Dr.
Sharon
L.
Bender
April,
2007
Quasitative
History
The term
"quasitative"
has been
used
primarily
to alter
or
enhance
the
investigatory
process
in some
manner.
It has
appeared
in
studies,
blogs,
journal
writing,
and in
online
published
articles.
I have
produced
the
greatest
number
of such
publications.
My first
use of
the term
"quasitative"
and "quasitative
research"
was on
New
Years
Eve,
2004. I
thought
I must
be the
inventor
of these
terms as
I had
not
previously
heard
them
used.
After
performing
an
Internet
investigation,
surprisingly
I found
a number
of
applications
of both
these
versions
dating
as far
back as
1949.
Anyone
can use
these
terms in
a host
of
applications
and
fields
as such,
but
there
should
be an
observance
of their
historical
applications.
The
general
purpose
in a
quasitative
approach
is to
express
its
relationship
to
quantitative
and
qualitative
inquiries
in a
kind of
mixed or
quasi
(self-styled)
approach.
I have
expounded
upon
these
principles
by
exploring
and
testing
quasitative
inquiry/research/approach
in a
"trio of
epistemological
inquiries"
called "Q3
Inquiries."
The term
“quasitative
research”
was used
in 1999
in
HRDC -
Monitoring
Study of
the
Group
Information
Sessions.
I
published
this
term in
my
January,
2005
article
concerning
Quasitative
Approach,
Q3
Inquires,
and 3Rs
of
Research.
The
earliest
publication
I have
found
using
the term
"quasitative"
is in a
Harvard
physics
paper
published
in 1949.
The
paper
states
that the
quasitative
application
of the
general
theory
to the
F-centers
of NaCl
crystal
shall be
attempted
in
comparison
with the
experimental
observations,
likely
meaning
that a
quasi-application
of
theory
has been
attempted
in order
to
perform
a
comparison
between
measurable
and
observable
components.
I have
published
use of
the term
in
numerous
articles
as well
as in a
journal
article
in which
I
applied
Q3 to
the
Human
Performance
Technology
(HPT)
field.
When
exploring
a
definition
of the
term "quasitative"
one is
able to
break
down the
term
into its
recognizable
parts.
Quasi
meaning
"free
style"
and "tative"
being
equal to
the
suffix
of the
traditional
quantitative
and
qualitative
terms
helps us
to
evaluate
meaning
as being
a
free-styled
approach
in
similar
undertakings
in which
quantitative
and
qualitative
applications
are
used.
Such use
is in
performing
inquiries
as in
the
abstraction
of
information
or in
scholarly
or
scientific
research
undertakings.
Another
perspective
on
meaning
can be
abstracted
from
other
historical
applications,
being
primarily
to merge
quantitative
and
qualitative
approaches.
A
quasitative
approach
may
therefore
be
recognizable
as a
mixed
design
approach.
When
applying
quasitative
strictly
to a
research
undertaking
we are
able to
apply
the term
"quasitative
research,"
which
has been
used
quite
readily
in the
literature.
It is
this
application
that may
be of
greatest
use and
interest
in the
scientific
community
as well
as in
the
business
world.
My
approach
is
somewhat
unique
in how
the term
"quasitative"
or "quasitative
research"
are
applied.
In one
instance
I use a
quasititatve
approach
separately
and in
another
I use
the term
in a
strictly
research
oriented
venture
in which
the
scientific
method
is at
work. In
this
instance
it is
plausible
to
replace
the
tenets
and
terminology
related
to
"mixed
design"
with the
term "quasitative."
All
meaning
in a
mixed
design
is
therefore
equal to
the
meaning
of
quasitative
research.
It is
also
plausible
to apply
the term
quasitative
in
meaning
a quasi
or free
style
approach.
It can
be used
as one
sees
fit, but
it is
not a
good
idea to
attempt
to
define
such
application
as
absolute.
In our
unique
applications
we are
able to
become
more
creative
minded
and
truly
think
outside
the
proverbial
box, but
we must
adhere
to the
scientific
method
in its
exploration.
In my
Q3
Inquiries
device I
take
this
approach.
My
unique
application
is in
using
quantitative,
qualitative,
and
quasitative
to
predominately
mean
examination
of past,
present,
and
potential
aspects
of the
problem
under
investigation.
This
device
merges
the
application
in the
free-style
approach
with
remaining
tenets
of
quantitative,
qualitative,
and
mixed
design
research.
It is
likely a
good
idea to
be
cautious
in
segregating
the term
quasitative
into
highly
explorative
and
overly
free-styled
approaches
unless
tested
with
reported
results.
Although
the term
"quasitative"
has been
used for
nearly
six
decades,
it is in
its
infancy
in terms
of
numbers
of
applications.
My
article
in
ISPI's
Performance
Improvement
Journal
represents
one of
handful
of such
applications.
In
having
tested
this
application
I
discovered
that it
is
indeed
helpful
to the
organization
in that
it
presents
a
complete
picture
approach
to
conducting
investigations
in the
human
performance
technology
(HPT)
system.
Applying
a
trio of
inquiries
(Q3),
combining
quantitative,
qualitative,
and
quasitative
approaches,
enables
practitioners
to
"measure
the
past,
observe
the
present,
and
imagine
the
potential."
