Educational technology research emphasizes the study and discussion of educational phenomena and their current laws in various ways. In the research of educational technology, there are various methods that can be used, and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. In the past, when people studied the problems in the field of educational technology, they often used a single method and only got some information, but ignored and omitted many other useful information, so it was difficult to draw a comprehensive and accurate conclusion. The comprehensive application of quantitative research and qualitative research methods can compare and verify the results obtained by different methods, thus improving the reliability of the research results.
(A) the relationship and difference between qualitative research and quantitative research
Regarding the difference between qualitative research and quantitative research, many scholars try to make a one-on-one comparison. China scholar Dr. Chen Xiangming summarized some main differences between the two methods according to relevant literature and her research experience (Chen Xiangming, 2000), as shown in Table 2.
Table 2 Comparison between qualitative research and quantitative research
Comparison project
Quantitative research
qualitative examination
The purpose of the study
Confirm the general situation, forecast and seek knowledge.
Interpret and understand, seek complexity and ask new questions.
Definition of knowledge
Context-free
Constructed by social culture
Values and facts
different
interweave
The content of the study
Facts, causes, influences, solidified things, variables
Story, event, process, significance, overall exploration
Research level
macroscopic view
microcosmic
The problem of research
Predetermined
Produce in the process
research design
Structural, predetermined, and more specific
Flexible, constantly developing and relatively extensive.
Research means
Numbers, calculation, statistical analysis
Language, image and descriptive analysis
Research tool
Scale, statistical software, questionnaire, computer
The researcher himself (identity, premise), tape recorder
sampling method
Random sampling, large sample.
Purposeful sampling, small sample.
research status
Controlled, temporary, abstract
Nature, wholeness and concreteness
Methods of collecting data
Closed questionnaire, statistical table, experiment, structural observation
Open interview, participation observation, body analysis
Data characteristics
Quantitative data, operational variables, statistical data
Descriptive materials, on-site notes, introduction of the parties, etc.
analytical framework
Set it in advance and verify it.
build up
analysis mode
Deduction, quantitative analysis, induction and data collection
Inducing and searching for concepts and themes runs through the whole process.
Research conclusion
Generality and universality
Uniqueness and regionality
Interpretation of results
Cultural guest position, opposition between subject and object
Cultural themes are mutual subjects.
Theoretical hypothesis
Sir, postpartum research.
Produced after research.
Theoretical sources
from the higher levels to the grass roots
From the bottom
Theoretical types
Big theory, universal normative theory
Grounded theory, explanatory theory, viewpoint, viewpoint
in written form
Abstraction, generalization and objectivity
Description-oriented, personal reflection of researchers
Evaluation of works
Concise and lively
Clutter, depth description, multiple sounds
term of validity
Fixed detection method, confirmed.
Relevance, falsification, credibility and rigor
reliability
repeatable
Cannot repeat
Popularization degree
Controllable and can be extended to the sampling population.
Identity promotion, theory promotion, accumulation promotion
Ethical issues
good-for-naught
attach importance to
researcher
Objective authority
Self-reflection and individual interaction
Training of researchers
Theoretical and quantitative statistics
Humanities, anthropology, splicing, versatility.
Researcher mentality
specific
Uncertainty, fuzziness and diversity
Research relationship
Relatively separated, the researcher is independent of the research object.
Close contact, mutual influence, change, goodwill and trust.
Research stage
Clear and set in advance
Evolution, change, overlap
Materials quoted from: Chen Xiangming's qualitative research methods and social science research, p. 1 1.
Only some of the comparison items are further explained here.
Quantitative research refers to the use of certain mathematical methods to judge the correlation of various factors of the research object through transformation, and finally to express the results of analysis and research with numerical values. It is a quantitative analysis of the attributes of the research object and a study of the quantitative relationship between things.
The quantitative research data is objective and reliable, and the statistical analysis is scientific and accurate, but it is difficult to study the complex and vague phenomena in the education process.
Quantitative research has a complete set of research techniques, including sampling methods, data collection methods, mathematical statistics methods and so on.
The basic research procedure of quantitative research is that researchers establish hypotheses and determine various variables with causality in advance, select samples by means of probability sampling, collect data by using tested standardized tools and procedures, analyze the data, establish the relationship between different variables, and sometimes compare the control group with the experimental group through experimental intervention to test some theoretical assumptions about the development and changes of the research object.
