A citation analysis of the quantitative/qualitative methods debate's reflection in sociology research

Swygart-Hobaugh, Amanda J.

doi:10.1080/14649055.2004.10765983

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…While the uneven distribution of quantitative and qualitative research was an expected finding (see Antonakis et al 2014;Swygart-Hobaugh 2004), the number qualitative papers (6%) was notably smaller than the 15% from the analysis of highly cited articles about ICT in K-12 schools (Pérez- et al 2017). These numbers are in stark contrast with arguments suggesting that there is a 'good balance overall between qualitative and quantitative methods' (West and Borup 2014, 550) in edtech research or that 'qualitative research has at last achieved full respectability in the academic sphere' (Bailey 2014, 167).…”

Section: Dominance Of Quantitative Researchmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…One example is that high number of tables are positively associated with citations (Elgendi 2019). While tables are claimed to enhance the trustworthiness of a research publication (Cloutier and Ravasi 2021), the high number of tables in HCA is more likely an indicator of the research methodology: tables are more common in quantitative research, which is cited more than qualitative research (Antonakis et al 2014;Farsani et al 2021;Swygart-Hobaugh 2004). Put differently, by scraping the surface a bit, the seemingly value-free finding concerning the number of tables appears to signpost an imbalance between these two major methodological paradigms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One explanation relates to the different citation cultures inhabited by quantitatively and qualitatively oriented researchers. A study of sociological research implied that authors of quantitative articles cited other articles from quantitative-dominated journals but virtually excluded citations to articles from qualitative journals, while authors of qualitative articles cited articles from quantitative-dominated as well as qualitative-specialized journals (Swygart-Hobaugh 2004). There is also evidence that the readership of qualitative articles is smaller than quantitative ones (Jamali 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Highly cited educational technology journal articles: a descriptive and critical analysis

Mertala

Moens

Teräs

2022

Learning, Media and Technology

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Citations are valuable capital in the academy as the number of citations is the most frequently used indicator in evaluating the quality of papers, journals, researchers, and universities. Thus, the characteristics of highly cited articles (HCA) have become a common research topic but the approach has been mainly descriptive with no profound critical reflection of what kind of research is cited, where the research is from, where the research is published, and what do these things mean for edtech research. This paper contributes to this need by providing a descriptive and critical analysis of 200 highly cited articles from 10 edtech journals. To summarize the key findings, a 'typical' edtech HCA is a Western-based review article or quantitative research paper reporting positive findings from higher education, published in a highimpact factor general edtech journal by a major publisher.

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Section: Dominance Of Quantitative Researchmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Highly cited educational technology journal articles: a descriptive and critical analysis

Mertala

Moens

Teräs

2022

Learning, Media and Technology

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“…Most journal articles continue to rely on quantitative research methodologies (Houghton, 2016). Likewise, Swygart-Hobaugh (2004) found that citations in sociology, notably in our top journals, are ones where the author utilized quantitative methods. Few programs require qualitative methods classes where ontology and epistemological ideas are typically explored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Epistemology, social inquiry and quantum theory

Monk–Turner

2020

QRJ

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PurposeThis work examines assumptions of positivism and the traditional scientific method.Design/methodology/approachInsights from quantum mechanics are explored especially as they relate to method, measurement and what is knowable. An argument is made that how social scientists, particularly sociologists, understand the nature of “reality out there” and describe the social world may be challenged by quantum ideas. The benefits of utilized mixed methods, considering quantum insights, cannot be overstated.FindingsIt is the proposition of this work that insights from modern physics alter the understanding of the world “out there.” Wheeler suggested that the most profound implication from modern physics is that “there is no out there” (1982; see also Baggott, 1992). Grappling with how modern physics may alter understanding in the social sciences will be difficult; however, that does not mean the task should not be undertaken (see Goswami, 1993). A starting point for the social sciences may be relinquishing an old mechanistic science that depends on the establishment of an objective, empirically based, verifiable reality. Mechanistic science demands “one true reality – a clear-cut reality on which everyone can agree…. Mechanistic science is by definition reductionistic…it has had to try to reduce complexity to oversimplification and process to statis. This creates an illusionary world…that has little or nothing to do with the complexity of the process of the reality of creation as we know, experience, and participate in it” (Goswami, 1993, pp. 64, 66).Research limitations/implicationsMany physicists have popularized quantum ideas for others interested in contemplating the implications of modern physics. Because of the difficulty in conceiving of quantum ideas, the meaning of the quantum in popular culture is far removed from the parent discipline. Thus, the culture has been shaped by the rhetoric and ideas surrounding the basic quantum mathematical formulas. And, over time, as quantum ideas have come to be part of the popular culture, even the link to the popularized literature in physics is lost. Rather, quantum ideas may be viewed as cultural formations that take on a life of their own.Practical implicationsThe work allows a critique of positivist method and provides insight on how to frame qualitative methodology in a new way.Social implicationsThe work utilizes popularized ideas in quantum theory: the preeminent theory that describes all matter. Little work in sociology utilizes this perspective in understanding research methods.Originality/valueQuantum insights have rarely been explored in highlighting limitations in positivism. The current work aims to build on quantum insights and how these may help us better understand the social world around us.

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“…Это же происходит в онлайн-образовании, на конференциях, и -не всегда артикулированно, но все же явно, -в публикациях. Так, работы, использующие количественные и качественные методы, имеют разные стратегии цитирования и публикации: некоторые исследования показывают, что качественная методология чаще встречается в монографиях, количественная -в журналах [Swygart-Hobaugh, 2004] 1 .…”

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In the Same Boat? “Methodological Debate” in a Changing Empirical Fiel

Kolotovkina

2023

Inter

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The article is devoted to the analysis of the current state of the methodological debate. This is a classic debate, which, however, should not be oversimplified: methods, paradigms, and research strategies form systems that go beyond the qualitative vs. quantitative dichotomy. The debate is in the center of attention, because, firstly, empirical texts are now written, read and cited more often than theoretical ones, secondly, new data and methods of their analysis appear, and thirdly, there is a simultaneous emergence of common ground and deepening methodological contradictions.One of the key differences between qualitative and quantitative proponents is the paradigms that underpin their work. However, the correspondence between the paradigm and the method is not always universal: for example, in qualitative methodology, both interpretive and post-positivist trends can be observed, and some quantitative researchers are close to the ideas of author's reflection and standpoint.Tools based on artificial intelligence can simplify the work of a researcher by solving some of the routine tasks, while the availability of big data allows you to go beyond survey and statistical databases and analyze new fields. However, the development of new tools leads to a number of problems. These are issues related to digital literacy and skills inequality, ethics and non-transparency of data production. Collaborative methodological work may be able to mitigate these kinds of difficulties and strengthen the position of sociology in an era of changing data and competing approaches.

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A citation analysis of the quantitative/qualitative methods debate's reflection in sociology research

Cited by 3 publications

References 31 publications

Highly cited educational technology journal articles: a descriptive and critical analysis

Highly cited educational technology journal articles: a descriptive and critical analysis

Epistemology, social inquiry and quantum theory

In the Same Boat? “Methodological Debate” in a Changing Empirical Fiel

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