Finding What Works

RES/351
November 24, 2014
Mike Hamm

Finding What Works

Quantitative versus qualitative research. Both methods hold an important place in the process of asking, hypothesizing, researching, gathering compiling and presenting the findings of any marketing process. The most effective method depends on the desired results.
If the research being conducted is for the purposes of reporting the quantity, measurement, role or ability of a product, then quantitative research is required. If the researcher is seeking results that describe a given process can improve relationships, work ethic, and peace of mind or cohesiveness within a given circumstance, qualitative research would be the most appropriate.
Research is an important aspect of many parts of life. While prayer is not a business or a job, it is a call that serves a purpose and is a large part of my current and future work ventures. Gathering data on the power of prayer, let alone proving what that gathered data means, is an improbable and highly scrutinized practice. When researching the present findings and preparing this paper, I found myself in quite a conundrum of faith and understanding. That being stated, according to Baesler and Ladd 2009, several studies have been conducted, indicating that those experiencing crises have shown an improvement in their over-all wellbeing when participating in prayer centered activities. The struggle however is, how does one record a qualitative record, when the action, connection and result whether negative or positive can be judged only by those seeking prayer and/or those on the receiving end of the grace offered? On the other hand, quantitative data can be gathered in the sense that groups of people experiencing crises who pray in some fashion, can be polled as to how, when, where and in what size prayer group they participate.