Deploying
HPT from
this
perspective
helps
practitioners
to more
thoroughly
understand
the
complexities
surrounding
performance
issues
and to
build a
stronger
case
before
ever
attempting
to
select
and
promote
an
intervention.
An
amalgamation
of
devices
is
plausible
in this
dynamic
approach.
Benefit
stems
from
asking
pertinent
questions
in the
investigative
process.
What has
happened?
What is
happening?
What
will
happen?
These
subquestions
aid in
the
development
of a
grand
tour
research
question,
such as,
"What is
the
relationship
between
the
past,
present,
and
potential
situations
relative
to the
gap in
performance?"
Quasitative
Research
In
performing
quasitative
research,
a study
might
utilize
a survey
approach
combined
with
live
observations.
A
quasitative
or mixed
design
might
merge
quantitative
and
qualitative
questions
in a
single
inquiry
such as
in a
survey,
questionnaire,
or
interview
approach.
The
following
is an
example
for a
study
concerning
how to
redesign
administrative
jobs at
law
firms.
|
Problem Statement
How to redesign jobs at law firms is in question as they potentially run into the problem of properly leveraging support staff. Lawyers may be producing the same level of work, but it appears they have become more efficient, needing less staff assistance; or lawyers are remiss in effectively utilizing such staff in general. One answer is to hire more lawyers to share the use of administrative personnel. Some firms may be forcing lawsuits to pay for staff that would otherwise not be effectively utilized or they may be taking ruinous lawsuits merely to pay for staff or to keep new lawyers busy. The outcome can be injurious to individuals, the legal field, and to society at large.
Research Question
What strategies could be used to take better advantage of in-house talent by finding additional job tasks rather than taking potentially harmful lawsuits and committing unethical practices?
Design
Maintaining a balanced level of staff utilization in professional service firms is likely an ongoing challenge related to the overall productivity and success of the firm. Firms that experience this challenge may deal with it in different ways. Specialists working with firms offering professional services indicate that using a diagnostic approach prior to choosing a course of action makes good sense. The diagnostic should comprise both a quantitative and qualitative component, such as the following:
|
Quantitative Questions
During the past 24 months, what has been the average utilization level of support staff?
Historically, when the firm's professional staff is operating at 100 percent utilization or higher, what is the ratio of support staff to professionals? Has this ratio provided appropriate support at the busiest times?
On a scale from 1-5, how critical is it for the firm to retain the existing number of support staff during slower periods? Consider their contribution and the talent market.
Based on the firm's average utilization levels during the past 24 months, and its projected growth levels, how many support persons are needed?
Qualitative Questions
What kind of work does the support staff execute currently?
How valuable and necessary is their contribution to the success of client engagements and the firm?
Are junior lawyers performing any lower-value work that could be leveraged to support staff? If so, what is the work and can it be leveraged effectively rather than harmfully?
Besides supporting professional staff, do they have a role in recruiting, producing research, or developing the firm's intellectual property or thought leadership?
Does the support staff have the capability and interest in taking on new responsibilities?
Can supplemental support staff be hired on a contract basis in response to peak times? This question will help inform the need to retain existing support staff or adopt a flexible resource model.
Overall, what is being done to effectively utilize support staff rather than hiring more lawyers or taking on questionable clients?
What additional valuable work could support staff contribute (e.g., coordination of recruiting, performance management, marketing, and research)? |
|
Gathering and analyzing the quantitative information and qualitatively interviewing a subset of the partners will provide significant insight. Once this has been accomplished, the firm could schedule a meeting with the appropriate partners to address the results of this inquiry. This approach can help the firm decide on an ethical and productive course of action.
Source
Workforce Management (2007, April 19). How to redesign jobs. Dear Workforce. Workforce.com. |
|
This
approach
is a
form of
quasitative
research
in that
it
represents
a mixed
design
by
merging
quantitative
and
qualitative
questions
in a
single
investigation.
Quantitative
questions
solicit
a
measurable
(objective)
response,
whereas
qualitative
questions
solicit
an
observable
(subjective)
response.
A
quasitative
research
approach,
merging
these
two
broad
types of
questions
yields
an
imaginable
(collective)
response.
As such
a
quasitative
research
design
might be
defined
as one
in which
a mix of
measurable
(closed-ended)
and
observable
(open-ended)
questions
are
produced,
yielding
an
imaginable
(blended)
response.
This
approach
utilizes
pieces
and
patterns
to
produce
a
picture
that is
greater
than the
parts
individually.
The term
"imaginable"
is
defined
as
earthly,
plausible,
possible,
tenable,
and
thinkable.
Quasitative
research
in being
an
imaginable
culture
of
inquiry
enables
us to
accomplish
findings
that are
much
more
robust.
I have
been the
first
individual
to
correlate
the term
quasitative
to a new
culture
of
inquiry.
This may
be one
of the
best
ways to
consider
a
quasitative
research
approach.
Likewise
it is a
good
idea to
become
familiar
with
this
approach
in
conjunction
with
what is
known
about
quantitative,
qualitative,
and
mixed
design
research.
For more
information
concerning
quasitative
applications,
visit
Q3
Inquiries
Library.
