While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Dr. Sarah Chen is investigating treatment effectiveness for chronic pain...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Dr. Sarah Chen is investigating treatment effectiveness for chronic pain management.
- Her research employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
- Quantitative methods involve statistical analysis of numerical data from patient surveys.
- Qualitative methods involve thematic analysis of in-depth patient interviews.
- The quantitative approach measures pain reduction on standardized scales.
- The qualitative approach explores patients' lived experiences and coping strategies.
The student wants to contrast the two research methodologies. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
While quantitative methods measure pain reduction through statistical analysis of survey data, qualitative methods differ by exploring lived experiences through patient interviews.
Dr. Sarah Chen's chronic pain research employs both quantitative methods using surveys and qualitative methods using interviews.
The quantitative approach in Dr. Chen's study involves statistical analysis of numerical data from patient surveys.
Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies are used in Dr. Chen's investigation of chronic pain treatment effectiveness.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Dr. Sarah Chen is investigating treatment effectiveness for chronic pain management. |
|
| Her research employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. |
|
| Quantitative methods involve statistical analysis of numerical data from patient surveys. |
|
| Qualitative methods involve thematic analysis of in-depth patient interviews. |
|
| The quantitative approach measures pain reduction on standardized scales. |
|
| The qualitative approach explores patients lived experiences and coping strategies. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Chen's chronic pain research uses both quantitative methods (statistical analysis of survey data measuring pain reduction) and qualitative methods (thematic analysis of interviews exploring patient experiences).
Argument Flow: The notes establish Dr. Chen's research focus on chronic pain treatment effectiveness, then introduce her dual methodological approach. The notes then define each methodology specifically and provide additional details about what each approach measures or explores.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must contrast quantitative and qualitative methodologies by showing how they differ
- Quantitative methods focus on statistical analysis of numerical data from surveys and measure pain reduction on standardized scales
- Qualitative methods focus on thematic analysis of interviews and explore lived experiences and coping strategies
- The contrast should be clear, using language that emphasizes the differences between these approaches
While quantitative methods measure pain reduction through statistical analysis of survey data, qualitative methods differ by exploring lived experiences through patient interviews.
- Effectively contrasts the methodologies using comparative language
- Accurately captures quantitative focus: measuring pain reduction through statistical analysis of survey data
- Accurately captures qualitative focus: exploring lived experiences through patient interviews
- Uses relevant information directly from the notes to show the fundamental difference between measurement vs. exploration approaches
Dr. Sarah Chen's chronic pain research employs both quantitative methods using surveys and qualitative methods using interviews.
- Simply states that both methods are used without contrasting them
- Fails to show how the methodologies differ from each other
- More of a summary than a contrast
The quantitative approach in Dr. Chen's study involves statistical analysis of numerical data from patient surveys.
- Only describes the quantitative approach
- Completely ignores qualitative methodology
- Cannot accomplish the goal of contrasting two methodologies when only one is mentioned
Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies are used in Dr. Chen's investigation of chronic pain treatment effectiveness.
- States that both methodologies are used but provides no contrast
- Lacks any information about how the approaches differ
- Fails to fulfill the contrasting requirement of the question