Discuss how the philosophical differences between qualitative and quantitative research led to varying degrees of emphasis put on some of the elements in the research process.
The research process and key elements are:
1. Starting the research
• developing a research question
• Reviewing the literature
• Defining variables (quantitative research only) and developing operational definitions
2. Designing the research
• Choosing the most appropriate research method
• Choosing the sample
• Dealing with ethics
• Planning the research
3. Collecting the data
• Design a data-collection instrument
• Arrange collection of the data
4. Making sense of the data
• Data reduction
• Data organisation
• Data Interpretation
5. Presenting the data (Report results)