Research

Action Research vs Traditional Research  

Action Research:

Action research is done for the investigator, about the investigator and by the investigator. The investigator is the person writing the paper.  This kind of research helps give the investigator a gauge for what happened before or at the beginning of their research and the effects of their results at the end. This type of research gives the investigator a better understanding of how the research has effected the investigator.  Action Research usually involves things like interviews and observations for data collection This method of research is more collaborative with the participants like other educators, students and even parents as opposed to traditional research.

Traditional Research:

Traditional research is usually done with a combination of original research and research that was previously made on a similar topic to support one's conclusion. These previously made things would be scholarly books, articles and papers on same or similar topic. Traditional research is mostly inclusive and used amongst the scientific community like a Tedx Talk and academia such as MIT. One of the ways that research is gathered is by doing surveys in order to collect data. The method that we be done would be classified as a sceinctific method where it starts with a clear question that guides the process for the research. (Stapleton. 2024)

Action Research Paper

As being the investigator, this paper gave me more insight on the situation that was happening with the organization that I was working with. It also helped me look at the situation from an objective perspective and to react to the situation at a more professional manner. This research also let me grow into the mindset of being able to work from the perspective of how my impact in the organization would help the whole for the better. The research also clarified my importance and value that I brought to the orginization. 

Quantitative vs Qualitative Research

Although both are based on data collection it is about how the data is collected.

Quantitative: 

Quantitative research are numerical data collected to be used in statistical analysis such as graphs. It is all about the numbers here. The data can be put in a rating scale such as 1-5 to give numbers or questioniares that provide yes or no answers to give an actual number of participants that agree or disagree with a certain topic. One of the benefits to this form of research and data collection is that it can be replicated by other scholarly and even non scholarly people based on the information presented. An example of something that uses the method of this are Neuroimaging machines. Neuroimaginig would be something like MRIs that provide quantitative data on the brain's stucture and function that can be used to identify mental disorders in certain parts of the brain. (McLeod, 2023) One of the cons associated to this kind of research is that it may be more costly to execute do to the large number of participants needed to gather a suffient amount of data.

Qualitative: 

Qualitative research is done by gathering non numerical data such as words, images and sounds through means like interviews and observations. This can be used to think about as gathering data on a more personal/emotional level. This kind of research is used to get a better understanding of people in society, whether that is by themselves as an individual or in group settings such as economic, demographic, and ethnic. Another form of how this research is done by reviewing documents, medical records, and personal letters. This form of reviewing gives the researcher the actual information that was written down by the participants and can not be disputed about what was said was factual or not. One of the benefits to this kind of research is that it can be executed and arranged a lot more creatively than Quantitative research. I created one that was a mixed method but with more Qualitative dominant that was really fun to do. On the con side of this form of research is that it can have a more personal bias attached to it. This means that the researcher may put their spin on the takes, or how the questions may be placed in order to get a result that is more keen to their perspective. 

Mixed Method

Mixed method is the combination of using Quantitative and Qualitative as a way to gather data. This one I would say is an effective way to get information from two aspects of data collection. This mixed method helps the invesitgators get different/multiple perspectives, build a comprehensive understanding, explain statistical results in a more indepth way and study patient centered outcomes. (Harvard, 2025). In my opinion I think that researchers would get the best results if the apprached their research from a mixed method approach. Whether the investigator is using more Quantitative or Qualitative for their research. The use of both methods could potentially catch or fill in a missing piece or level of understanding in regards to research that the other method wouldn't give answers to. 

Traditional Research Paper

Do AA Trust Modern Medicine? 

I really enjoyed doing this research paper by seeing how Afro Americans felt about the medical industry. It gave me a lot of insight into the current mindset of this demographic of people and their belief and opinion about doctors and the medical industry. By doing this research and paper it gave me more interest in doing more research and data driven studies. Initially I didn't think or realize how much I enjoyed this project. I really look forward to doing more meaningful research like this in the future.

Reflection

Doing the Action research paper helped me learn more about the business that I was doing with a certain organization. It made me also realize at what level that the business entity operates at. Not only did it teach me about business but it taught me on how to look at it from the business perspective and from the employee. I also learned a lot about my peers when they shared their action research paper. I learned about things like teacher's burnout and the formula they used in order to address it. Another thing that I learned was that I prefer Qualitative research because it's more creative and more direct into understanding people. However, I do like the Quantative side by numbers usually don't lie. Lastly I learned that I really enjoyed doing my traditional research paper. Going out into the community, collecting data and writing about the results. It was something that I never did before and I definitely look forward to doing some more research like that perhaps from the perspective of a Musicologist and Sociologist. 

References

McLead, S. (2023, Dec). Qualitative vs Quantitative Research Methods & Data Analysis. Simply Psychology.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/qualitative-quantitative.html#What-Is-Quantitative-Research

Stapleton, A. (2024, March) Differences Between Action Research and Traditional Research Methods. Academia Insider. 

https://academiainsider.com/differences-between-action-research-and-traditional-research-methods/

https://catalyst.harvard.edu/community-engagement/mmr/

https://www.nu.edu/blog/qualitative-vs-quantitative-study/#qualitative-research