In conducting a quantitative study, the major research question would be: “what are the potential contributors to air pollution and how can they be prevented?” The sample selection method to be used would be stationary source monitoring, which would involve collecting, handling and preserving samples depending on the applicable method of testing. It would also involve collecting samples at resolute locations in accordance with relevant regulation. If the instrument does not specify any locations, then the samples need be collected from areas where there is likely to be high chances of emissions. One of the major factors that would highly affect internal validity is history. Here, the major question would be whether there was any occurrence of an event, which was not anticipated when the experiment was carried out and if it had any effect on the dependent variable.
For a researcher to achieve research control, randomization is a good method to use, since it decreases biasness. It is generally designed to control or reduce partiality in whatever way possible. In most cases, it is not possible to have a complete research control due to internal and external factors that affect research.
Research instruments enhance effectiveness of a research. If the right instruments are available during the period of experiment, there is a high probability of a successful and efficient research with correct results. In addition, correct instruments help researchers in saving time and cost. Indeed, the longer the research takes, the higher the amount of money to be spent. Moreover, right instruments enhance the effectiveness of research details, thus reducing distortion of results (Polit & Beck, 2012).
In conducting a qualitative research, participant observation would be used as the qualitative method or design. This will be highly essential for data collection on naturally occurring behaviors of people in regards to air pollution. In order to ensure that the information is trustworthy, we will make use of primary data and avoid use of secondary data, which in most cases is distorted. Primary data is firsthand information coming from a direct source, which is efficient and effective. Trustworthiness is very important in qualitative data and it is similar to validity, since both are types of research that seek to give answers from an experiment (Family Health International, Mack & Woodsong, 2005). Therefore, it is essential to have correct answers and prevent any distortion or exaggeration.
Qualitative study is known to be a soft study, since it generally seeks to give answers to some questions and methodically employs a predefined set of events to answer queries. The study method also collects evidence and gives findings that were not resolute in advance. Moreover, the study creates conclusions that are relevant and go beyond the limits of study.
Objective observation is very essential compared to personal observation. The reason for this is that, objective observation is sorely based on facts with no prior bias while personal observation is based on personal feelings involving personal values and prejudices (Hennink, Hutter, & Bailey, 2010).
Qualitative research provides multifaceted information about people’s perceptions and experiences in conducting research, as well as how their personal judgments affect the outcome of a given study. In qualitative research, a researcher deals with limited data mostly based on facts, thus no major importance of control unlike in quantitative research where the researcher deals with a large amount of secondary data.
References
Family Health International, Mack, N., & Woodsong, C. (2005). Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide. Washington DC, USA: Family Health International.
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., & Bailey, A. (2010). Qualitative Research Methods. New Delhi, India: SAGE.
Polit, D., & Beck, C. (2012). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia, USA: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.