Tyronn White
Quantitative Research
Research on society can be an
interesting and tricky topic. As social
researchers are trained to look for patterns or irregularities, it may be more
difficult today to find answers to explain why certain patterns exist. With our society changing every few years,
due to governmental policies and social media, researching may have
difficulties catching up to the changes every few years.
Social
researchers must have questions answered as it pertains to their research on
what events take place in society. The
why and what questions can sometimes be difficult to answer because of how a
researcher responds to new knowledge, the self-consciousness of the researcher
may impede progress and if the researcher him or herself is part of the object
of study.
Also any measurements taken for analysis
may be inaccurate due to biases, persuasion through media outlets and personal
feelings towards the research.
I my
personal opinion, society changes every three to four years. You can see it and feel it through media and social
media outlets. The content that is
allowed on television and radio may change public perception on topics and
events as it is designed to tap into our feelings and possibly persuade our
views on social issues.
How to obtain quantitative data?
In quantitative research, the researcher
aims at answering the why question, seeking an explanation. The quantitative method states that the social
phenomenon can be measured and expressed numerically. The information about a social phenomenon is
put into numerical terms that can be measured in statistical information. The numerical terms can be transformed into a
rows and columns for a data chart which can be later used as a starting point
for an analysis.
An analysis is needed for measurement and
documentation of data so it can be used for any type of comparison that a
researcher wants to use it for.
How describe data and single
variables?
The
definition of a variable is anything that can be observable and measurable. Variables are used as a visual representation
of what is being researched and or experimented.
Variables may be anything that the
researcher wants to represent, individuals, groups, events, multimedia etc.
Strengths and Weaknesses of
Quantitative Research:
When gathering information from variables,
there are strengths and weaknesses to consider.
One of the strengths, to consider is that someone’s research may be a
topic(s) that may or may not be directly or easily observable by the general
public that may provide important information to the public that may not otherwise
be discovered.
This is when biases and personal feelings
on a topic should be carefully filtered.
If the social researcher discoverers and publishes data discovered that
may change public perception, it would be irresponsible for the social researcher
not take into account the magnitude of that information.
One weakness to consider is that the
information discovered and provided for the researcher may simplify or compress
information that may not tell the entire story and may lack perspective.
How to obtain quantitative data?
To obtain qualitative data, the researcher
must 1st select s theme or topic as a plan of research. The next step is to get familiar with the
theme being researched by asking oneself a few questions. What do I know and don’t know about the theme
/ topic, has the theme / topic been researched in the manner the researcher
wants to research and are there pre-existing data available?
How to describe data and single
variables?
The
description of single variable and data is all of the information that lends
itself to research. Data and single
variables give us the meat and potatoes of the results that follow
research. Based on our research, a
researcher may construct data and variables to indicate and or illustrate
whatever the researcher wants to emphasize on.
When using variables to illustrate, demonstrate or bring light to
subject matter, it is the researcher’s responsibility that the information
presented is as accurate as possible.
Miss information for the masses may have a negative impact and may be
difficult to recover from.
How to analyze relationships
(dependencies between two or more variables)?
One way to analyze data and the
relationships between two or more variables is to one, research the topic to
find the data, indicate the facts found (statistical data, observations,
etc.). Explain the information
discovered. Illustrate the information
discovered by showing charts and graphs to match the data and explanation of
that data. Future illustration of the
data through charts and graphs may illustrate comparisons and contrast between
the variables. Once again this is
opportunity for biases and personal feelings on charts and graphs on the
variables should be carefully filtered and are as accurate as possible. If the social researcher discoverers and
publishes data discovered and publish the charts and graphs as factual data,
then that data must be factual because sensitive data involving charts and
graphs may have a greater impact that the data itself because of the
visualization of charts and graphs. It would irresponsible for the social
researcher not take into account the magnitude of the information and
visualization from charts and graphs.
No comments:
Post a Comment