Question
Asked 11 December 2017

Can I use these two variables in a qualitative research?

Because quantitative research is rooted in the scientific method, specific terminology for determining the relationships between independent variables and dependent variables must be used. However, in qualitative research, the use and terminology can sometimes raise so many a question. In my case I am using cultural diplomacy of Morocco (cause) as an independent variable, promotion of national interests (outcome) as the dependent variable.
Your opinions about the use of this terminology and its application are highly appreciated.

Most recent answer

Mohd Zairul
Universiti Putra Malaysia
You can utilize those variables as your deductive codes, and as you proceed with the analysis, you will uncover inductive codes.

Popular answers (1)

David L Morgan
Portland State University
I prefer to keep a clear division between qualitative and quantitative where variables are used to count and measure concepts in quantitative research.
3 Recommendations

All Answers (20)

David L Morgan
Portland State University
In quantitative research, the typical goal of using hypothesis testing is to explain variation in the dependent variable. So, you need to ask yourself: What is it that is varying in your dependent variable, and what is it about your independent variable that could explain that variation? If you can produce coherent answers to those questions, then you are justified in suing hypothesis testing.
Note, however, that this is not just a matter of terminology, because both qualitative and quantitative researchers have strong preconceived beliefs about this issue. That means you need to consider your audience (such as a thesis committee or a journal editor and reviewers) when you make your choices about how to frame your research.
1 Recommendation
Rubén Arriazu
University of Extremadura
This question is formulated with a quantitative logic. As David said, you have to take into account the social complexity involved, the audience targeted by the research and, of course, the impact it has on the agents involved in this research.
In the qualitative paradigm it is not correct to say that there is a bivariate correlation (direct), that is, qualitative analysis does not reduce to numerical calculations but analyze the phenomenon from a more integral perspective using techniques such as observation, triangulation of information or the analysis of discursive recurrence.
In short, both the qualitative and quantitative approaches are valid for analyzing these two variables; however, the way to show evidence from this analysis is very different. The quantitative methodology would focus on statistical analysis and the qualitative paradigm would analyse the particularities of this phenomenon from a broader perspective.
Daniela Sorea
Transylvania University of Brașov
I agree with what Ruben Arriazu says and I think that your research topic would be better approached in qualitative paradigm.
David L Morgan
Portland State University
I think qualitative researchers often make statements that amount to correlations -- any time you say more of one thing leads to more (or less) of another thing, you are describing a correlation. Or equivalently when increases in one thing lead to increases (or decreases) in another thing.
So, the principle of correlation is more about the relationship between two things, rather than something that is limited to a quantitative "paradigm."
Kirk MacGregor
McPherson College
I think you could use these two variables in qualitative research, as long as you provide independent argumentation as to why the first is the cause and the second is the effect. You could use a philosophical argument to do this.
Aziz Qaissi
Ibn Tofaïl University
Thanks a lot for your feedback. I agree that qualitative research is always caught between the principles of grand theory and middl-range theory. So questions about a direct and plain correlation are usually extended to rather suggest an analysis that combines both the principles of grand theory and the complexity of the social world (in qualitative research). However, I agree With David L Morgan; the principle of correlation is there. Only that the nature of this correlation determines both its behaviour between the independent variables and dependent variables, and the means to measurement.
In his book, Educational Research, John W.Creswell suggests that in qualitative research variables are called constructs. And these, of course, have different implications and not to be loosely interchangeable. He notes that "a construct is an attribute or characteristic expressed in an abstract, general way; a variable is an attribute or characteristic stated in a specific, applied way. For example, student achievement is a construct, while the more specific term grade point average is a variable." (p. 115).
With regard to theory testing, I think in qualitative research theory testing is not central to research. Theory is built on to draw general themes.
"cultural diplomacy of Morocco (cause) as an independent variable, promotion of national interests (outcome) as the dependent variable." Using a qualitative methods, you would not look for cause-outcome; that may be too narrow for a qualitative study.
