LEARNING COMPETENCIES

At the end of the discussion, the learner should be able to:

NATURE OF • describe characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and kinds

INQUIRY of quantitative research
AND RESEARCH • illustrate the importance of quantitative research across
MS. JENIEFER C. ESPINO fields
• differentiate kinds of research variables and their uses

RESEARCH
• a natural day-to-day activity of gathering information
LESSON I.
– QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH –
• is a study in which the data concerned can be described without the
use of numerical data CHARACTERISTICS, STRENGTH,
– QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
WEAKNESSES and KINDS
• suggests that the data concerned can be analyzed in terms of
numbers

NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH 1

 DEFINITION OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
STRENGTHS:
Quantitative research
1. It is objective.
• an objective, systematic empirical investigation of 2. The use of statistical
observable phenomena through the use of techniques facilitates
computational techniques analyses and allows you
• concerned with numbers and its relationship with events to comprehend a huge
amount of vital
• suggests that the data concerned can be analyzed in characteristics of data.
terms of numbers 3. It is real and unbiased.
4. The numerical data can be
analyzed in a quick and easy way.
5. Quantitative studies are
replicable.
6. Quantitative experiments are
useful for testing the results
gained by a series of qualitative
experiments, leading to a final
answer, and narrowing down of
possible directions to follow.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

WEAKNESSES:

1. It requires a large number 4. Many information are difficult

of respondents.
2. It is costly.
3. The information
contextual factors to help
interpret the results or to
explain variations are
usually ignored.
to gather using structured
research instruments.
5. If not done seriously and
correctly, data from
questionnaires may be
incomplete and inaccurate.

NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH 2

 KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
• allows the researcher to control
the situation
• allows the researcher to identify
cause and effect relationships
between variables
• allows the researcher to
distinguish placebo effects from
treatment effects
• provides the highest degree
level of evidence for single
studies
KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
• the researcher can collect more
data, either by scheduling more
observations or finding more
existing measures
• involves selecting groups, upon
which a variable is tested,
without any random pre-
selection processes
NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH
KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
• research design with least
internal validity
• instead of comparing the
pretest with the posttest within
one group, the posttest of the
treated groups is compared
with that of an untreated group
• between-subject design
• within-subject design
KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
• controls for both time-related
and group-related threats
• two or more differently treated
groups; and random assignment
to these groups
• offers the highest internal
validity of all the designs
3
 KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
• also called DESCRIPTIVE
RESEARCH DESIGN
• researcher observes the
• used to gather information
phenomena as they occur
from groups of people by
naturally and no external
selecting and studying samples
variables are introduced
chosen from a population
• the variables are not
deliberately manipulated nor is
the setting controlled
• researcher collects data without
making changes or introducing
treatments

KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

• conducted by researchers to • also called causal-comparative

find out the direction, • derives conclusion from
associations and/or relationship observations and
between different variables or manifestations that already
groups of respondents under occurred in the past and now
study compared to some dependent
variables

NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH 4

 KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

• used to determine what has

• involves comparing and happened during a given activity
contrasting two or more or in an institution
samples of study subjects on • the purpose is to see if a given
one or more variables, often at a program is working, an
single point of time institution is successful
according to the goals set for it,
or the original intent was
successfully attained

KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH:

• the implementation of a variety 1 2 3 4

of methodologies forms a critical Teaching Accounting Science Humanities
Profession Technology
part of achieving the goal of Business Social
Engineering
developing a scale-matched Management
Mathematics Sciences
approach, where data from
different disciplines can be
integrated

NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH 5

 VARIABLES IN RESEARCH TYPES OF VARIABLES

• characteristics that has two or more mutually

exclusive values or properties • can take infinite number on
• “vary” or “can change”
Continuous the value that can occur
• something that can take more than one value, and Variables within the population
values can be words or numbers
• attribute of an individual or an organization that can
• has limited number of
be measured or observed and that varies among the Discrete distinct values and which
people or organization being studied Variables cannot be divided into
fractions

KINDS OF VARIABLES KINDS OF VARIABLES

• “cause variable”
Independent
• responsible for the A study is on the relationship of study
Variables conditions that bring changes
habits and academic performance of
• depend on the independent
UTNHS senior high school students.
Dependent variables
Variables • “outcome variable”

NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH 6

 KINDS OF VARIABLES KINDS OF VARIABLES

• “medling variable” • special types of independent variables

Intervening • “stand between” the Control that are measured because they
independent and dependent Variables potentially influence the dependent
Variables variables variable

Example: Even if farm production is good, if the attitude • not actually measured or observed in a
Confounding study
towards payment is negative, loan repayment would be Variables
low, whereas, if the attitude towards repayment is positive • their influence cannot be directly
detected in a study
or favorable, loan repayment would be high.

NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH 7