300 words agree or disagree to each question Q1. There are several different approaches when conducting collection and data analysis: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. While questionnaires are very helpful in many different forms of research studies, researchers can also observe phenomena by using one of their senses such as sight or sound. Collecting data of this type is called direct observation and there are two categories of direct observation: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative observations differ from quantitative observations in that they cannot be recorded using numbers and facts.  Qualitative observations are unstructured and broad, focusing on anything the researchers deems credible to a study (Ellis, et all., 2009). There are six types of qualitative observations: participant observations, ethnographic observations, case studies, archaeological data, focus groups, and naturalistic animal studies.  Participant observations consist of a researcher integrate themselves in their own study’s environment, an example of this would be a researcher living with the homeless to determine how certain facets of their lives differ from home-owners or renters. There are few guidelines on how to conduct participant observation studies, however it is important for participant observers “not to influence the course of events being observed” (Ellis, et all., 2009). Ethnographic observations are typically carried out to learn more about certain cultures and societies. Observing a certain ritual amongst an Amazonian tribe would be considered an ethnographic observation.  Ethnographic observations have also had issues with reliability for a variety of reasons, such as bias by researchers or too small of a sample size. Case studies are simply written studies on a specific individual or group. An example of this would be researching the effects of CTE in in former professional football player Aaron Hernandez in an effort to determine if his brain damage affected his impulse to commit murder. Focus groups consist of a group of about a dozen participants being led by a facilitator to discuss a particular subject (Ellis, et all., 2009).  Archaeological data collection consists of fossils and artifacts of the deceased. Naturalistic animal studies can be both qualitative and quantitative.  Quantitative direct observations focus on numbers and facts for summary purposes and “emphasize data that cannot be disputed because it can objectively measured” (APUS, 2016). One of the major advantages of quantitative direct observations is that differences between studies on the same phenomena can be clarified more easily with repetitive studies.  Furthermore, quantitative observations can be broken down into two categories: laboratory/clinical and field observations. In a laboratory observation, the researcher has control over the physical space (Ellis, et all., 2009).  Field observations take place outside a laboratory and can be non-manipulativ.

1. 300 words agree or disagree to each question
Q1.
There are several different approaches when conducting
collection and data analysis: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed
methods. While questionnaires are very helpful in many
different forms of research studies, researchers can also observe
phenomena by using one of their senses such as sight or sound.
Collecting data of this type is called direct observation and
there are two categories of direct observation: qualitative and
quantitative. Qualitative observations differ from quantitative
observations in that they cannot be recorded using numbers and
facts. Qualitative observations are unstructured and broad,
focusing on anything the researchers deems credible to a study
(Ellis, et all., 2009). There are six types of qualitative
observations: participant observations, ethnographic
observations, case studies, archaeological data, focus groups,
and naturalistic animal studies.
Participant observations consist of a researcher integrate
themselves in their own study’s environment, an example of this
would be a researcher living with the homeless to determine
how certain facets of their lives differ from home-owners or
renters. There are few guidelines on how to conduct participant
observation studies, however it is important for participant
observers “not to influence the course of events being observed”
(Ellis, et all., 2009). Ethnographic observations are typically
carried out to learn more about certain cultures and societies.
Observing a certain ritual amongst an Amazonian tribe would be
considered an ethnographic observation. Ethnographic
observations have also had issues with reliability for a variety
of reasons, such as bias by researchers or too small of a sample

2. size. Case studies are simply written studies on a specific
individual or group. An example of this would be researching
the effects of CTE in in former professional football player
Aaron Hernandez in an effort to determine if his brain damage
affected his impulse to commit murder. Focus groups consist of
a group of about a dozen participants being led by a facilitator
to discuss a particular subject (Ellis, et all., 2009).
Archaeological data collection consists of fossils and artifacts
of the deceased. Naturalistic animal studies can be both
qualitative and quantitative.
Quantitative direct observations focus on numbers and facts for
summary purposes and “emphasize data that cannot be disputed
because it can objectively measured” (APUS, 2016). One of the
major advantages of quantitative direct observations is that
differences between studies on the same phenomena can be
clarified more easily with repetitive studies. Furthermore,
quantitative observations can be broken down into two
categories: laboratory/clinical and field observations. In a
laboratory observation, the researcher has control over the
physical space (Ellis, et all., 2009). Field observations take
place outside a laboratory and can be non-manipulative which
involves observing without interference, or manipulative which
consists of altering aspects. Mixed-methods studies simply
means using a mix of both qualitative and quantitative methods.
There are many advantages to using mixed-methods studies. For
instance, qualitative methods “can be used as the exploratory
portion of a larger quantitative study” (Ellis, et all., 2009, as
cited in Pope & Mays, 1995). Combining the results of both
methods can help balance results and lead to further inquiry.
It is difficult for me to choose a method that I would find useful
for a study because it would depend on what topic I decided to
research. “Quantitative researchers' questions are carefully
scrutinized for “biasing” possibilities, while qualitative
researchers' have to be stripped of the emotionally upsetting”

