Assignment

Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla

Student ID: a1836212

Question 1: What are the advantages (“pros”) and disadvantages (“cons”) of

qualitative methodology?

The method of gathering and analyzing exact information from different sources to discover
answers to investigate issues, trends, and probabilities, etc., to assess conceivable results is Known
as Information Collection.Our society is exceedingly subordinate on information, which
underscores the significance of collecting it. Precise information collection is essential to create
educated commerce choices, guarantee quality affirmation, and keep inquire about judgment.
Among information collection, the analysts must distinguish the information sorts, the sources of
data, and what strategies are being used. There are numerous distinctive information collection
strategies. There's overwhelming dependence on information collection in investigate,
commercial, and government fields.

Sometime recently an examiner starts collecting information, they must reply three questions first:

• What’s the objective or reason of this research?

• What sorts of information are they arranging on gathering?

• What strategies and methods will be utilized to gather, store, and handle the information?

Meaning of Qualitative Data

Unlike quantitative information, subjective information cannot be measured or numbered. It’s

expressive, communicated in terms of dialect instead of numerical values. Quantitative
information is countable or quantifiable, relating to numbers. Subjective information is expressive,
relating to language. Quantitative information tells us how numerous, how much, or how regularly
(e.g. “20 individuals marked up to our e-mail bulletin final week”). Subjective information can
offer assistance us to get it the “why” or “how” behind certain behaviors, or it can essentially depict
a certain attribute—for illustration, “The postbox is red” or “I marked up to the e-mail newsletter
because I’m truly curious about hearing almost nearby events.”

Rahman M S (2017) has presented in his paper, “The Focal points and Impediments of Utilizing
Subjective and Quantitative Approaches and Strategies in Dialect “Testing and Assessment”
Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212
Investigate: A Writing Review” has examined the points of interest and drawbacks of utilizing
subjective and quantitative inquire about approaches and diverse strategies for the appraisal and
testing apparatuses, the author has also presented ethical part of qualitative data collection tools.
The author has discussed the strength in using qualitative data for assessment and testing tools,
like management skills, interpretation skills, behavior in assessment, perception, feelings and
understanding of knowledge. There are certain weakness of qualitative data also, having small
sample size cannot provide accurate data and having too big sample can cause time consuming
and costly affairs.

Advantages

There are some benefits of using qualitative research approaches and methods.

Helps in collecting data which are not countable

Qualitative techniques provide deep and accurate description of respondents’ thoughts, beliefs,
sentiments, understanding in terms of testing. Bachman (1998) showed in his research that use of
qualitative data collection techniques gives the deep understanding of respondent’s behavior and
processing the information provided by respondents. Chalhoub-Deville and Deville (2008), have
also supported that use of qualitative data collection techniques engaged in finding intuitions of
respondents related to planning, managing, and interpreting language assessment.

Helps in understanding Human behavior

There are some researchers in support of qualitative data collection techniques by mentioning that
it helps in understanding the human experience. Denzin and Lincoln (2002), for example,
mentioned that qualitative research is a multidisciplinary field which includes a broad categories
of research methods and explanatory methods of accepting social involvements

Best in Ideographic research

Interpretivism research approach is regarded as an ideographic research, in this it involves study

of how individual understand and interpret other people’s behavior, voice modulation in
communication, meaning of certain gestures and body language while oral communication (Kelin
& Myers, 1999); in this qualitative research analysis consider the behavioral aspects of
respondents, investigator, interviewer during data collection (Lazaraton & Taylor, 2007).
Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212
Helps in understanding scaling techniques

While using the qualitative data collection techniques, generally investigator is in direct
communication with respondents. So majority of time doubts or confusion for collection of data
or understanding of techniques can be resolved at a time of data collection itself. Qualitative
research methods such as observation techniques, personal interviews, observation, describing
records are most commonly used for collecting data (Cohen, Manion, & Morrison, 2011).
Qualitative data collection techniques are based on individual understanding and case to case basis.

Flexible and easy to handle complexity

Qualitative data collection techniques is highly flexible and can be restructured as per the need of
the researchers. The researcher has the complete freedom to modify and change the structure of
the data collection mode as per the need of the research and understanding capacity of respondents.
(Maxwell, 2012). Because of this advantages of the techniques, highly complex issues can also be
resolved and data can be collected as per the need (Flick, 2011).

