If your research goal is to develop a conceptual prototype, model, an app, or an algorithm, would that be qualitative or quantitative research ?
I believe that it could be either approach - I have postgraduate students that have developed a conceptual model via both approaches, and some also used a mixed method.
Thank you for your input Rodney Duffett.
So does that mean a researcher will be guided by how are they going to collect data for their study?
Dear Bongisizwe Buthelezi ,
The terms quantitative and qualitative research are more applicable to the analysis of data rather than the creation of an artefact. If you subsequently wish to validate or evaluate the artefact you have designed then you could use either of these approaches.
I am trying to understand your question but note that the role of qualitative research is to develop theories or models and the duty of quantitative research is to test those models. Grounded theory design is there to facilitate theory development
Thank you very much for your inputs @Silas Memory Madondo and @Peter Samuels.
Design Science Research (DSR) is a research paradigm, on the same level as behavioral research. A paradigm guides the decision regarding methodology, which dictates the logic behind the selection of methods.
Qualitative or quantitative addresses the level of methodology. Thus, the terms can not be used to describe design science research.
To make an example, you can build an artifact and evaluate it via expert interviews (qualitative) or via a field-test with surveys and performance monitoring (quantitative) - it depends on your problem, resources, and expected contribution.
For further reading, I would suggest the following articles:
Crotty, M. (1998). Foundations of Social Research - Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process (First Edit). Sage Publications Ltd.
Orlikowski, W. J., & Baroudi, J. J. (1991). Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions. Information Systems Research, 2(1), 1–28.
Goldkuhl, G. (2012). Pragmatism vs interpretivism in qualitative information systems research. European Journal of Information Systems, 135–146.
Iivari, J. (2015). Distinguishing and Contrasting two Strategies for Design Science Research. European Journal of Information Systems, 24(1), 107–115.
@Alfred Benedikt Brendel, thanks for the clear clarification and your suggested further articles.
Dear Alfred Benedikt Brendel,
Thank you very much for the detailed discussion and information.
Best Regards
Desalegn Abraha
It can be used for a combination of the two appraoches and it can also be used for each approach separately.
Best Regards
Desalegn Abraha
Dear Michael A. Cretacci,
If I have understood you properly you are indicating or hinting that there is no empirical data as well as analysis of empriical data in a qualitative study or research. Am I correct? After getting your answer I will be able to make a proper comment of your answer.
Best Regards
Desalegn Abraha
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