The barriers to, and opportunity for, trade among Small Medium Enterprise firms and the South African Market

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Qualitative versus quantitative1

Data collection3

Data Analysis4

Ethical Considerations6

Time frame7

REFERENCES8

Qualitative versus quantitative

Differences between quantitative and qualitative research lie in their approach to identification of the research problems and reviews of the literature. The two approaches have different strategies in specifying the purpose, data collection, data analysis, reporting, and evaluating research (Creswell 2005, 71). In identifying a research problem, Creswell (2005) claimed that it is descriptive and explanatory for quantitative but exploratory for qualitative research.

In the quantitative researches, there are vapours statistical procedures to conduct researches. The examples for the statistical analysis are considered to be the information collected during a particular study. There are various tests regarding the statistical procedures, some the examples are descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVAs e.t.c. For this particular study we have followed the descriptive statistics in order to evaluate the results. The interpretation of the statistical knowledge depends upon the precision and the clarity of the questions that is being asked in the research and the data that is being collected (Bausell 2005, 25).

The mix method research evaluates two measures and is based in perhaps a combination of qualitative based search and quantitative based responses as well as other possible performance measures. An outcome of research method may be a normative textbook for strategic management that not only reflects the new research reported here and elsewhere. It also describes effective management techniques for various broad categories since differences may exist between these categories in the manufacturing, service, and information segments of business organizations (Gibbs 2002, 24).

Regarding the qualitative research a very misleading idea about is that lacks a theory or structure. However, it is difficult to define how one should undergo a qualitative research design simply following the rules of methodology, since a comprehensive program could avoid the possibility of accommodating the unexpected. Although, it is important to embark on prior preparation and fieldwork, as explained below, we need some flexibility to allow the design for suiting the phenomenon being studied and may be needed to change if the investigation is to obtain a more depth of subject / object of study (Conklin 2008, 23).

The design of qualitative research design is often called emerging design. This means that design can change as the investigation unfolds, the investigator is taking decisions based on what he learns, but, as Creswell (2005) noted, this is not the result of carelessness or laziness of the investigator, but rather reflects the desire that the research is based on the reality and the views of participants who do not know or understand the baseline (Creswell 2005, 71).

As noted earlier, the qualitative researcher seeks to understand the phenomena studied in their natural environment and are themselves the principal investigator instrument for data generation and collection, with which it interacts. Therefore, throughout the research process, the qualitative researcher must consider about their own beliefs and knowledge, and how they can influence the way to conceive the reality of ...