Disadvantages

Unnecessarily focus on traits of the respondents

The qualitative data collection techniques focus on traits and behavioral aspects of respondents
which are sometimes not necessary for research. Certain behavioral aspects can be ignored while
collecting data from the respondents. Silverman (2010)

Purposive sampling

For qualitative data collection, researcher majority of the time use purposive sampling techniques
which means data so collected can be biased and advantages of random collection techniques are
highly ignored. (Wilson, 2014; Tuohy et al., 2013). For example, while conducting research on
leadership teachnies use by school principals, researcher will conduct research on the schools or
colleges where he/ she has good contacts or chances of generating information, for the same
research data can be biased as samples are from the known to the researchers.
Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212
Sample size

Sample size is the biggest limitation of qualitative data collection techniques. Smaller sample size
leads to inaccurate data and which ultimately leads to insufficient information for the research.

Interpretation skill of researcher

The biggest limitation of qualitative data collection techniques is it requires sound and in depth
knowledgeable data collector. While using observation techniques, researcher should also aware
about what to observe and what is to be ignored. If researcher himself is not having detailed
knowledge about the same, the data collection might generate wrong data. (Flick, 2011

Human behavior is not consistent all the time

Another limitation of qualitative data collection is it collects data based on human belief, thought,
knowledge and understanding. As it deals with the human behavior which is never constant and
consistent all the time, it changes from time to time and person to person. There are various factors
which affect human behavior so it also affects the data provided by them, same limitation
applicable for researcher, who is not consistent while interpretation of respondent’s data. This is
the biggest limitation in qualitative data collection and the question is on reliability of data.
Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212

Question 2: Choose one (1) qualitative method of generating qualitative data

and discuss its advantages (“pros”) and disadvantages (“cons”).

There are various qualitative data collection techniques.

Forms and
Questioann
aire

Social
Media Interview
Marketing

Online
Observation
Marketing
& Records
Analysis

Online Focus
Tasking Groups

Oral
Histories

 Meaning of Questionnaire data collection techniques

Questionnaire as an instrument for collecting information, which nearly continuously includes
inquiring a given subject to reply to a set of verbal or written questions. A study could be a prepare
of gathering information that may include a wide assortment of data collection strategies, counting
a survey. In essence, every questionnaire may be a overview, but not each study may be a survey.

There are various pros and cons of questionnaire

1. Questionnaires are affordable in cost

Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212
Questionnaire is one of the foremost reasonable ways to assemble quantitative data. Self-
administered surveys are the foremost reasonable way to gather essential information as it
is easy to collect and doesn’t require face to face interview. In this people can respondent
in short period of time. Questionnaire can be sent via e-mail or post for collection of data.
2. Questionnaires are practical

Apart from being inexpensive, questionnaires are also most practical way to gather data.
By preparing questionnaire, researcher can target mass populations and manage the data
collection. There can be open ended or closed ended questionnaire with multiple choice
questions which can be used for data collection. They offer a way to gather vast amounts
of data on any subject. They can be used in a wide variety of ways, like customer feedback.

3. Quicker way to collect data and provide results

Questionnaire is comparatively faster way to collect data with online and offline tools. Now
a days questionnaire can be sent through mobile application which can generate the on time
data collection as well as analysis (Charts and Cross tabulations with percentage of data).
Respondents need to wait for input of data in to computer excel file.

4. Adaptability for respondents over where and when to finish their questionnaire:
One of the major advantage of questionnaire data collection method is internet-based
survey, is that respondents can choice timing and place wherever they want to furnish and
complete the questionnaire procedure. It will also help respondents to gather the data
collection.
5. Information precision:
While strategies, for case, eye to eye and through phone studies require the examiner to
handle respondent reactions, with the internet-based survey answers are subsequently
inserted into bookkeeping pages, data bases, or other programming bundles diminishing
the bet of human botch and enabling modified endorsement of the information.
6. Scalability
Questionnaires and surveys technique of data collection help respondents to collect
information from very big sample or population. This ultimately means, data can be
collected from the very large target like a city or a country with a very low cost.
Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212
7. Secrecy of the respondents can be maintained
Respondent can give feedback or answers without revealing their names. In other words,
it is advantageous for researcher to convince the respondents to provide information as
secrecy can be maintained.