The scope of application of quantitative research is mainly used to analyze various related factors of the research object, such as the relationship between teachers' educational level and students' academic performance. The relationship between family economic and cultural background and students' academic performance.
However, different from quantitative research, qualitative research has a deep, detailed and long-term experience of things through the interaction between researchers and subjects, and then has a more holistic and explanatory understanding of the "quality" of things. Compared with the two, the main difference lies in:
The quantitative research on the relationship between (1) and situation is divorced from specific situation, while the qualitative research takes natural situation as the direct source of data. In qualitative research, researchers need to spend a lot of time going deep into schools, families and society to understand related problems. Without specific situations, they can't understand the actual connotation and significance of educational activities. Quantitative research does not require researchers to directly participate in educational activities, but to pursue the accuracy of research data and conclusions.
(2) The research on the scope and quantity of objects is more suitable for large-scale investigation and prediction at the macro level, while qualitative research is more suitable for detailed and dynamic description and analysis of individual things at the micro level.
(3) From the perspective of research, quantitative research focuses on the research object, and studies the universality, representativeness and universal guiding significance of the problem; Qualitative research pays attention to the individuality and particularity of the research object and problem, so as to find the problem or put forward a new angle to find the problem.
(4) Research is dynamic and static. Quantitative research is static research, which fixes the quantifiable part of the research object in a certain time range and then calculates the quantity; Qualitative research is dynamic, which studies the process of the occurrence and development of the research object, and can modify the research plan and change the research content at any time.
(5) research hypothesis, quantitative research should have certain theoretical assumptions, starting from the assumptions, and verifying the assumptions by analyzing the data; Qualitative research does not necessarily need to set assumptions in advance, but gradually forms theoretical assumptions in the process of research.
(6) The relationship between the researcher and the research object, quantitative research basically excludes the influence of the researcher himself on the research object, and tries to maintain value neutrality; Qualitative research has the influence of researchers on the research process and results, which requires researchers to reflect on their own behavior and their relationship with the research object.
It should be pointed out that qualitative research and quantitative research are not completely separated, but interdependent, interpenetrating and complementary. In fact, qualitative research also includes the factors of empirical research. Qualitative research and quantitative research reflect the dialectical relationship between matter and quantity, and the quality and quantity of anything are always unified and inseparable. Quality is quality based on a certain quantity, and quantity is a certain quantity. The study of matter will inevitably lead to the study of the quantity of matter. Therefore, qualitative research and quantitative research complement each other.
(B) the relationship and difference between qualitative research and qualitative research
Qualitative research method is a research method relative to quantitative research. But it has both connections and differences with qualitative research. Qualitative research is the study of the nature of things, and it is the process and reason to determine whether the research object has a certain nature or a certain phenomenon change according to the knowledge and experience of researchers. Qualitative research can deal with those factors that are difficult to describe by quantitative methods in the process of education, so as to grasp the basic situation of the nature of the research object as a whole.
Qualitative research and qualitative research have many similarities. For example, they all pay attention to the study of the nature of educational objects; They all study in natural situations, and researchers need to go deep into a certain educational environment; They pay attention not only to the results or conclusions of the research object, but also to the significance of the research object and its occurrence and development process; Everyone tends to summarize and analyze the data, and then draw a conclusion that this is a top-down process; This is a descriptive study and so on. However, there are many differences between qualitative research and qualitative research. This is mainly
The theoretical basis of (1) qualitative research is mainly philosophy, and its research tradition is a metaphysical speculative tradition; The theoretical basis of qualitative research is mainly ethnology, phenomenology, hermeneutics and positivism, which is interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.
(2) Qualitative research methods include historical method, case method, observation method, investigation method, literature analysis method and experience summary method. In addition to the above qualitative research methods, qualitative research also includes empirical research methods. Qualitative research pays attention to philosophical speculation and logical reasoning, and verifies one's thinking by deductive method according to one's own subjective experience. Qualitative research focuses on the discussion based on the systematic collection and analysis of original materials in the interactive process.
(3) For the research results, qualitative research tends to be conclusive, abstract and general; Qualitative research emphasizes the process, situation and concreteness of research. Qualitative research is more about elucidating the researcher's personal opinions and personal suggestions, while qualitative research emphasizes building conclusions or theories on the basis of original data.