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How to break the identification of 'scientific' with quantitative? Introduction
How to break the identification of 'scientific' with quantitative? Introduction
Teachers in qualitative methods feel that their courses do not break students' quantitative idea of scientific research and scientific knowledge. Why is that? And what can be done to break this misidentification? Three prominent lecturers in qualitative methods give their opinion. With a comment by Fijgje de Boer.

Reality, observation and reporting. The epistemology of qualitative and quantitative research
Reality, observation and reporting. The epistemology of qualitative and quantitative research
In recurring debates on philosophical presuppositions, the opposition of qualitative versus quantitative research is often mixed up with other oppositions like positivism versus humanism. Restriction to empirical research may help to clear the debate. With that restriction, qualitative and quantitative research do not differ in their philosophical presuppositions. All empirical research presupposes (1) a reality apart from our senses, (2) the ability of humans to observe reality, (3) the ability to report observations to others, and (4) the ability to test the validity of reports. These presuppositions are necessary and self-evident in daily life, but cannot be proven. One crucial problem is the relationship between reality and language in communicating facts (empirical observations).

In this contribution the author reviews Introduction to social research: Quantitative & qualitative approaches by Keith F. Punch.

What is qualitative in qualitative research?
What is qualitative in qualitative research?
Most qualitative research does not follow the methodology of grounded theory (GT). In methodological literature, however, qualitative research is defined in terms of GT. This leaves much qualitative research methodologically poorly defined in the first place. Secondly in the identification with GT the meaning of 'qualitative' is blurred and mixed with ideology. The essay pleads to take quality literally in defining empirical qualitative research methods and in the distinction with quantitative research.

A quantitative evaluation of shifts in the voting patterns of the Flemish population from the 1981 to the 1985 national elections in relation to sex, age, & occupational status. Mobility tables are calculated using statistical information from poll surveys & the results of the elections. The results of the analysis, using loglinear modeling, correspondence analysis, & cluster analysis, reveal significant shifts between the different parties, & indicate that sex of voter has no significant influence on voting behavior. 3 Tables, 9 Figures. Modified HA

On validation of practice-based
qualitative research
Erica Baarends & Frits Simon
An analysis of the most used literature
on (practice-based) qualitative
research in the Netherlands shows
that the described criteria for validity
are mainly derived from a quantitative
perspective. As a consequence, the
voice of the researcher dominates in
the research instead of the voice of the
research respondents. It is argued that
in the age of Facebook and considering
the current legitimization crisis of
science, practice-based qualitative
researchers need validation criteria
that respect the polyvocality of the
respondents.

Summary
Due to the digitization of sources, humanities scholars have to develop new research questions and methodologies. This article theorizes the 'digital turn' by looking at three challenges: the necessity of combining qualitative and quantitative methods; the dilemma of multidisciplinary cooperation; and the ideological question of why and how the humanities should be concerned with a new digital materiality. We need the expertise of humanities scholars – their critical insights, analytical acuity, and knowledge of ambiguity and diversity – to make sense of a digital culture that permeates and directs our daily life.

The value of qualitative strategies for practice-oriented research
The value of qualitative strategies for practice-oriented research
Mainstream methodology for quantitative and experimental research can't come up to many demands of practice-oriented research. Qualitative research strategies often offer very good opportunities as to the accessibility of the object of practice-oriented research and to the utility of its results. However, what are needed is a fully practice-oriented researcher, as well as a further development of the methodology of qualitative causal research, of phenomenological oriented qualitative research strategies, and of qualitative research as a whole.

This article details metaphor styles in Belgian-Flemish political discourse. Some scholars complain about uniformity & colorlessness of the modern political discourse. In this 'sound bite culture,' metaphor plays, nevertheless, a major role. Sound bites were, in fact, found to rely upon these traditional elements of style. The present, empirical, article examines variety in metaphor used by Flemish politicians. The first part consists of a quantitative metaphor analysis of written press interviews with male & female politicians. The second part presents the results of in-depth interviews with politicians on the subject of their own & colleagues' political (metaphor) style strategies. The conclusion confronts politicians' impressions with our findings on political (metaphor) style in Flanders. Adapted from the source document.

Het acroniem in de titel staat voor Qualitative Research in the Social Sciences in Europe. Euroqual is een programma van de European Science Foundation. Het loopt parallel aan het ESF-programma 'Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences' (QMSS). Het gaat hier om een zogenoemde Research Networking Program (RNP) van de European Science Foundation. Euroqual is een vijfjarig programma met een totaal budget van (momenteel) € 768.000. Dit 'momenteel' slaat op de financieringsstructuur van het programma. Aangezien de partners bijdragen aan het budget van een RNP, bepaalt het aantal partners de hoogte van het budget. Ten tijde van de eerste bijeenkomst van de stuurgroep was de ESF nog in onderhandeling met Frankrijk over deelname aan Euroqual. Het budget kan dus nog toenemen.