Techniques used when doing quantitative research are not the only way of telling the validity of findings. This is because some of the quantitative researches are likely to be inappropriate. The reason behind this is that in quantitative research assumptions are made that social research science is valid if based on ;experimental data ,official statistics, operational definitions of variables and random sampling. This assumptions have many defects .for example an exclusion of the behavior observation in everyday life .quantification is at times useful as it reveals social processes that are basic. There are some areas of social reality that the quantitative cannot measure.
Qualitative research has the ability to situations that are not found elsewhere. Quantitative research is mainly concerned with showing the correlation between variables, its point of view can tell us outputs and inputs to some situations though it has to give an operational definition concerning the situation but it lacks the resources to show how the situation is constituted. Due to this it does not contribute a lot to social problems. Hence quantitative becomes the best.
Qualitative research can use natural data to find out how different phenomenon occur and make conclusion of the character of such phenomenon.
There are disadvantages when quantitative researchers tend to define situations using operational definitions .These definitions help in measurement but they cannot show the way that phenomena came about in specific contexts and steps of action. Contextual sensitivity shows that qualitative research how a tribe, a family or organization is bonded by its members.
Qualitative research has advantages over quantitative reaserch.it clearly explains phenomenon and can give the social determinant behind such phenomenon compared to quantitative that depends only on experiments which cannot explain some factors.
References
Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches (6th edition) by W Laurence leuman. 2007
Johnson B. & Christensen.L.(2008)educational research, qualitative and quantitative research.Thousand oarks.
Random sampling and random selection
A random sample is sample of a given size m that has been obtained from a population M in a way that every other sample of the size m has the same opportunity of being chosen. On the other hand random assignment is a technique used in experiments that assigns subjects to different types of treatments.
Random selection needs the use of some of the forms of random sampling an example being stratified random sampling where the population is put into groups from where the members are chosen. While in random sampling works on the probability basis where the selection of the samples depends on probability rules which interfere with the population; it forms the basis of the importance of statistical tests.
Random assignment follows the selection of samples for the study. During the real experiment are samples are assigned randomly to either be given treatment or to be as the control for that study. Though it is simple it can be hard to implement outside the laboratories.
Depending on the study one is doing one can choose to either use random selection or random assignment .though from research ,random section is necessary for purposes of external validity. Or where the researcher needs to use the study to give a general view to the other population. Assignments that are non-random always lead to groups that are not equivalent which means the effect may be as a result of the groups being treated differently.
References
Neyman.jerzy. (2009). Application of probability theory, statistical science.
Charles sanders peirce and joseph jastrow (2005) on small differences sensation. meimors of the national assembly of sciences
