Discussion 2

Discussion #2, February 29th, 2525, Roger Iama Planet

Part 1 (35 Pts): My Analysis of Discussion #2: Comparative Analysis of

Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed-Methods Methodologies of Research 5 Pts

I met my non-research-guru friend (Fred Flintstone) yesterday for coffee and he

asked me to explain some of the work in my research class. This is what I told him

about three major topics or methodologies we are learning to recognize and use:

1. Fred, if you look at the data in the qualitative study methodology, it would appear to

be as if I was sitting with a person asking them opinions, feelings, perceptions, and …

you know…like we were talking about a topic and you were giving me some of your

thoughts on the subject or topic. Then I would record them and do analysis on what you

said to form some ideas from your feedback. From these ideas, with others, I would be

able to formulate an outcome from the qualitative feedback, or data. See what this

methodology is and how it works? It’s not about a bunch of numbers to compare, but

ideas to bring them together and form a consensus to help study the topic…(Fred slaps

his forehead and says, ‘What a boulder of an idea!”; 10 Pts

2. I met Fred for lunch the next week, and he said, “Tell me more!” So, I told him that

compared to the qualitative method, there was the quantitative method in which I

collected numerical, and some other data, using a survey. The survey had questions,

with scaled responses and people answered questions by choosing options like: 1)

Don’t Know, 2) Poor, 3) Fair, 4) Average, and 5) Good. IF the average of a question

was like 4.78, it would mean that those responding to the questions thought it was

Good. Example: Question: “I like Hershey’s Kisses” and if the average was 4.78, it

means that there was a better than average perception that those answering really liked

Hershey’s!!!; 10 Pts

3. Then Fred, asked, well what if I wanted to combine some interviews with surveys?

Then what? “Well Fred,” I said, “that’s easy.” You just combine the qualitative and

quantitative methods and call it a mixed-methods methodology! Fred smiled and said, “I

can’t wait to get into that class! I am a mixed-methods guy at the quarry!!!” 10 Pts

Part 2 (15 Pts): “So, what’s the big deal between a Research Paper Project and

the Research Paper?

After reviewing both types of articles, the research paper and the research

project paper, what I noticed right away is that the research paper, while it fulfills a

research objective, the research project paper had more items that are graphical in

nature. When I reviewed the standard research paper, it was very much like so many I

have written in college classes, both undergraduate and graduate. It was research-

based, but had no graphics and only 1 minor table. The research project has graphics,

tables, images, charts, samples, images from sources…and in my opinion it made the

research come alive by giving me a better view of what the research was doing. The

research project reminds me of reading a magazine or journal and the images provide a

different view of what is being presented, which helped me to better understand the

purpose of the work being presented. The research project help me better see what the

working of the research was trying to tell me!

Total Points Awarded for Correct Items Submitted:

1. Part 1: 35 Points

2. Part 2: 15 Points

Total Points: 50 Points