Before you begin this assignment, make sure that you read Chapter 1, paying special attention to the section titled, âMode of Enquiry Perspective.â
You are the assistant fire chief of a fire department in a growing suburban metropolitan area. The department currently has four stations and 57 full-time employees. Because of the growth of the area, an additional fire station must be built. The city manager has tasked the fire chief with conducting research to determine the best place to build the new fire station and how to staff new fire apparatus once it opens. The fire chief, in turn, is delegating some of the responsibility of completing the initial research to you.
Using the knowledge that you have gained from this unit, compare and contrast the three approaches to research (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods), and provide an overview to the fire chief about how she can best approach addressing the city manager’s request.
Be sure to address the following topics in your essay.
Your essay must be at least two full (but not more than five) pages in length, not including the required title and reference pages. It must also contain at least two sources in addition to your textbook. Remember to review the rubric before you begin your essay.
Adhere to APA Style when constructing this assignment, including in-text citations and references for all sources that are used. Please note that no abstract is needed.
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Research comparisons and contrasts process of obtaining answers to critical professional questions. It can also be
defined as a way of thinking to critically examine a situation with the view to raising sufficient
evidence to help in the formulation of policies, guidelines, and instituting certain changes within
oneâs profession (Baxter, 2010) It involves the question of âwhat you doâ, and the possibility of
improving the already existing situation.
Its, therefore, the systematic scrutiny of the observations made to help in the betterment of service. (Ibid) The type of research to be carried out is often determined by the objectives of the study (the problem questions). In this
paper, three research comparisons and contrasts three approaches (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods) are compared and contrasted to settle for the best approach in the search for a location to set up a new fire station, and fire apparatus after it is erected.
All three approaches have various distinct characteristics, in the quantitative research approach, the collection of data is structurally approached. The Research comparisons and contrasts and objectives are predetermined by the researcher before the actual field data collection process. In this type of research, there is rigidity in all aspects of the process.
The results under this approach are often based on large sample sizes and the study can be replicated or can be redone. It is key in the generation of theories and models since it involves sample measurements and experiments to quantify variations. Of all the types of research quantitative is the most appropriate approach when the determination of an extent or magnitude of a particular problem or issue is involved (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004)
The qualitative approach, on the other hand, involves solely a description of the situation. In this type, there is some flexibility in the aspects of the processes involved. The data collection approach is unstructured, and it predominantly deals with the nature of the problem majoring on the variations, and the diversity in a given phenomenon (Apuke, 2017).
The data collected in this approach are measured in nominal or ordinal scales, and analysis is done to obtain variations. It is therefore the best approach when the required research answer involves the opinion of people or a description of the observed situation. (Silverman, 2020)
The mixed-method approach is where both the qualitative and quantitative data analysis processes are incorporated towards the solution of a particular research problem. Data collected under this method cuts across both the open and closed-ended in the aim to get a response to research questions.
The procedures for the quantitative and qualitative methods are carried out Rigorously and in a persuasive manner respectively (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004). In the three approaches, some similarities are used in them all. Raw data, as well as the analysis of the data collected, is involved in all of them.
Despite the difference in the types of data collected, all the approaches are aimed at the achievement of the research questions and for the solution of a given problem. Although quantitative research involves figures, all the methods have similar use of samples, design, and questions to achieve observations for analysis.
Consequently, these research methods have differences. In the quantitative method, the approach to inquiry is Structured, rigid, and predetermined methodology, while in the qualitative approach the methodology is open, flexible, and unstructured. Another outstanding difference is the purpose of the investigation.
Quantitative research seeks to quantify the extent of variation in a situation whereas the qualitative approach is aimed to describe the variation in a phenomenon. Analysis of data also shows a remarkable difference between the two research approaches. In quantitative methods, the data collected is subjected to various statistical procedures such as cross-tabulations, frequency distribution among others to Annalise the data collected.
In the qualitative method, on the other hand, the narratives, and the observation are subjected to qualitative measurement scales. (McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015) When carrying out research the choice of the best approach between qualitative and quantitative will be determined by the aim of the research itself.
When a researcher aims at confirming or testing a theory then quantitative research will be the best option. The qualitative method will be suitable when the research aims to clearly understand a given concept in a phenomenon. Apart from the aim, another determinant of the best research approach to use is time and resources availability.
A lot of time and resources are required in quantitative methods than in qualitative research. The mixed-method can also be used in a situation where the understanding of similarities and differences on quantitative results and the qualitative findings of a problem is required. These approaches have various strengths, and weaknesses.
There is no superior method then the rest since the choice and preference of one is made based on the aim of the research problem. (Hong, GonzalezâReyes,& Pluye 2018). For more affirmation, it is the purpose of the study, the type of data required, and to some degree area of specialization and subject of study that will determine the preferred method.
In conclusion, in the research, for the best location to erect a new fire station, I would recommend the use of qualitative research approach this is because of all the three approaches it is the best method that will give the opinions of the members of the public and even the organization itself. Moreover, the qualitative method gives clarity in the description of the situation which is a key in the location of any given firm. Research comparisons and contrasts
References
Apuke, O. D. (2017). Quantitative research methods: A synopsis approach. Kuwait Chapter of
Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 33(5471), 1-8.
Blaxter, L. (2010). How to research. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Hong, Q. N., GonzalezâReyes, A., & Pluye, P. (2018). Improving the usefulness of a tool for
appraising the quality of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies, the Mixed Methods
Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 24(3), 459-467.
Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm
whose time has come. Educational researcher, 33(7), 14-26.
McCusker, K., & Gunaydin, S. (2015). Research using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed
methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion, 30(7), 537-542.
Silverman, D. (Ed.). (2020). Qualitative research. Sage Publications Limited.
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