Purpose: uncover prevalent trends, thoughts, phenomena, and opinions. Hypothesis testing. Exploratory research. Often referred to as "philosophical", interpretive", or "subjective."
Usually samples small number of cases, collecting data with unstructured or semi-structured techniques such as focus groups, interviews, narratives, case studies, ethnographies, and situational observations.
Data analysis is non-statistical, with induction method.
Purpose: collect, analyze, and interpret tangible data. Causal research. Often referred to as "rigorous", "objective", "systematic", and "empirical."
Usually samples a larger number of cases, using structured techniques such as controlled experiments, questionnaires, correlation studies, and surveys.
Produces statistical data in the form of tabulations, frequencies, and percentages.
When searching the databases, you can enter terms that will retrieve research reports, such as "research", "methodology", "hypothesis", "study", "subjects"
SocINDEX uses formal subject headings "Qualitative Research" and "Quantitative Research" that can be added to terms indicating the topic of your interest. The PsycINFO database has a search limiter for Methodology. CINAHL has several options under the limiter for Publication Type.
Articles reporting research often have sections labeled: Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, References. Buzzwords you may find in an article summary: purpose, observation, questionnaires, interviews, empirical, experimental, survey, case study, etc.
There are likely to be tables, charts, graphs.
Table of contents for this book:
Background for evaluating research reports
Evaluating titles
Evaluating abstracts
Evaluating introductions and literature reviews
A closer look at evaluating literature reviews
Evaluating samples when researchers generalize
Evaluating samples when researchers do not generalize
Evaluating instrumentation
Evaluating experimental procedures
Evaluating analysis and results sections : quantitative research
Evaluating analysis and results sections : qualitative research
Evaluating discussion sections
Putting it all together
Appendix A. Quantitative and qualitative research : an overview
Appendix B. Examining the validity structure of qualitative research
Appendix C. The limitations of significance testing
Appendix E. Checklist of evaluation questions.
What's in this book? Helpful hints on analyzing different kinds of research articles:
| Case Studies | |
| Narrative Analysis | |
| Surveys | |
| Correlation Studies | |
| Regression Analysis Studies | |
| Factor-Analytic Studies | |
| Discriminant Analysis Studies | |
| Two-Condition Experimental Studies | |
| Single Classification Studies | |
| Factorial Studies | |
| Quasi-Experimental Studies | |
| Longitudinal Studies |