Overview

• Positivists

  Prefer scientific, quantitative data that is quick and easy to obtain and it is rich in reliability and validity
• Interpretivists

  Prefer qualitative data, that provides in depth meaning of a small scale research group. Rich in validity
• Practical Issues

  Time, Money and Access
• Ethical Issues

  Informed consent, Confidentiality, Psychological Harm
• Theoretical Issues

  Reliability, Representativeness, Validity
• What is meant by Reliability?

  able to repeat results
• What is meant by Validity?

  It is true
• Quantitative research methods

  • Laboratory Experiments
  • Questionnaires
  • Structured Interviews
• Qualitative Research Methods

  • Unstructured Interviews
  • Semi-Structured Interviews