Disadvantages of questionnaires

1. Respondents can be dishonest or data can be less reliable.

Apart from having many positive aspects of questionnaire, the major disadvantage of
questionnaire data collection method is there is no guarantee that respondent is giving
accurate and correct information.

2. Unattempt questions
While using this technique of data collection, there are chances that respondent may
left questions which are unattempt or ignored. While using online questionnaire data
collection techniques there is always a risk of unanswered questions.

3. Differences in understanding and interpretation

For researcher it is difficult to attend all the respondents and solve their doubts
regarding questions asked. Sometimes questionnaire has to be mailed to respondents
for providing feedback but misunderstanding regarding the questions and
interpretations of understanding of questions will always be a risk part in collection of
data. Without proper explanations to the respondents regarding the objectives behind
the data collection trough questionnaire, the data might be inaccurate and inadequate.

4. Hard to convey feelings and emotions

As far as qualitative data collection techniques observation method, personal interview
method has an advantage of noticing the behavior and emotions of respondents. But
this can be the major disadvantage in case of questionnaire method of qualitative data
collection method. In questionnaire there is very limited face to face interaction
Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212
between respondents and researchers, so certain gestures, body language, facial
expressions of respondents cannot be taken into considerations.
5. Unconscientious responses
Every respondents requires true and genuine responses from the respondents which
needs respondents to be in full capacity and dedication to provide responses. But it is
difficult to know whether the respondents has fully aware about the questionnaire and
motive behind collection of data. Sometimes respondents have selected the answers
before reading and understanding of questions (in case of multiple choice questions).
Many a times respondents might skip the questions which require thinking and provide
detail answers.
6. Questionnaire strategy is weariness for respondents Survey Reaction Weakness:
This happens some time recently the overview starts. Overpowered by the developing
number of overviews, respondents will be less slanted to require portion in your
overview. As a result, analyst will endure from a moo reaction rate. Survey Taking
Weakness: This sort of respondent weakness happens amid the study. It’s the result of
overviews that are seen as as well long and incorporate questions unessential to the
respondent. A marker of overview taking weariness can be found in a moo completion
rate.
7. Lack of Personal Contact
In case of questionnaire data collection techniques, the researcher does not get
connection to field where he/she can build contact or network with the respondents. If
respondents have some query regarding questions which have been asked in
questionnaire, the respondents will have to assume the meaning of the questions as per
the best of their knowledge. No matter how simple questionnaire the researcher has
created, the best possible and comfortable manner is to explain personally but when
there are large number of respondents this cannot be possible.
8. Illegibility
Illegible handwriting of the respondents can create problems in registration of data and
interpretations of it. Many a times respondents overwrite their responses which
sometimes create problems in data collection.
Assignment
Student’s Name: Ishani Shukla
Student ID: a1836212
References:

 Bachman, L. F. (2000). Modern language testing at the turn of the century: Assuring that
what we count counts. Language testing, 17(1), 1-42.
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 Chalhoub-Deville, M., & Deville, C. (2008). Utilizing psychometric methods in
assessment. In E. Shohamy, & N.H. Hornberger (Eds.), Encyclopedia of language and
education (2nd ed., Vol. 7, pp. 211-224). New York, NY: Springer Science + Business
Media LLC.
 Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2011). Research methods in education (7th ed.).
London: Routledge.
 Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2002). The qualitative inquiry reader. London: Sage
Publications.
 Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Handbook of qualitative research. London: Sage
Publications.
 Flick, U. (2011). Introducing research methodology: A beginner’s guide to doing a research
project. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
 Klein, H. K., & Myers, M. D. (1999). A set of principles for conducting and evaluating
interpretive field studies in information systems. MIS Quarterly, 23(1), 67-93.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/249410
 Lazaraton, A., & Taylor, L. (2007). Qualitative research methods in language test
development and validation. In Fox et al. (Eds.), Language Testing Reconsidered (pp. 113-
130). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
 Maxwell, J. A. (2012). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. London:
Sage.
 Silverman, D. (2010). Qualitative research. London: Sage.
 Wilson, A. (2014). Being a practitioner: An application of Heidegger’s phenomenology.
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