Research Challenges and Benefits



Research Challenges and Benefits

Introduction

Doctoral dissertations reflect the trends in research methods and statistical techniques used in academic research. The selection of the dissertation topic, questions, data collection, and analysis methods is generally a shared decision between the doctoral student and a research expert academic advisor. There are three categories of research methods: qualitative, quantitative, and a mixture of these two types. In their studies, researchers use research designs based on these three categories of research methods. The literature indicates numerous differences between quantitative and qualitative methods in each of step in the research process, including identifying the research problem, reviewing the literature, collecting the data, analyzing the data, and reporting the results. During their programs, doctoral students receive training on how to apply various research methods, and the variety of available methods makes it possible for students to investigate many research problems in the field. Statistical analysis is an essential step in quantitative research. This is the reason why most graduate programs include statistics courses in order to prepare their students to conduct educational research. Therefore, all the issues related to challenges and benefits of research will be discussed in detail.

Discussion

Today, American universities provide two types of doctoral degrees in education, a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) and a Doctor of Education degree (EdD). However, each of the two degrees is considered a research type degree and requires students to conduct a doctoral dissertation as a final step for graduation. In their dissertations, doctoral students in both degree programs utilized a variety of research methods and techniques in order to answer the research questions. According to the researchers in 2006, there are three main categories of educational research methods: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method. According to the researcher in 2009, Qualitative research is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. The process of qualitative research involves formulating research questions and procedures, collecting data in the participant's real-life setting, analyzing data by identifying general themes, making interpretations of the meaning of the data, and, finally, writing the final report that can be flexible in structure (Anderson, 1983, 58).

Quantitative research is defined as a means for testing objective theories by examining the relationship among variables. The data is collected using instruments and analyzed using statistical techniques. The process of quantitative research involves setting research questions, collecting data using instruments, analyzing numerical data using statistical techniques, and reporting findings and discussions. In other words, this method involves the use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches in a study. The researcher in 2008 indicated numerous differences between quantitative and qualitative methods in each of step in the research process. According to some of the authors in 2008, while quantitative research tends to provide an explanation of trends or an explanation of the relationships among preset variables, qualitative research tends to explore those variables and provide a detailed understanding of a central phenomenon. Although the review of the literature ...