This document provides an overview of key aspects of selecting a research approach, including the three main approaches (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods), their components (worldviews, designs, methods), and criteria for selection. It discusses the philosophical worldviews that guide research approaches, examples of quantitative and qualitative research designs, and factors to consider when choosing an approach, such as the research problem, questions, personal experiences, audience, and resources.

1. Chapter Two:
Review of the Literature
*
Chapter Outline
Review of the Literature
The Research Topic
The Literature Review
The Use of the Literature
Design Techniques
Steps in Conducting a Literature Review
Searching Computerized Databases
A Priority for Selecting Literature Material
A Literature Map of the Research
Abstracting Studies
Example 2.1. Literature Review Abstract in a Quantitative
Study
Example 2.2. Literature Review Abstract in a Study
Advancing a Typology
Style Manuals
The Definition of Terms
Example 2.3. Terms Defined in an Independent Variables
Section
Example 2.4. Terms Defined in a Mixed Methods

2. Dissertation
A Quantitative or Mixed Methods Literature Review
*
The Research Topic
A critical first step in any research is examining the existing
body of knowledge on the research topic/idea, and it will assist
the Researcher with all of the following:The subject or subject
matter of a proposed studyDescribe in a few wordsThe central
idea you want to learn aboutThe topic can be researched ifYou
have access to participantsYou have resources to collect and
analyze informationThe topic should be researched ifThe
research will add to the literature about the topicScholars will
be interested in the topicA study of it will advance your
personal goals
The Literature ReviewShares the results of other studiesRelates
the study to the larger dialogue in the literatureProvides a
framework for establishing the importance of the studyProvides
a benchmark for comparing the results to other findings
The Use of Literature
The use and length of the literature varies based on the forum:
research proposal, dissertation or journal article. Despite this,
the literature may:provide a summary of major studies on the
research problemdemonstrate the writers knowledge of the
topic/problem/issueintegrate what others have done and said

3. about the topic/problem/issuemay criticize previous scholarly
works on the topic/problem/issuemay allow for connections
between related topicsmay elucidate the central issues in the
field
Using Literature in a Qualitative Study
The Use of Literature in a Quantitative Study
In quantitative studies the literature is used deductively as it
provides a framework for the research questions and
hypothesisProvide direction to the research questions and
hypothesesIntroduce a problemIntroduce and describe the theory
that will be used Examine the usefulness of the theoryCompare
results with existing literature or predictions
The Use of Literature in a Mixed Methods Study
In mixed methods studies Researchers use the literature:in
either a quantitative or qualitative approachin a manner
consistent with either quantitative or qualitative
approachrelative to the intended audience
Irrespective of the type of study, choose one of the following
types of literature reviews:
Integrative
Critical
Building bridges among topics
Identification of central issues

4. Steps in Conducting a Literature ReviewIdentify key
wordsSearch library catalogsIdentify about 50 research reports
in articles or booksPhotocopy those that are central to your
topicDesign a literature mapDraft summaries of the relevant
articlesWrite a literature review, organizing it by important
concepts
Searching Computerized DatabasesComputerized databases are
readily available through libraries and the internet. These
databases provide access to numerous journal articles,
conference papers and dissertations on a wealth of topics.
Some of these online data bases include:
ERIC - ProQuest - EBSCO
Sociological Abstracts - PsycINFO - PubMed
Science direct - Google scholar
-Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
Searching Computerized Databases
Cont.Use both free databases and those subscribed for by
academic librariesSearch several databases, even those outside
your fieldDo not use only search terms that are identical to your
topic and study interest, slight variations in the search terms
may yield more outcomesLocate articles that are close to your
topic and use their descriptors to enhance your searchUse
databases that provide access to full articles
Selecting Literature MaterialStart with broad syntheses (such as
encyclopedias) if you are new to the topicTurn to journal

5. articles in national journalsBest source for research reportsNext
consider booksThen examine conference papersScan for
dissertationsLast consider reports on the web
Literature Map of ResearchA literature map is a visual summary
of existing research on a topicThe structure of the literature
map may be:a hierarchical patterna flowchart layouta series of
circles
An Example of Literature Map
Abstracting StudiesDraft abstracts that summarize selected
articles
For research studies:Mention the problemState the central
purposeState information about the population and
sampleReview key resultsPoint out methodological flaws (if a
methodological review)
For nonempirical studies (essays, opinions, etc.)Mention the
problemState the central themeState the major
conclusionsMention flaws in reasoning or logic (if a
methodological review)
Style Manuals
Style manuals provide guidelines for producing scholarly work
and include directions on the following:Citing
referencesCreating headingsPresenting tables and figuresIn-text

