of past and present number. However, what if the researcher’s assumptions are faulty and effects of globalization are widespread on other elements as well. A quantitative research would fail to overcome this problem; however, a qualitative research definitely would. Nevertheless, qualitative researchers are often very subjective (Marshall & Rossman, 2010). Despite the fact that this type of research would provide many perspectives to the researcher, but he or she would definitely pick the one that suits most of him or her, thus leading to biasness. In addition, qualitative research also makes life difficult to conclude something since there is nothing in black and white (Balnaves & Caputi, 2010). Quantitative research is the collection of hard and numerical data that provides absolute, clear picture, black and white picture of the happenings. Unlike qualitative researchers, the conclusions are not highly subjective (Silverman, 2004). Nevertheless, evidently, the best way is the use both of these research methods simultaneously so that one can overcome the lacking of the other. Therefore, this research would use quantitative research and qualitative research at the same time. In case of qualitative research, most of the focus would remain on examining news articles, scholarly works, and writings of prominent authors, journal articles, and case studies concerning the topic. All forms of authentic primary or secondary analysis would be considered as worthy (Balnaves & Caputi, 2010). In case of quantitative research, the research would try to look at numbers and statistics from reports of World Bank, World Economic Forum, International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other economic institutions, central bank of Saudi Arabia that can provide with the hard data in form of numbers and stats. In this respect, primary research methodology will be the crucial instrument in the proposed research that will be spotlighting on the three aspects of effects discussed in earlier section of the proposal. Specifically, the researcher will use questionnaires to obtain requisite information regarding the level and range of effects of globalization on Saudi Arabia financially, as well as socially along with expectations for the future. Questions for financial impact will include production of goods and services, amount of net exports, sources of income and factors that influenced the country to continue participating in different ventures. Lastly, surveys for forthcoming information will endeavor to recognize the level of impact related to effects of globalization on the country, and factors that may inspire it. In addition to surveys and questionnaires, the researcher will categorize focus groups of five to seven students or if possible, economists that will present helpful information to the research related to the different aspects of effects of globalization on Saudi Arabia. Additionally, existing students or economists not participating in the focus groups will take delivery of copies of surveys to occupy majority of students/economists in the proposed study. Furthermore, the researcher will organize mailing of survey copies to all the students as well. In short, students of the University of __________ will contribute and take part in the progression of data collection during the proposed market research. Exclusively, researcher will arrange and organize focus groups for current students, and he will be responsible for mailing copies of surveys to absent existing students, as well as lapsed and prospective students selected for the study. In addition, the research will have need of participants of the market research to mail back finished questionnaires through paid envelopes. Quantitative research spotlights more on arithmetical diagrams for examination of the information. Additionally to statistics, measurement is very vital and crucial in quantitative research, and it will facilitate mathematical understanding of the conclusion. Conversely, qualitative research focuses more on social scientific line of attack hypothetically. For examination, the researcher will consider both qualitative, as well as quantitative research methodology as mentioned earlier for the acquisition of arithmetical, as well as hypothetical results for well-organized understanding of the recognized research statement. In addition, for sample size calculation, researcher will utilize the subsequent formula: Formula: SS = Z 2 * (p) * (1-p) c 2 Where: SS= Sample Size Z = Z score (1.96 is taken for 95% confidence level consistent with normal distribution table) p = percentage (50%), articulated as decimal (0.5 used for requisite sample size) c = confidence interval, taken in decimal form (for ±5, = 0.05) (1.96)2 * (0.5) * (1-0.5) = 0.9604 = 384.16 (0.05)2 0.0025 Confidence Level: 95% Confidence Interval: 5 Sample Size 384 In this regard, it is anticipation that this section will enable a critical and comprehensive understanding of the methodology that will play a vital role in acquisition of valuable information. In particular, the researcher will utilize and benefit from both qualitative, as well as quantitative research methodology to take advantage of both methods’ useful characteristics. In brief, one of the major reasons of selecting both methodologies is the nature of the identified research statement that will be requiring both theoretical, as well as mathematical explanation. In specific, the research statement will be focusing on the effects of globalization on Saudi Arabia. Thus, the qualitative methodology will facilitate the researcher in identifying the effects in terms of effects on the society as a whole, whereas, on the other hand, quantitative methodology will enable the researcher in understanding most importantly, the economic effects of globalization on the country. In the result, amalgamation of outcomes of both methods will allow the researcher to relate both results and come up with a critical clarification of the effects of globalization. To sum up, previous studies have been limiting their methodologies to either qualitative or either quantitative that results in restriction of outcomes to only single perspective. In this regard, the proposed research will include both methods, and thus, will be comprehensive in terms of understanding. References Balnaves, Mark, & Caputi, Peter. (2001). Introduction to quantitative research methods: an investigative approach. SAGE. Marshall, Catherine, & Rossman, Gretchen B. (2010). Designing Qualitative Research. SAGE. McBurney, Donald H., & White, Theresa L. (2009). Research Methods. Cengage Learning. Silverman, David. (2004). Qualitative research: theory, method, and practice. Sage Publications. Read More