Since you asked specifically about terminology, perhaps you can use "relationship" and use research quesrions such as,such as, What is the relationship between "cultural diplomacy of Morocco and {the} promotion of national interests? How does one affect the other? Is cultual diplomacy practiced in order to promote national interests? And is te promotion of national interests "dependent" (not as used with variables, but relatedly) on cultural diplomacy?
The beauty of qualitaive research /methods is its non-imitation to the specifics of "cause/outcome" and the broader aspects that you can look at when studying a "relationship." Yet, that is not to say that in your findings, you will not discuss a "dependency" of one on the other, just not in narrow easily measurable terms. Yuo will still have to define both cultural dependency and national interests but not in numerically designated terms, i.e y ou do not have to have an operatinal definition.
Good luck--sounds like a very interesting study. BTW-what qualitative methods are you planning to use?
Michael W. Marek
Wayne State College
Qualititative research does not usually use variables. When you are conducting interviews or doing content analysis, how would you use control and experimental groups? What would you change to vary a variable?
However, you can use the idea of cause and effect in your question protocol to analyse the perceptions of your interviewees.
1 Recommendation
Aziz Qaissi
Ibn Tofaïl University
Thank you all, dear professors, for responding to my question. Your feedback was really helpful. I tried to research this part of methodology based on what has been suggested in each response. I managed to draft this process chart. Your opinions on it would be helpful.
1 Recommendation
Aziz Qaissi
Ibn Tofaïl University
Dear Mary-Helen Castanuela, I appreciate your comment. This is to answer your question about which "qualitative methods". In fact, through the research I did on this part of methodology, which I based on John W. Cresswell's books: Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (2009) and Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research (2012), I found out that with qualitative research, the word "procedure" is substituted for "methods".
"Qualitative scholarly procedures inquiry inquiry employs than demonstrate methods different of a philosophical quantitative different approach research. assumptions; strategies of inquiry; and methods of data collection. analysis. and interpretation. Although the processes are similar. qualitative procedures rely on text and image data, have unique steps in data analysis. and draw on diverse strategies of inquiry." (Cresswell, 2009, p. 173).
The strategy of inquiry in the case of my dissertation "Instrumentalising Cultural Diplomacy to Attain Morocco's Soft Power: A Constructivist Approach", I use the social theory of constructivism (Wendt's constructivism) and in the literature, I draw upon interviews with experts on IR, states documents, audio-visual materials, and mostly text-based materials (articles and books).
2 Recommendations
Florentina Scârneci-Domnișoru
Transylvania University of Brașov
Variable is a term in statistics. Quantitative researchers use it because they often try to establish statistical relations between studied phenomena. Methodologically speaking I think we could talk about concepts, dimensions, indicators, indices, categories etc.
You use variables only when you employ statistical procedures.
1 Recommendation
Md. Saidur Rahaman
Metropolitan University
Following
Deja Lojnsirilp
Independent Researcher
When using dependent/independent variables it seems that the researcher intend to proof something and having theory in mind. However, qualitative research, based on assumption that the truth is subjective interpretative in nature, so defining variables should not making any sense.
Rubén Arriazu
University of Extremadura
You're right. The qualitative methodological approach starts from other premises where the "variables" are replaced, for example, by discursive topics in which it is tried to explain from a holistic and more global perspective the analysis of the phenomenon that you are trying to analyze
1 Recommendation
Deja Lojnsirilp
Independent Researcher
@Arriazu....Hi-five
Deja Lojnsirilp
Independent Researcher
I think we must be careful in using terms. One should refer to the philosophical principles and world views (epistemology) of those qualitative researchers.
Variables exist in all types of research, quantitative, qualitative or mixed method research. In qualitative research the variables are the theme, concepts, and phenomenon that are the focus of investigation.
1 Recommendation
David L Morgan
Portland State University
I prefer to keep a clear division between qualitative and quantitative where variables are used to count and measure concepts in quantitative research.
3 Recommendations
Mohd Zairul
Universiti Putra Malaysia
You can utilize those variables as your deductive codes, and as you proceed with the analysis, you will uncover inductive codes.

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