3. (Johnson & Rowlands, 2012). If I had to choose which one
interests me most, I would say qualitative, for a couple of
reasons. For one, precise numbers on a certain topic don’t
particularly excite me. While quantitative methods provide
extremely useful data, I’m more intrigued with thoroughly
understanding the background of phenomena utilizing my
senses, making observations, and recording. I think participant
observations would be fascinating, educational, and rewarding.
Enmeshing yourself in another social process and seeing how
others react and respond to different things is interesting to
myself. I also would enjoy taking part in ethnographic
observations, because the way other cultures and societies live
peaks my interest. One example of this is a personal interest of
mine. I enjoy reading books on the La Cosa Nostra (American
Mafia). I’m interested to know how they recruit new members,
induction ceremonies and how they are structured to limit the
effects of prosecution from law enforcement.
V/r,
Ian
Sources:
APUS. (2016).
Theoretical perspective: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed
methods
.
https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/security-and-global-
studies-common/Universal/SSGS/300/elf/lesson-
3/elf_index.html
Ellis, L., Hartley, R. D., & Walsh, A. (2009).
Research methods in criminal justice and criminology: An
interdisciplinary approach
. Retrieved from

4. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Johnson, J. & Rowlands, T. (2012). The interpersonal dynamics
of in-depth interviewing.
The SAGE handbook of interview research: The complexity of
the craft
. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi:
10.4135/9781452218403
Q2.
For this week’s forum, we have been asked to discuss the
differences between the three major approaches surrounding the
collection and analysis of the day. The three primary
approaches used by researchers are quantitative research,
qualitative research, and the more modern approach of mixing
quantitative and qualitative research. All three approaches are
methods of data collection used by researchers. Ideally, if time
and money allowed, researchers would use both qualitative and
quantitative research since they provide different viewpoints
and usually complement each other. Quantitative research is
measured with numbers and statistics usually to look for the
cause and effects of a problem or researcher hypothesis.
Qualitative research is exploratory in definition and used to
explore and discover. The focus of quantitative research has a
more global view and qualitative research has a more narrow
view. Qualitative data is presented in a narrative format as
opposed to quantitative data presented with statistics and
graphs. Moving on to mixed methods of gathering data,
qualitative methods could be used as the exploratory portion of
a more extensive quantitative study. For example, Ellis,
Hartley, & Walsh (2009) described how the mixed-method
approach was utilized for a study of both men and women in the
U.S. military. The study by Laura Miller (1997) used

5. unstructured interviews (qualitative method) and questionnaire
data (quantitative method) to gather data which allowed her to
form comparisons into qualitative terms to clarify and elaborate
on the statistical information she gathered.
Conventional methods for acquiring qualitative and quantitative
data for research include using surveys, historical research,
phenomenological methods, ethnographic methods, grounded
theory, or case studies (Ellis et al., 2009). The narrative
research method involves a researcher accumulating information
captured from individuals or groups of people about their lives
through storytelling or autobiographical writings, etc. A
phenomenological method of gathering data involves a
researcher gathering information through interviews or
observations of an actual cultural group in their natural setting
over a lengthy period (Gubrium, 2012). An ethnographic
research method of data gathering involves a researcher
observing behavior in person. The grounded theory involves the
methodical collection and analysis of data. A researcher
develops their theory only after all the data has been collected
and analyzed thoroughly. Finally, researchers use case studies
based on an in-depth investigation of a single individual or
group or event to explore the cause of an underlying ideology.
Most likely, the use of mixed methods will be used to gather
information for my research proposal due in part to the limited
research already out there on the topic. Some case studies and
quantitative data will best meet the scope of the data needed.
Respectfully,
Michael K.
Ellis, L., Hartley, R. D., & Walsh, A. (2009). Research methods
in criminal justice and criminology : An interdisciplinary
approach. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com

6. Gubrium, J. F., Holstein, J. A., Marvasti, A. B. & McKinney, K.
D (Eds.) (2012). Interviewing as social interaction. In. The
SAGE handbook of interview research: The complexity of the
craft. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi:
10.4135/9781452218403.
Miller, L.L. (1997). Not just weapons of the weak: Gender
Harassment as a form of protest for army men. Social
Psychology Quarterly, 60, 32-51.