Foundations Of Educational Management Research Methodology

Foundations of Educational Management Research Methodology: A Study of Research Methodology and Types of Research from the Perspective of Paradigms and Types of Data Analysis

Siti Shopiah/Undergraduate Student, Semester 5, Class C, Islamic Education Management, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University, Bandung

Introduction
In the world of research, the choice of approach greatly determines the quality and depth of understanding of the phenomenon being studied. Quantitative and qualitative research offer different paradigms, methods, and objectives, but complement each other in building scientific knowledge. Quantitative research emphasizes objectivity, measurement, and cause-and-effect relationships through statistical analysis, while qualitative research emphasizes meaning, process, and context through interviews, observation, and document analysis. In addition, the mixed-methods approach combines the strengths of both to obtain a more comprehensive, valid, and contextual understanding. This essay will discuss the theoretical foundations, characteristics, advantages, and limitations of each approach so that readers can fully understand scientific research methods.

First, quantitative research is based on a positivistic paradigm that emphasizes objectivity, is empirical and measurable, and aims to discover universal laws through statistical tests, experiments, and surveys. This research is supported by three main assumptions, namely neutral and unbiased objectivity, generalization so that findings can be widely applied, and causality that emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between variables. Theory forms the basis for the creation of hypotheses, which are then tested through measurable variables, while the use of valid and reliable instruments ensures accurate data, enabling proper statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, and the production of reliable and accountable scientific knowledge.

Second, quantitative research has specific characteristics that distinguish it from other approaches. This research aims to test hypotheses, measure variables objectively, and explain cause-and-effect relationships. The procedure is carried out systematically through experimental designs, surveys, or ex post facto, with numerical data analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics so that the conclusions obtained are objective and can be generalized. Its advantages lie in its objectivity, generalizability, and replicability, while its limitations are that it pays less attention to the social context and deeper meaning of phenomena. Therefore, quantitative research should be applied wisely and can be combined with other approaches to obtain a more comprehensive understanding.

Third, qualitative research has specific characteristics that distinguish it from quantitative research. Its paradigm is interpretive and constructivist, viewing reality as plural, contextual, and shaped by social interactions. This research focuses on meaning, process, and deep understanding through interviews, observation, and document analysis. Its validity is assessed based on the credibility and transferability of the findings. Qualitative research excels at exploring the depth of meaning of a phenomenon, but has limitations in terms of generalizing results, making it more suitable for contextual understanding than universal application.

Natizah
Quantitative research focuses on objectivity, measurement, and causality through statistical analysis, while qualitative research emphasizes meaning, process, and context through interviews, observation, and documents. Quantitative methods include descriptive, comparative, correlational, and experimental; qualitative methods include ethnography, phenomenology, case studies, and grounded theory. Mixed-methods combine both for comprehensive understanding.

This work is based on the teaching module Part: III FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT RESEARCH METHODOLOGY by Prof. Dr. H. Ahmad Rusdiana. Drs., M.M. https://eknows.uinsgd.ac.id