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.however, It Is Possible To Detect A Degree Of Unease Among Some Qualitative ...

.However, it is possible to detect a degree of unease among some qualitative researchers about the extent to which their findings can stand alone. Gans (1962, p. 350), at the end of his participant observation study of an Italian-American slum, exemplified this diffidence in proclaiming that his research ‘is a reconnaissancean initial exploration of a community to provide an overview', and went on to say: ‘Many of the hypotheses reported here can eventually be tested against the results of more systematic social science research.'
Qualitative research therefore aims to explain concepts and phenomena (Bryman, 1995, 1995). Specifically the concept of affordable housing will be addressed in this research (Greater London Authority, 2005). As we have seen explained above, the focus of the research will be mainly qualitative in nature. However, in what ways is a qualitative research enquiry more appropriate to this question relating to affordable housing?
Qualitative research tends to be more holistic (Knowles and Sweetman, 2004; p.12) than specific which means that it seeks to understand a topic ‘in the round' (Bryman, 1995; p.20). On the contrary, quantitative methods value specificity and outcome linked methods of research (Trout, 1998; p.113). This holistic characteristic of qualitative research fits the wider aim of this thesis enquiry (Greater London Authority, 2005), as the problem of affordable housing, its causes, purpose, its critique and its improvement are all topics which, too, must be understood and approached ‘in the round'. Therefore, while quantitative work tends to predict and hypothesise (Trout, 1998; p.113) about possible outcomes, the qualitative researcher will often embark upon their research enquiry with an open mind (Bryman, 1995; p.20), researching malleable conclusions as the enquiry unfolds. This open ended research framework therefore fits the infinitely complex dynamics of affordable housing more appropriately (Greater London Authority, 2005, 2006).
This open-ended research aim (Knowles and Sweetman, 2004; p.12) relating to qualitative research may be contrasted with the aim of quantitative research which usually seeks to be confirmatory (Trout, 1998; p.113), rather than (and also more so than) explanatory (Harrison, 2001; p.68). In this context, qualitative research may be understood as inductive (Bryman, 1995; p.20) whereas quantitative research tends to be more deductive in nature. This type of research (qualitative) tends to be situational in nature and tends to reflect given cultural and theoretical mores (Knowles and Sweetman, 2004; p.12).


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