WHAT JUSTIFICATION NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH METHOD CHOICE?

Why people want to do research? Different people may have different reasons. Some
may be because they want to earn for their living, want to solve problems, learn new
things, discover new knowledge, observe new phenomenon or understand the world in
a new profound way. Research can be a powerful tool to search for the truth and
providing evidence. Research is a critical process for asking and attempting to answer
questions about the world (Dane, 2010). By doing research, research questions can be
answered systematically so that research findings are relevant and contribute to the
better world.

Politicians, policy makers, managers and those who are in position in making decision
would like to have researched information regarding certain situations. If the research
findings want to be trusted, referred and translated into practice, its need to be
examined carefully and investigate thoroughly. The evidences gathered should be done
in a right way, form and scope. However, how the researchers determine which way to
do the research? How can the researchers identify which is the best method to
address it? Why one particular method is more appropriate to use than the other? How
to ensure the method chosen is suitable for the sampling?

When choosing which method to use, researchers must first identify what are their
research problems. Defining the research problems will help a lot if it was done properly
from the very beginning. Researchers must know what they want to study deciding on
the general subjects area initially and then move to a specific one before formulating
the research problems (Kothari, 2004). Method chosen to be used must fit the question
posed. The link between the method and the research problems must be link, can be
clearly explained and justified. The researchers must understand their research
problems thoroughly and this can be done so by examine all available literature from
previous studies or by consulting colleagues and expertise in the area. By doing this,
researchers can plan the types of data they want to collect, what kind of data is
relevant, which sample of population will be engaged, what is the best techniques, what
cost or resources will involve and available, how much time will be permitted and what
skills needed to analyze the data.

Once the research problems have been identified, researchers must now identify their
research objectives. Research objectives will define what researchers expect to find at
the end of the study. When the researchers aware what they want to solve, it will help
them to shape the research thus design their research.

Researchers must choose which research design is the best to help them to meet and
achieve their research objectives. The research design provides a framework for the
collection and analysis of data and subsequently indicates which research methods are
appropriate (Walliman, 2011). Other than that, according to Kothari (2004) "the most
desirable approach in regard to the selection of the method depends on the nature of
the particular problem and on the time and resources (money and personnel) available
along with desired degree of accuracy. But, over and above all this, much depends
upon the ability and experience of the researcher." Which method selected will also
affect how the end result will be presented. Some may prefer numerical data with
statistical description that can be quantified and presented in graphs, charts and figures.
Some may prefer to provide their findings narratively, using non-numerical data with
detailed description of a topic. If the first is the choice, the researcher may choose
quantitative method while the latter qualitative method will be more suitable.

Quantitative is a more straightforward method and commonly used in social sciences

such as economics, sociology, psychology and political science. It is also widely used in
science and engineering research. If the researchers want to do objective measurement
and need data that provides numerical using inferential statistic, quantitative method is
more suitable. Researchers must be able to gather data through structured research
instruments like polls, surveys and questionnaires. It is also used for experimental
research where control groups and experiment group can be administered differently to

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study the causal and effect relationship. It strengths are in the analysis and explanation
of causal dependencies in social phenomenon.

Quantitative is deductive, begins from a theory and established to test a theory using
hypothesis. It is under positivism paradigm that belief reality can be measured
objectively. It is concerned to look at relationship between variables under controlled
situation and what is the cause and effect of social phenomenon. Quantitative method is
also good to be use when researchers need to generalize results from a larger
population sample. It is possible to gather data from a lot of people at once and cost
effective. The results can be easily and quickly analyzed using statistical package and
can be presented systematically.

Quantitative method will help respondents to feel more comfortable since it can be
administered anonymously. This is suitable if the phenomenon that researchers wish to study is
case sensitive and respondents might refuse to talk openly.

However, quantitative methods have several disadvantages. It might restrict some answers from
the respondents if it was structured using scales or was given objective style of answers. Some
important findings might be missing and failed to be captured if researchers fail to identify the
important questions to be asked or omit the possible answers. It is only applicable in phenomena
that can be quantified and not in complex reality for example in sensitive topics like child abuse
or domestic violence. It is also difficult to apply in phenomena that are dynamic. Quantitative
method helps to look on the surface in a research, but if researchers want to study in a longer
process, it would become a longitudinal study. It also inadequate to study changes involve in
emotions, feelings and behavior.

On the contrary, qualitative is exploratory research and commonly used in the fields
such as religion, education and social sciences. It is also increasingly used in medical
and science field. Qualitative method has its own strengths. It helps researchers to
study things in their natural setting. The results gathered from qualitative study can be
used to formulate theory. A qualitative approach emphasizes the qualities of entities,
processes and meanings that are not experimentally examined or measured in terms of quantity,
amount, intensity or frequency (Denzin and Lincoln 2000). It is used in study of children

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behavior, focus group discussion, interviews and participant observation. Qualitative method is
more useful if researchers want to explore in depth and give detail description and interpretation
of particular case. Antipositivism employed qualitative method and emphasize interpretive
means in studying social phenomenon. It is more suitable to be chosen if the researchers want to
describe a phenomenon naturally without any interference or manipulation. It is also can
employed if the researchers want to study in depth about a certain behavior.

