Basic Metodology Educational Management Research: Paradigm Perspective and Data Analysis

Quantitative research is based on a positivistic paradigm that views reality as objective, singular, and measurable through scientific procedures. In this view, the researcher is considered neutral and acts as an observer who does not influence the data. Theory serves as the basis for formulating hypotheses, while variables are used to test relationships between phenomena. Research instruments such as questionnaires, questionnaires, and tests are used to transform abstract concepts into empirically measurable data. With this approach, quantitative research produces objective, systematic, and generalizable data to strengthen theories or discover new patterns in educational management.

The characteristics of quantitative research are clearly evident in the objectives and methods used. The primary goal is to test hypotheses, measure variables, and discover cause-and-effect relationships. The process is structured through experimental designs, surveys, and ex post facto research. Data analysis utilizes descriptive statistics to describe phenomena, and inferential statistics to draw conclusions and generalize from the sample to the population. The strength of quantitative research lies in its objectivity and generalizability, but its weakness lies in its limited understanding of the social context, values, and subjective meanings inherent in participants in the world of education.

Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research employs interpretive and constructivist paradigms that emphasize social reality as multiple, dynamic, and constructed through social interaction. This research does not aim to discover universal laws but rather to explore meanings, processes, and participants' in-depth experiences. Data collection techniques include in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, producing narrative descriptions rich in context. The validity or credibility of qualitative research is ensured through data triangulation, member checking, and intensive researcher involvement in the field. Its strength lies in the depth of analysis, while its weakness lies in limited generalization and potential researcher subjectivity.

Types of research in educational management can be distinguished according to paradigm and analytical techniques used. Quantitative approaches include descriptive, comparative, correlational, and experimental research, while qualitative approaches include ethnography, phenomenology, case study, and grounded theory. In addition, mixed-methods have developed as a combined approach to integrate the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative research, producing more comprehensive data. In terms of data analysis, quantitative research applies descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative research relies on coding, categorization, and thematic analysis. By understanding these methodologies, researchers can select the most appropriate approach according to research objectives and educational issues, thereby ensuring that research results contribute meaningfully to the development of educational management.

This text is adapted from the Teaching Module of the Course on Research Methods in Islamic Educational Management, Part III: FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT -- Research Methodology & Types of Research: in Terms of Paradigm and Data Analysis (https://eknows.uinsgd.ac.id/mod/assign/view.php?id=301948) Lecturer: Prof. Dr. H. A. Rusdiana, M.M

Cv Ahmad Maurits Syah