Hi Silvije,

Great issue indeed. It would take a very long explanation that I think may be separated into two initial considerations.Let me most briefly suggest two or three aspects .

1) The population level phenomeology of COVID 19 -- the disease -- depends on the rates at which Susceptibles, Infected and Recovered (or dead) individuals exposed to the SARS-Cov-2 virus. The phenomenology is described by -- in this simplest instance -- the SIR model that consists of three coupled ODEs for the three compartments, S, I and R. The solution involves two exponentials that form the "wave" observed empirically. Those in S turn in to I and so on. Transmission rates between the individuals and other rates complete the SIR model. Data is essential to estimate the rates (statistical parameters of this wave), The wave or waves result from integrating the differential equations, given specific initial conditions.

2) The individual infected phenomenology of exposure to the SARS-Cov-2 --> Covid 19 consists of diffusion-dispersion of the virus in the air, deposition on surfaces, uptake via respiratory and other forms of entry (e.g., eyes), genetic and cellular responses to the attack by the virus followed by a complex pathology involving multiple organs.

3) Managing the effects of the disease (before a vaccine). These are discussed by the press everyday and I will not add to them.

I hope this is of some help, following the earlier answer by Wallace.

best,

Paolo

quantitative

Silvije Vuletić This is a great question. I think it largely depends on the research questions rather than the topic. Most areas benefit from both and even the interplay between the two (mixed-method research) For example if you are looking at vaccine research; standards, metrics, and protocols have established validity and so quantitative research would probably be appropriate for the overwhelming majority of the time. If you are looking at the broader question of WHY people do not adopt healthy protocols, a more wide-ranging qualitative perspective would probably be more appropriate. Both have weaknesses. Good quantitative research is generalizable but fails to capture rich or serendipitous data. Good qualitative research capture both rich and serendipitous data but often suffers from the biases of the research as well as less generalizability of typicality. All that being said you cannot have good quantitative research without good qualitative research establishing what categories or issues should be quantitatively addressed. You cannot have the wide-scale typicality (not to mention reliability and validity) of qualitative findings established without quantitative testing. If you are asking complex human interaction questions regarding health care and there is a qualitative component that is being overlooked then it absolutely needs to be included, especially in new contexts such as COVID-19 health care.

Hi Silvije,

Great issue indeed. It would take a very long explanation that I think may be separated into two initial considerations.Let me most briefly suggest two or three aspects .

1) The population level phenomeology of COVID 19 -- the disease -- depends on the rates at which Susceptibles, Infected and Recovered (or dead) individuals exposed to the SARS-Cov-2 virus. The phenomenology is described by -- in this simplest instance -- the SIR model that consists of three coupled ODEs for the three compartments, S, I and R. The solution involves two exponentials that form the "wave" observed empirically. Those in S turn in to I and so on. Transmission rates between the individuals and other rates complete the SIR model. Data is essential to estimate the rates (statistical parameters of this wave), The wave or waves result from integrating the differential equations, given specific initial conditions.

2) The individual infected phenomenology of exposure to the SARS-Cov-2 --> Covid 19 consists of diffusion-dispersion of the virus in the air, deposition on surfaces, uptake via respiratory and other forms of entry (e.g., eyes), genetic and cellular responses to the attack by the virus followed by a complex pathology involving multiple organs.

3) Managing the effects of the disease (before a vaccine). These are discussed by the press everyday and I will not add to them.

I hope this is of some help, following the earlier answer by Wallace.

best,

Paolo

@Silvije Vuletić

@Paolo F Ricci

Best thanks for opening new perspectives.

Depends on which aspect the research is to be conducted.

It can be qualitative or quantitative or both.

Both retrospective and prospective is appropriate for patient information

Mixed method (quantitative and qualitative both) research with pragmatic worldview.

Mathematical quantification of the virus proliferation delivers a clear picture of the deeply connected world. Prevention and protection do require qualitative measures (search for best practices); However, bodes sides should be considered, the physical as well the mental health. I see a clear deficit in addressing mental health, in medical terms. The identification of special risk groups, which is decisive for containment, requires quantitative and qualitative strategies.

Method triangulation, in my opinion.

Depends on what phenomenon to be researched as well as the type of research questions investigator would like to have answers!

I agree with other colleagues that research methodology would depend on research questions. I would apply sequential mixed method e.g. qualitative method to discover serendipitous data from study population (using FGD, KII) then quantify the extent of qualitative findings using a online survey.

There is no "standard" answer to your question. You have decide, what is adequate for your approach/your question and who is going to pay for it!

The ontology and epistemologcal assumptions of the given research problem suggest a ground level investigation. However, there are many evidence are available which reveals the macro aspect (quantitative investigations) of Covid-19 and its implications. Hence in most of the studies the micro element is missing (qualitative part) that may provide the valid conclusion.

So, in qualitative paradigm we have a number of approaches through which we can study the cause and consequences of Covid-19 on ground level.

terms macro and micro element clearly point the differences of quanto and qualia

Both qualitative and quantitative can be used depending on your objective

Пока это новое направление, что то говорить еще рано!

Both qualitative and quantitative should be adopted

I agee with the others. Start by writing detailed research questions. Ask yourself if each question is quantitative or qualitative. Choose the method that is best to answer each question. It is likely that a mixed method design will be best once you write it out and work through it.