This document discusses different research approaches including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. It provides details on the three components involved in each approach: philosophical worldviews, research designs, and specific research methods. As an example, a quantitative approach may use a post-positivist worldview, experimental design, and pretest/posttest measures. A qualitative approach could use a constructivist worldview, ethnographic design, and observation. A mixed methods approach may use a pragmatic worldview and collect both quantitative and qualitative data sequentially. The document emphasizes that the research problem and questions should determine which approach is best.

1. The Selection of a
Research Approach
By saeed sheikhian

2. Table of content:
• The Three Approaches to Research.
• Three components in each approach.
• Research Approaches as Worldviews,
Designs, and Methods
• The Research Problem and Questions

3. introduction
What is research approach?
specific
methods
Data
collection
analysis
interpretation

4. The Three Approaches to Research
Quantitative
mixed methods
Qualitative
Quantitative
Qualitative
Creswell, 2015; Newman & Benz, 1998
philosophical
assumptions
research
strategies
conducting
questions and
responses

5. Qualitative research
1. Exploring, understanding
and ascribing individual or
social problem.
2. data typically collected
in the participant’s setting.
3. Data analysis inductively.
4. Writing report has a
flexible structure
Quantitative research
1. for testing objective
theories .
2. Examining the relationship
between variables.
3. Data analysis deductively
4. Written report has a fixed
structure.
1. integrating the two forms
of QUAL and QUAN data.
2. Using distinctive design for
each philosophical
assumptions.
3. Provide information
beyond QUAL and QUAN data
alone
Mixed methods research
Approaches features

6. Three Components Involved in each Approach
Specific research methods:(questions,
data collection, data analysis,
interpretation and validation)
Philosophical worldviews:
(post-positivist, constructivist,
transformative and pragmatic)
Research designs:
(quantitative for example; experiments),
(ethnographies for example; ethnographies)
and (mixed methods for example explanatory
sequential)
Qualitative research
Quantitative research
Mixed methods
research

7. post-positivism
constructivism
transformative
Pragmatism
studying the behavior and
actions of humans world view
hold true more for
quantitative research
studying the participants view of
the situation living and working
An approach to
qualitative research
emphasize the research
problem and question
Quantitative and
qualitative
First component Philosophical worldviews
intertwined with
politics
How and why politics
power exsit

8. Second component research design
qualitative
quantitative
mixed methods
survey
experimental
none
experimental
true experiment
quasi experiment
Narrative
research
Phenomenological
research
Grounded
theory
Ethnography
Case
studies
check the accuracy of
database Convergent mixed methods
Explanatory mixed methods
Exploratory mixed methods

9. questions
talk openly
about a
topic
Observing
individuals
place
conducting
an
interview
Behavioral
checklist
Third
component
research
method

10. Research Approaches as Worldviews, Designs, and Methods
Research Approaches as Worldviews, Designs, and Methods
1. Quantitative approach;
Post-positivist worldview, experimental design, and pretest and posttest measures of
attitudes.
2. Qualitative approach in two different ways;
A. Constructivist worldview, ethnographic design, and observation of behavior
B. Transformative worldview, narrative design, and open-ended interviewing
3. Mixed methods approach;
Pragmatic worldview, collection of both quantitative and qualitative data sequentially in the
design

11. The Research Problem and Questions
Quantitative approach is the best
The identification of factors that influence an outcome, The utility of an
intervention and understanding the best predictors of outcomes
Quantitative approach is the best
phenomenon needs to be explored and understood
may first survey a large number of individuals and then follow up with a few
participants to obtain
Mixed method approach is the best