Strategies For Quantitative Research

It is little secret that most archaeologists are uneasy with statistics. Thankfully, in the modern world, quantitative analysis has been made immensely easier by statistical software packages. Software now does virtually all our statistical calculations, removing a great burden for researchers. At the same time, since most statistical analysis now takes place through the pushing of buttons in software packages, new problems and dangers have emerged. How does one know which statistical test to use? How can one tell if certain data violate the assumptions of a particular statistical analysis? Rather than focusing on the mathematics of calculation, this concise handbook selects appropriate forms of analysis and explains the assumptions that underlie them. It deals with fundamental issues, such as what kinds of data are common in the field of archaeology and what are the goals of various forms of analysis. This accessible textbook lends a refreshing playfulness to an often-humorless subject and will be enjoyed by students and professionals alike.

Framing research as the process of asking and answering questions, this book demonstrates how to identify good research questions and how to structure and explore them successfully. Whether you are just beginning your research journey or are a seasoned traveller, it helps you: • Decide what you want to achieve with your research • Know what options you have to explore your goals • Navigate the nuances of different research approaches • Understand the decisions of other researchers • Choose what path best suits your project. Through real-life examples demonstrating different types of research, the book introduces qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches so you can compare different methods at every stage of the research process, from initial idea and design to data collection and analysis. This new edition includes new chapters on collecting and analysing mixed methods data, and additional content on qualitative data analysis. New examples reflect the cultural and global diversity of social research, and extra visual aids and summaries support understanding of key research concepts and stages. The book is accompanied by an online teaching guide, including videos, additional case studies, annotated articles, and critical thinking exercises.

The Second Edition of this best-selling textbook continues to offer immensely practical advice and technical expertise that will aid researchers in analyzing and interpreting their collected data, and ultimately build theory from it. The authors provide a step-by-step guide to the research act. Full of definitions and illustrative examples, the book presents criteria for evaluating a study as well as responses to common questions posed by students of qualitative research.

This is an analysis of what managers actually do in relation to the development of strategy in organisations.

This Second Edition remains the only book to discuss both theory and application of qualitative research techniques to inspire great advertising and build strong brands. Using a step-by-step approach created for students considering advertising careers and for those currently working in the advertising industry, this book explains what qualitative research techniques are designed to do. The text describes how these techniques aid in uncovering insights useful for advertising strategy development, creative development, and post-campaign evaluation. Practical information and discussions on interviewing, projective techniques, focus groups, and online/social media applications positioned within a theoretical context illustrate the value of qualitative research in the real world.

In this, the second of a three-volume paperback version of the landmark Handbook of Qualitative Research, editors Norman K Denzin and Yvonna S Lincoln consider the major strategies employed by the qualitative researcher. Starting from the research design process and following through to consider a range of methods that can be applied in any study, Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry covers funding, case studies, ethnography, grounded theory, participative inquiry and much more - offering a range of methods that can be employed in any study. The outstanding contributors thoroughly covereach topic, enriching the qualitative experience. The Handbook of Qualitative Research has been heralded as the state of the art in evaluating the field of qualitative inquiry and features contributions from some of the leading scholars in the area. Now published in paperback in response to the needs of classroom teachers, Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry will also be an excellent choice around which to build a course on research methods, across a wide number of academic disciplines.

Ridenour and Isadore Newman reject the artificial dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research strategies in the social and behavioral sciences and argue that by employing multiple methods, researchers can enhance the quality of their research outcomes.

What are the fundamental elements of good quantitative and qualitative research? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach? What does research offer early childhood education? Are quantitative and qualitative approaches compatible? This book presents the research process and its components in a straightforward, easily accessible manner. Using real examples from early childhood education, authors William L. Goodwin and Laura D. Goodwin "bring to life" for the first time the various methods of research and how they may be studied and applied. They explore the major aspects of both quantitative and qualitative paradigms and techniques, stressing the compatibility and complementary nature of the two approaches that are so often seen as mutually exclusive if not downright contradictory.