RESEARCH AND SURVEY: QUESTION / ANSWER
Question one – research approaches
a. Distinguish between the different types of issues/questions that
research using qualitative and quantitative approaches seek to
address.
(8 marks)
a. Distinguish between the different ways that data is gathered when
qualitative and quantitative research questions are addressed.
(8 marks)
Question One Answer:
Qualitative & Quantitative Research: Types of Addressed Issues
Qualitative research is mainly an exploratory research. In order to gain a proper understanding of
underlying reasons, motivations, and opinions this method is used (Cho & Trent, 2014).
Providing insights into issues and developing ideas and hypotheses for research is also done by
qualitative research. It also identifies the central phenomenon that has been planned to explore.
The sample size is typically small.
Quantitative research, on the other hand, quantifies the issues generating numerical data or
sometimes data that can be transferred into statistics (Guo, 2013). Quantifying opinions, attitudes
are done by quantitative research while it generalizes results from a larger population. It uses
measurable data for uncovering patterns in the research. Quantitative researches contain both a
dependent and independent variable.
Qualitative & Quantitative Research: Gathering Data
A wide range of methods is used for collecting quantitative data. The most used methods are
probability sampling, questionnaire observations, interviews as well as document reviewing.
These methods are used for both online and offline data collection in the quantitative research
method. The data gathered in the quantitative research method are focused on providing answers
1|Page
, on who, when, what, where, and how many (Data collection methods for a quantitative study,
2014).
Qualitative data gathering methods are more focused on descriptive answers as well as open-
ended questions. Data gathered in the qualitative method is used in finding new opportunities,
ideas, and test their accuracy and values. Open-ended surveys and questionnaires, case studies,
focus groups, and observation are some of the most used ways of gathering data in qualitative
research.
Question two – research design
(42 marks)
You work with a consulting firm that has three division offering services to
clients all over Queensland: accounting, information technology and taxation
services. The firm has offices in Brisbane, Toowoomba, Rockhampton,
Townsville and Cairns. Recently, the information technology consulting
division of the firm changed the way they allocate staff to projects for
clients. The partners of the firm are thinking about applying the same
processes to the accounting and taxation services divisions. The partners
would like to understand the staff opinions about the new approach to
allocating staff to projects.
They ask you to conduct a qualitative research to answer the following
questions concerning the new approach:
What do staff believe are the advantages of the new approach to
allocating staff to projects?
What problems have staff encountered from the new approach to
allocating staff to projects?
What suggestions do staff have to improve the new approach to
allocating staff to projects?
Required:
2|Page
Question one – research approaches
a. Distinguish between the different types of issues/questions that
research using qualitative and quantitative approaches seek to
address.
(8 marks)
a. Distinguish between the different ways that data is gathered when
qualitative and quantitative research questions are addressed.
(8 marks)
Question One Answer:
Qualitative & Quantitative Research: Types of Addressed Issues
Qualitative research is mainly an exploratory research. In order to gain a proper understanding of
underlying reasons, motivations, and opinions this method is used (Cho & Trent, 2014).
Providing insights into issues and developing ideas and hypotheses for research is also done by
qualitative research. It also identifies the central phenomenon that has been planned to explore.
The sample size is typically small.
Quantitative research, on the other hand, quantifies the issues generating numerical data or
sometimes data that can be transferred into statistics (Guo, 2013). Quantifying opinions, attitudes
are done by quantitative research while it generalizes results from a larger population. It uses
measurable data for uncovering patterns in the research. Quantitative researches contain both a
dependent and independent variable.
Qualitative & Quantitative Research: Gathering Data
A wide range of methods is used for collecting quantitative data. The most used methods are
probability sampling, questionnaire observations, interviews as well as document reviewing.
These methods are used for both online and offline data collection in the quantitative research
method. The data gathered in the quantitative research method are focused on providing answers
1|Page
, on who, when, what, where, and how many (Data collection methods for a quantitative study,
2014).
Qualitative data gathering methods are more focused on descriptive answers as well as open-
ended questions. Data gathered in the qualitative method is used in finding new opportunities,
ideas, and test their accuracy and values. Open-ended surveys and questionnaires, case studies,
focus groups, and observation are some of the most used ways of gathering data in qualitative
research.
Question two – research design
(42 marks)
You work with a consulting firm that has three division offering services to
clients all over Queensland: accounting, information technology and taxation
services. The firm has offices in Brisbane, Toowoomba, Rockhampton,
Townsville and Cairns. Recently, the information technology consulting
division of the firm changed the way they allocate staff to projects for
clients. The partners of the firm are thinking about applying the same
processes to the accounting and taxation services divisions. The partners
would like to understand the staff opinions about the new approach to
allocating staff to projects.
They ask you to conduct a qualitative research to answer the following
questions concerning the new approach:
What do staff believe are the advantages of the new approach to
allocating staff to projects?
What problems have staff encountered from the new approach to
allocating staff to projects?
What suggestions do staff have to improve the new approach to
allocating staff to projects?
Required:
2|Page
