The combination of this week’s seminar was a contribution towards
further understanding of the research methods. By combining the first seminar,
which consisted of a brief discussion about our selected papers, and the second
seminar, which was more of an open discussion about the methods, I felt that
this week has been the most giving towards my final time at KTH.
The main assignment for the first seminar was, besides from discussing our
selected papers; to choose a paper we felt was a good representation for a
quantitative research. The one my group chose was called “Using social media
for work: Loosing your time or improving your work?”, a study about Utilitarian
and Hedonic values and what the outcomes are while using Social Media during
your office-hours. When selecting this paper the group also draw a figure representing
results and patterns between them.
The second seminar I thought was a positive way to proceed the
discussions we had: individually while writing the assignment and in group on
the first seminar, but also a continuing way to develop the very principle of
the different research methods. During the seminar we discussed the
disadvantages and advantages of qualitative and quantitative methods in
research context. By doing it in a competitive way and dividing ourselves into groups,
we had the possibility to discuss various perspectives and also be able to make
a case for the distinctive circumstances behind the arguments. It was a way of
pushing the limits in presenting the cases in order to formulate a way that distinguished
the different groups apart to gain points.
Sometimes the groups raised opinions to gather points, that in many situations
was not always something that the other groups agreed with about the relevance
or sustainability in the cases, which opened up for discussion during the
seminar. I continuously get thrilled when this happens because it is motivating
to hear different perspectives about arguments.
The obvious advantages with the different methods, I believe most of us
before the seminar have mentioned while writing the fourth assignment, are for
example that qualitative methods answers the question “why?” and that a deeper sense of understanding is a main reason to
choose this type of method while doing a research. The participants who could
be involved in the studies (if we take a focus group as example in this case)
are encouraged to interact in a deeper sense and evaluating their thoughts that
differs to the quantitative method, where an understanding for generalization
is often the main purpose. The participants are restricted, in many cases if
there is no open-ended question involved, by rating the questions in a
predetermined range. Also, the
quantitative method makes it possible to measure and analyze data in a short
time.
The conclusion about the research methods is that they are both useful
and certainly have advantages and disadvantages. However, being able to
implement these methods one must consider both pros and cons – to obtain the
best possible outcome. I feel that an interesting way to approach the methods
is to read about what one should not do while conducting the method. An
interesting example that the seminar leader presented, was to show us questions
in a quantitative research, and shortly after spoke about strawberries also
mentioning that we must not think of these. He compared this with talking to
kids and in the beginning saying “you can’t do this”, which subconsciously
disappears from our mind. That’s why it’s important to present the questions in
an objective way.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar