The course Theory and Method for Media Technology afford me the opportunity to
be introduced to the nature of the different research methods and the numerous
opportunities they provide one with.
It is useful to face questions that make
you rethink the truth about reality, knowledge and how they are presented by
the science. I have never asked myself before - Is science the ultimate correct
source for knowledge?
Thinking is a tool that helps us define
what is true or false, it helps us chose an idea or create a hypothesis,
develop a theory, ideology or even a world outlook. From there we are also
given the ability to distinguish what from the surrounding us reality is
knowledge, how can we acquire it and then use it in an attempt for change.
This attempt is possible by the conduction
of research methods, which can strengthen the foundations of certain theories,
prove them wrong or develop completely new. When applied in practice their
results can be improved by the use of the newest trends in technology.
The experience in this context means that
the gained knowledge is in a way checked and it provides greater guarantees of
authenticity compared to the individual ideas one has about why, how and what something
is.
Valid theories are supposed to go through
the filter of empirical and theoretical verification. The empirical data
collection is in a way gathering proofs in order for a theory to be accepted or
declined which can happen through various processes and methods. It depends on
the chosen scientific field and the to be observed object that premises what
methods to be conducted.
Big part of the methods used within
empirical researches can be divided globally to qualitative and quantitative.
The first and main difference between both is the number of the observed
objects. The quantitative research covers as much as possible while the
qualitative one is usually focused on small number of objects for analysis.
However, the differences do not stop
here. Another essential one is their
fundamental purposes. I feel that if put together we can state that the
qualitative research comes up and forms a hypothesis while on the other hand
the quantitative one is used for supporting it.
We use quantitative methods in getting as
much results as possible, which are put after an analysis and synthesis. The bigger the scope they pervade, the easier
it is for them to be considered an inductive proof by the scientific community.
When applying qualitative methods though,
the researcher is a participant himself in the experiment, which is unthinkable
for the quantitative ones since this would greatly, affects their objectivity.
If we take the statistics as an example of
the possible quantitative methods we can see how the gathered information is
representative for the collectivity. It is applied systematically and when
processed can be also used as a resource for further development.
Apart from the obvious advantages and
disadvantages of the qualitative research, I reached to another conclusion of
the way it can be best applied. It can be useful in case a research is focusing
on certain stereotypes, tastes, needs and interests. Those are individual
experiences from the everyday life that form one’s personal point of view and
value system, and what the qualitative methods allow us, is to observe the above
listed in-depth and concentrate on one as an individual instead of him/her as
part of a collectivity.
The course made me stick to the opinion
that one can take most of a research when combining both methods because
“quantitative accumulations lead to qualitative changes”. This was further
confirmed when we were introduced to the essence of case studies and design
research.
The case study in particular is especially
useful in situations where the boundaries between current events and associated
factors (surroundings) are unclear. It has practical orientation because of its
ability to be adapted into real-life situations and observation of how the
participants handle reality.
What I was taught during those weeks is to
start establishing and detaching the essential apart from the non-essential in attempt to reach new conceptions and reasoning. Knowledge is impossible without being
logically interpret, analyzed and synthesized. One needs to be aware of how to
construct a proper research by using the right tools for this objective. Only
then a small fraction becomes part of a whole, which then leads on to
thoroughness, enrichment, and concretization of the knowledge.
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