A researcher wants to study finches in their natural habitat. What type of qualitative research method is best to use?
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Jurnai Pendidik dan Pendidikan, Jilid J 7, 20001200 J
Generally, quantitative research involves systematic measurement, experimental and quasiexperimental methods, statistical analysis and mathematical models (Linn, 1986, p.92).
Quantitative research is structured, logical, measured and carried out on a wider scale than
qualitative research which is more intuitive, subjective and carried out in a more intense
manner on fewer subjects. Therefore, as Bouma and Atkinson (1995, p. 208) state: "Some
subjects are best investigated using the quantitative approach whilst for others, qualitative
approaches will give better results. However in some cases both methods can be used."
Survey Method
The survey method is the most frequently used type of self-research report (Gay, 1987). It
provides an opportunity for the researcher to collect data from a population in order to
determine the current status of that population with respect to one or more variables. It has
been used in many fields such as in political science, education and economics.
The survey method is a constructive research methodology and can be considered as a
systematic data collection tool used in large scale investigations (Borg and Gall, 1989;
Smith et aI., 1994). Survey instruments include questionnaires and the individual interview.
Information collected by such methods are often quantifiable (Borg and Gall, 1989). In
conducting a survey, several tools can be used either alone, in combination or triangulation.
The most common tools used in survey research are the mailed questionnaire, face-to-face
interview, and telephone interview (Gay, 1987). Other methods that can be used to collect
survey information include the records of examinations.
Whatever tools are used, the main purpose of survey research is to obtain standard
information from all subjects in the sample in order to generalise the findings (Gall et aI.,
1996).
type of survey and data analysis
There are two types of survey out Iined by Borg and Gall (1989). They are the crosssectional survey and the longitudinal survey. In the cross-sectional survey data are collected
from a sample from a predetermined population (Borg and Gall, 1989). The information is
collected at one point in time although the actual time required to complete may take more
than a day or a month. Generally, it can be analysed in two ways, i.e. descriptions of single
variables and exploration of relationships.
In the description of single variables, the data reflect the result of the total sample
distributed which may include many alternative responses in a single questionnaire. In the
second type, the survey is used to explore relationships between two or more variables
(Borg and Gall, 1989). Questionnaire items may refer to past, present and future
phenomena.
In the longitudinal survey, data are collected at different points in time (Borg and Gall,
1989). The purpose of this is to enable changes or time-ordered associations to be studied.
While the cross-sectional study is limited by time factors, the longitudinal survey is not. As
a result, the data are not distorted by faulty recollection of the respondents (Borg and Gall,
1989).
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Jurnal Pendidik dan Pendidikan, Jilid 17, 200012001
questionnaire
Most data in quantitative research can be obtained by the questionnaire (Smith et aI., 1994).
The questionnaire is often used large scale surveys as it requires less time and is less
expensive (Gay, 1987). Although questionnaires are usually mailed, they can also be
personally administered.
In designing a questionnaire the first step is to define the problem and list the specific
objectives to be achieved or hypotheses to be tested by the questionnaire. It is important to
bear in mind the methods of data analysis that will be used in analysing the returned
questionnaires designing the questionnaire (Borg and Gall, 1989).
The second step is identifying the sample. It is import
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