The findings from qualitative research help us to understand a phenomenon holistically and
inductively. It promotes new ideas, provides insight into the problem and helps to develop a new
theory or framework. It gives a more comprehensive understanding of any issue at hand.
Qualitative method is suitable if the research involves reviewing texts, manuscripts, interviews,
observations, participations and discussions. Researchers will interact with subjects and have a
close distant to the subjects studied. The sample size used usually smaller and harder to analyze
compared to quantitative study. It is more subjective and provides more in depth information and
description from those involved. The underlying reasons and hidden factors can be uncovered
compared to quantitative method where there is a risk if the researcher failed to recognize and
identify them.

There are several qualitative research designs including case study, ethnography,
phenomenological study and grounded theory. Case study involves case centered
approach in single individual, group, family, community and society. Ethnography is
known as participant observation in naturalistic setting. Among the famous ethnography
researcher is Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje or Abdul Ghafar (1857-1936), a controversial
Dutch scientist that wrote a book "Mekka in the Latter Part of 19th Century". He was
also said had written more than 1,400 papers on the situation in Aceh and about the
position of Islam in Dutch East Indies. The outcome of his research was called "the
secret report" which reports on the religion-political conditions in Aceh (Carvalho, 2010).
He embraced the religion and the culture and successfully, gave people impression that
he was one of them.

Other qualitative research design is phenomenological study which is to describe a lived

experience. This can be achieved through interviews, self reports and aesthetic
expressions. Grounded theory is also one of qualitative study and sometimes is also

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used in quantitative study. It involves the generation of innovative theory derived from
data collected from real-life situations that is relevant to the research problems. Below
is a personal reflection of the researchers in a study that used grounded theory :

"Grounded theory allowed us to enter the field to discover the phenomena of

greatest importance to the participants. We had been floundering around for
sometimes, unable to conceive appropriate research questions which would
allow the execution of more conventional research. Grounded theory provided
the opportunity to get on with the study" (Jones & Alony, 2011).

Qualitative methods also have some disadvantages that researchers need to consider before
deciding to do one. It is more costly and time consuming compared to quantitative methods in
certain things. It involves non numerical data means that the potential data sources can come
from settings, environments, people, organizations and events. Researchers need to identify their
parameters such as the location, the subjects to be observed and the process they want to study.
Researchers need to recognize and carry out the best way to record their study, interviews or
observations so that they do not have to repeat the process and help them to collect data
sufficiently. Researchers must be aware that sometimes the subjects may not behave as usual
because they know that they are being observed.

Both quantitative and qualitative methods have their own strengths and weaknesses. Researchers
must be able to identify which method is better to be used for their research needs. Sometimes,
researchers have their own preference on certain method compared to the other. However, they
must aware that certain data can also be gathered using other research methods available.
For example research studying about social phenomenon examining people's feeling,
belief or preference. It might sound very subjective and unable to be measured
quantitatively. However, by using questionnaires, respondents would be able to rate
their feeling, belief or preference using scales such as Likert scales. Respondents can
express themselves such as 1 strongly disagree, 2 slightly disagree, 3 neutral, 4
slightly agree and 5 strongly agree. Respondents can also give ratings from one to ten
how strongly they feel or agree about something. This helps the researchers to
translate a phenomenon into a quantified data. Researchers, therefore, should take

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proper consideration in analyzing and deciding which method to be use and which will
give better results to obtain data as desired.

Since both methods have their limitations, some researchers choose to use both
methods together in a research. This is called mixed method. Mixed method can be
defined as:

the collection or analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data in a single

study in which the data are collected concurrently or sequentially, are given a
priority, and involve the integration of the data at one or more stages in the
process of research (Hanson, Creswell, Clark, Petska, & Creswell, 2005).

Mixed method can be employed when a research needs both methods' uniqueness and
strengths to describe a more complete and comprehensive understanding. It is also
help to leverage either disadvantages or weaknesses that each approach has. For
complex, uncertain and multifaceted social phenomena, mixed method is more suitable
(Bhattacherjee, 2012). In health research community where quantitative methods are
used dominantly, is reported to be more receptive of qualitative methods in the last two
decades. Growing interest in combining both methods can be seen increasingly used in
health services research. In a research undertaken in health services in England, it was
found that studies classified as mixed methods raised from 17% in the pre 1995 to 30%
in the year 2002-2004 (OCathain, Murphy, & Nicholl, 2007). Both methods could help to
explain certain situations in a clearer picture, looking into different perspectives and may
provide solutions to a certain phenomenon more desirably.

In a study titled The Strengths and Weaknesses of Research Methodology:

Comparison and Complimentary between Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, the
researcher reviewed existing secondary data from recent studies and concluded that
there is no best approach between both methodologies, and defined cases have proven
that complementary between both qualitative and quantitative research
methodologies could provide better solutions (Choy, 2014). However, the researchers

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must be able to present the logics in employing both methods and must be prepared
mentally and physically since the research will involve two different phases.

In conclusion, in choosing which method to be used, there are several factors to be

considered carefully by the researcher. It is not an easy task to decide which method
should be employed. Extensive literature review will help the researcher to familiarize
with the different methods that feasible in the field. Reviewing what other researchers
have done in previous study might give more insights on how certain phenomenon is
better studied. It is also a good move to discuss with colleagues or people that have
experience in the same field to gain more ideas and help to decide which method is
better.