Challenging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide: Explorations in Case-focused Causal Analysis

Barry Cooper, Judith Glaesser, Roger Gomm, Martyn Hammersley

A&C Black, Mar 8, 2012 - Education - 288 pages

This book challenges the divide between qualitative and quantitative approaches that is now institutionalized within social science. Rather than suggesting the 'mixing' of methods, Challenging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide provides a thorough interrogation of the arguments and practices characteristic of both sides of the divide, focusing on how well they address the common problems that all social research faces, particularly as regards causal analysis. The authors identify some fundamental weaknesses in both quantitative and qualitative approaches, and explore whether case-focused analysis - for instance, in the form of Qualitative Comparative Analysis, Analytic Induction, Grounded Theorising, or Cluster Analysis - can bridge the gap between the two sides.

Contents

• The QualitativeQuantitative Divide: 1
• Part I Problems with Quantitative and Qualitative Research: 25
• 1 Whats Wrong with Quantitative Research?: 27
• The Problem of Inference from Outcomes to Opportunities: 57
• Grounded Theorizing and the Qualitative Survey: 72
• The Example of Ethnic Inequalities in Educational Achievement: 96
• Part II Exploring CaseFocused Approaches to Causal Analysis: 127
• 5 Analytic Induction versus Qualitative Comparative Analysis: 129
• The Case of Ability and Educational Achievement: 170
• Comparing Fuzzy Qualitative Comparative Analysis with Fuzzy Cluster Analysis: 208
• Conclusion: 240
• Author Index: 255
• Subject Index: 261

About the author

Barry Cooper is Emeritus Professor of Education at Durham University, UK. From 2004-2007, he was co-editor of the British Educational Research Journal.

Judith Glaesser is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Durham University, UK.

Roger Gomm, now retired, was Lecturer in Health and Welfare at the Open University, UK. He has a long experience of ethnographic research in both the UK and internationally, and of bespoke evaluation research.

Martyn Hammersley is Professor of Educational and Social Research at the Centre for Childhood, Development and Learning at The Open University. He has carried out research in the sociology of education and the sociology of the media. However, much of his work has been concerned with the methodological issues surrounding social enquiry. He has written several books, including: Reading Ethnographic Research (1991); What's Wrong with Ethnography? (1992); The Politics of Social Research (1995); Taking Sides in Social Research (1999); Educational Research, Policymaking and Practice (2002), Questioning Qualitative Inquiry (2008), and Methodology, Who Needs It? (2011).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Challenging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide: Explorations in Case-focused Causal Analysis; Continuum Research Methods
• Authors: Barry Cooper, Judith Glaesser, Roger Gomm, Martyn Hammersley
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: A&C Black, 2012
• ISBN: 1441142207, 9781441142207
• Length: 288 pages
• Subjects: Education / Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects; Education / Research; Social Science / Research