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Nature of Inquiry and

Research
Allen Rvena

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[SH – PR2 / Practical Research 2]

1
[Nature of Inquiry and Research]

Nature of Inquiry and Research

There are many things you want to know in this world. Living and nonliving
things including the events – their nature or qualities make you wonder
continuously, frequently or quickly. Marveling at them, you put to continue
yourself in a course of situation where you seem to be grappling with
different problems. Questions after questions on the different aspects of the
things of your curiosity prod you to move, act, or do something to find
answers to your questions or to discover truths about your inferences or
speculations on such thing. Behaving like an investigator, asking and seeking
answers, to some questions about the thing you find puzzling indicates the
true nature of inquiry research. (Baraceros, 2017)
At the end of the topic the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the characteristics, strengths, weaknesses and kinds of
quantitative research;
2. Discuss the importance of quantitative research across the field; and
3. Discuss the nature of variables.

Based on your knowledge and understanding. Define the following words

below.
a. Probe
b. Ponder
c. Random
d. Inquiry
e. Research

The Characteristics, Strengths, Weaknesses and Kinds of Quantitative

Research
Quantitative research makes you focus your mind on specific things by
means of statistics that involve collection and study of numerical data. Thus,
to give the basic meaning of quantitative research is to say that research is a
way of making any phenomenon or any sensory experience clearer or more
meaningful by gathering and examining facts and information about such
person, thing, place, or event appealing to your senses (Baraceros, 2017)
Since quantitative research uses numbers and figures to denote a particular
thing, this kind of research requires you to focus your full attention on the
object of your study. This is why quantitative research is described as
objective research in contrast to qualitative research that is subjective.

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The importance of quantitative research lies realty in the production of

results that should reflect precise measurement and an in-depth analysis of
data. It is also useful in obtaining an objective understanding of people,
things, places, and events in this world; meaning, attaching accurate or exact
meanings to objects or subjects, rather than inflated meanings resulting from
the researcher’s bias or personal attachment to things related to the
research.
Quantitative research is of two kinds:
a. Experimental – these are under this kind of research true experimental,
quasi-experimental, and single subject, and pre-experimental.
b. Non-experimental – on the other hand these are sub type survey,
historical, observational, correlational, descriptive, and comparative
research

The Importance of Quantitative Research across the Field

1. More reliable and objective

2. Can use statistics to generalise a finding
3. Often reduces and restructures a complex problem to a limited number of
variables
4. Looks at relationships between variables and can establish cause and effect in
highly controlled circumstances
5. Tests theories or hypotheses
6. Assumes sample is representative of the population
7. Subjectivity of researcher in methodology is recognised less
8. Less detailed than qualitative data and may miss a desired response from the
participant.
(http://libweb.surrey.ac.uk/library/skills/Introduction%20to%20Research%2
0and%20Managing%20Information%20Leicester/page_45.htm)

The Nature of Variables

Variables are 5changing or characteristics6 of persons or things like age,
gender, intelligence, ideas, achievements, confidence, and so on that are
involved in your research study. Made up of the root or base word 5vary6
which means undergo changes or to differ from, variables have different or
varying values in relation to time and situation. For instance, as years go by,
your age or intelligence increases. But placed in a situation where you are
afflicted with a disease or have no means of reading or no access to any
sources of knowledge, your intelligence tend to decrease. (Sutter, 2013)

[SH – PR2 / Practical Research 2]

3
[Nature of Inquiry and Research]

Glossary
Experimental Research – an attempt by the researcher to maintain control
over-all factors that may affect the result of an experiment.
Quantitative Research - s the systematic empirical investigation of
observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational
techniques.
Variable – a logical set of attributes

References
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 2, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 1, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Sarno, Emerlita G. (2010), Tips and Techniques in Writing Research, Rex
Book Store, Inc.

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