Week Three Reflection Summary
Anna Delarosa
RES 351
February 3, 2014
Dr. Joseph Oloyede

Week Three Reflection Summary Within our third week, the team was tasked with the objective to differentiate between qualitative and quantitative methods of research. Next, the team was asked to explain the commonly used qualitative research designs and quantitative research designs. Finally the team was the asked to identify how to select appropriate research designs in any given situation. Quantitative research attempts to achieve precise measurement of something; often the responses received are veiled, classified, and condensed to numbers to be manipulated for statistical analysis (Cooper & Schindler, 2011, p. 164). The insights gained from completing this research is limited by the opportunity to probe respondents, and the quality of the original data collection instrument. Additionally, this will follow data collection and data entry, with a small window of opportunity to circle back with survey participants. In contrast, qualitative research is intended to tell the examiner how and why things happen as they do, it also aims to achieve a thorough understanding of a situation. The expected result or insights with this method provide a more profound level of understanding; which is determined by the type and amount of open-ended questions. Using qualitative research allows the researcher to inform insights and test them throughout the study process. Qualitative research is used solely based on the purpose of the research; other reasons include the schedule, budget, issues and or the topics (Cooper & Schindler, 2011, p. 167). Qualitative research is designed to answer questions for the researchers such as how and why things occur. The general designs used for qualitative research are focus groups, interviews, case studies and surveys (Cooper &