6. citation/referencesEnd-of-text referencesFootnotes (not used in
all style manuals)
Reminder: Consistently use the chosen style manual
The Definition of TermsIdentify and define terms that readers
need to understand a proposalDefine terms introduced in all
sections of the research planThe title of the studyThe problem
statementThe purpose statementThe research questions,
hypotheses, or objectivesThe literature reviewThe theory base
of the studyThe methods section
The Definition of Terms Cont.Qualitative studies are inductive
and evolutionary in nature hence the definition of terms may
appear later in the written report, perhaps in the data
analysis.Quantitative studies are deductive with a fixed set of
objectives, hence all relevant terms are comprehensively
defined earlier in the study.In Mixed methods studies the
definition of relevant terms follows the use of (earlier or later
in the study) and emphasis placed on quantitative and
qualitative approaches.
The Definition of Terms Cont.Define terms when they first
appear in the manuscriptUse specific operational definitionsDo
not define terms using everyday language, be guided by the
literatureDefine terms so that they accomplish different
goalsOne may use a definition of terms section in the
manuscript

7. The Definition of Terms Cont.
A Quantitative or Mixed Methods Literature ReviewA suggested
modelIntroduce the review with a statement about the
organization of the sectionsReview literature about the
independent variablesReview literature about the dependent
variablesReview literature that relates the independent variables
to the dependent variablesProvide a summaryHighlight
important studiesCapture major themesSuggest why more
research is neededAdvance how the proposed study will fill this
need
Chapter One:
The Selection of a Research Approach
*
Table of Contents of BookPart I: Preliminary Considerations1.
The Selection of a Research Approach2. Review of the
Literature3. The Use of Theory4. Writing Strategies and Ethical
Considerations
Part II. Designing Research5. The Introduction6. The Purpose
Statement7. Research Questions and Hypotheses8. Quantitative
Methods9. Qualitative Methods10. Mixed Methods Procedures

8. *
Chapter Outline
The Selection of a Research Approach
The Three Approaches to Research
Three Components Involved in an Approach
Philosophical Worldviews
The Postpositivist Worldview
The Constructivist Worldview
The Transformative Worldview
The Pragmatic Worldview
Research Designs
Quantitative Designs
Qualitative Designs
Mixed Methods Designs
Research Methods
Research Approaches as Worldviews, Designs, and Methods
Criteria for Selecting a Research Approach
The Research Problem and Questions
Personal Experiences
Audience
*
The Three Approaches to
ResearchQualitativeQuantitativeMixed Methods

9. The Three Approaches to Research
Qualitative research: Focuses on individual meanings. Uses
open ended questions. Collects data in participant’s setting.
Uses the an inductive approach to research that moves from
particulars to general themes. Written report tends to be flexible
in structure.
Quantitative research: Tests the relationships among measurable
variables. Uses closed ended questions. Uses survey instruments
that produce numbered data. Uses statistical analysis of data
generated. Tests theories deductively, final report is structured.
Mixed methods research: Collects and integrates both
quantitative and qualitative data.Provides a more complete
comprehension of given research problem.
Three Components of a Research Approach
Component #1:
Philosophical Worldview This is the set of beliefs that guides
the Researcher’s actions as they conduct the research.A
Researcher’s philosophical world view may be:
Postpositivism
Constructivism
Transformative
Pragmatism
Four Worldviews for Research

10. Component #2: Research Design
Research design is simply the type of inquiry, be it qualitative,
quantitative or mixed methods that directs the types of research
questions, data collection techniques, data analysis and final
report format that the researcher uses.
Research design should include the following components:Plan
or proposal to conduct researchIntersection of:Philosophical
worldviewsStrategies of inquiryResearch methods
Strategies of Inquiry
Strategies of Inquiry: Quantitative
There are several research designs that are quantitative, these
include:
Causal-comparative research
Correlational design
Survey research
Experimental research
Strategies of Inquiry: Qualitative
In this type of research several approaches may be used, these
include:
Narrative research
Phenomenological research
Grounded theory

11. Ethnography
Case studies
Strategies of Inquiry: Mixed Methods
This is an integration of quantitative and qualitative research,
data and analyses. It assumes that one type of database or
method of analysis may be used to inform and explain another.
Some mixed methods include:
Convergent parallel mixed methods
Explanatory sequential mixed methods
Exploratory sequential mixed methods
Transformative mixed methods
Component #3:
Research Methods
Research Approaches as Worldviews, Design, and Methods
Criteria for Selecting a Research Approach
Chapter 5 power point provides more details on this
topicResearch Problem and Questions:
Quantitative approach is best when:Testing causal
relationships (factor/s that influence a particular
outcome).Evaluating the usefulness or successes of an
intervention.Establishing which factors best predict an
outcome.Testing theories or explanations.

12. Qualitative approach is best when:The Researcher is
uncertain about which are the most important variables to be
examined.If the topic is new, sample population is unexplored
by the topic or the dominant explanations may not apply to a
given sample population.
Criteria for Selecting a Research Approach (Cont.)
Research Problem and Questions Cont.
Mixed Methods approach is best when: Neither
quantitative nor qualitative approaches will adequately examine
the variables being researched.The Researcher wants to
capitalize on the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative
approaches.Personal
ExperiencesTrainingPreferencesTimeResourcesExperiencesAudi
enceAdvisorsJournal editorsGraduate committeesColleagues in
the field