Qualitative research is a systematic and scientific approach to research that focuses on meanings, qualities, and descriptions. While qualitative research is sometimes viewed as less scientific than quantitative research, it can meet key criteria for scientific research. Qualitative research uses induction and deduction to generate broader meanings and understand human experiences, which allows the scientific method to be applied to social sciences. As long as qualitative research is conducted systematically and conclusions follow logically from evidence, it can be considered a scientific approach.

1. WHETHER QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IS SCIENTIFIC ?
DEBATE
B M N 9 0 1 - R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O L O G Y
PRESENTED BY
AMBIKA PRASAD GUPTA (20902002) | ANOOP T.S. (20918004) | SWADHIN DAS (20001443)
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

2. Scientific research is the systematic investigation of scientific theories and hypotheses.
INTRODUCTION
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Criteria are commonly used to evaluate scientific research 1
• Reliability - Is the research study repeatable? that are the measures used reliable and consistent.
If I go back and repeat the measurements in the same conditions will I get the same results?
• Replication - This refers to the idea that the procedures (methodology) employed in the study are
reported in sufficient detail that a second researcher could repeat the study.
• Validity - This concerns the integrity of conclusions that are generated through a research study.
• There are a number of issues raised here including
1. Does the measure employed accurately reflect the concept under investigation ?
2. Is the causal relationship robust - can we be sure that X is the cause of Y ?
3. Can we be confident that we can extrapolate our findings beyond the research context ?
Source : 1. Bryman, A. (2008) Social research methods. 3rd Edition, Oxford University Press., New York.

3. The scientific research is broadly classified into two main classes 2
INTRODUCTION
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• Fundamental Research or Basic Research
Basic research is an investigation on basic principles and reasons for occurrence of a particular
event or process or phenomenon. It is also called theoretical research.
• Applied research
In an applied research one solves certain problems employing well known and accepted theories
and principles. Most of the experimental research, case studies and inter-disciplinary research are
essentially applied research.
Source : 2 . https://innspub.net/types-of-scientific-research/

4. INTRODUCTION
4Source : 3 . Trochim, William M.K., The Research Methods Knowledge Base. Internet page at URL: https://conjointly.com/kb/ (version current as of 27 April 2020)./
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5. INTRODUCTION
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6. INTRODUCTION
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7. DISCUSSION
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• Induction is the means of ascending from “particulars” to “universals”
• Deduction is vice-versa.
• Induction assumes that observed premises or particulars are true, but it cannot independently
establish their validity, as by experiment.
• The inductive logic that extends from some to all can never be fully tested or proven because this logic
goes beyond what is contained in the premises.
• Observations are dependent on the act of observation that involves a specific observer working in
specific place and time.
• The deductive process generates conclusions from the universals or generalizations.
• Deduction requires appreciating the meaning of the generalizations.
Source : 1. Bryman, A. (2008) Social research methods. 3rd Edition, Oxford University Press., New York.

8. DISCUSSION
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• Qualitative approaches, through their systematic approach to induction and deduction, generate a
broader form of meaning that is essential for applying the scientific method to human studies.
• An even broader question relates to the definition and use of the scientific method, and whether it has
a universal and timeless definition that can accommodate the complex physical and historical
conditions, which influence scientific change.
Source : Fig1 and 4. David Roger Oldroyd, Danuta Eisner, and DR Oldroyd. The arch of knowl- edge: An introductory study of the history of the philosophy and methodology of science. Methuen New York, 1986.
Fig. 1: Arch of knowledge
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9. DISCUSSION
9Source : https://psychab.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/qualitative-research-isnt-as-scientific-as-quantitative-methods. | 5. Ainsworth, M. (1970). Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/mary-ainsworth.html
There are four criteria which determine if research methods are scientific, these are;
• Replicability
It is the extent to which the research can be repeated and obtain the same results.
For Example : Ainsworth’s Strange Situations (1970) and Wartner et al’s (1994) Stuides.5
• Falsifiability
It is ensuring the data is stated in a way so it can be rejected, we must be able to prove data wrong in
order to ensure there is no confirmation bias. This is a pitfall of qualitative studies because they are
difficult to falsify.
Qualitative research methods involve exploring and describing a research topic therefore does not
have an actual hypothesis because we aren’t actually trying to “prove” anything.

10. DISCUSSION
10Source : https://psychab.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/qualitative-research-isnt-as-scientific-as-quantitative-methods.
• Precision
When considering the precision of qualitative methods, they are lacking in scientific qualities because the
main idea of qualitative methods is to explore a broad research area rather than to present and test a
research hypothesis.
However, we could say that if the aim of the study is stated precisely that the methods and study is
precise and therefore scientific, because the aim in qualitative studies serve as the hypothesis.
For example: Little Hans (Freud, 1909) Case study
• Parsimony
Parsimony entails the researcher applying the simplest explanation to any set of observations to prevent
psychologists from inventing and pursuing bizarre theories, Qualitative studies can be seen to be
parsimonious because they condense findings to their most basic form in order to explain the root cause
of behaviour

11. CONCLUSION
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• Qualitative research applies a systematic and self-critical approach to induction and deduction.
• Qualitative approaches, through their systematic approach to induction and deduction, generate a
broader form of meaning that is essential for applying the scientific method to human studies.
• Qualitative research methods are slightly less scientific than quantitative methods because of their lack
of a set hypothesis this means they cannot be falsifiable or precise
• The judgement of whether research or research methods are scientific must be based on the strength
of the research rather than the kind of data collected.
• Hence, we are stating that qualitative methods are scientific.

12. THANK YOU