QUANTITATIVE

RESEARCH
DETERMINATION OF GRADES

WRITTEN WORKS - 35%

PERFORMANCE TASK – 40%
QUARTER TEST - 25%
TOTAL - 100%
REQUIREMENTS

1 LECTURE NOTEBOOK (GREEN)

1 COPY OF SOFTBOUND & SOFT
COPY OF RESEARCH PAPER
(CHAPTER 1 -5)
ORAL DEFENSE (FINAL EXAM)
WARM-UP
A. TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE OR FALSE

1.Personal interviews are more

common with qualitative
research, and survey research
is more common with
quantitative research.
TRUE OR FALSE

2.Quantitative research
designs are geared toward
statistical associations
and “predictions.”
TRUE OR FALSE

3.Open-ended questions are

those that provide the
answers for respondents to
select from in their response
to a survey question.
TRUE OR FALSE

4. Mixed methods research is a

type of research that combines
qualitative and quantitative
research techniques into a
single study.
TRUE OR FALSE

5. If the researcher is
providing answer choices for
a survey question, they have
to be both exhaustive and
mutually exclusive.
TRUE OR FALSE

6. When constructing a
questionnaire, it is best to get
the potentially threatening
questions out of the way first
at the start of the survey.
TRUE OR FALSE

7. Quantitative research
tells the quality of some
phenomena.
TRUE OR FALSE

8. Quantitative
data describes a
variable
TRUE OR FALSE

9. Quantitative research design is

an excellent way of finalizing
results and proving or disproving a
hypothesis.
TRUE OR FALSE

10. Close ended question

interviews can be
conducted in quantitative
research.
B. IDENTIFICATION
Identify the parts of a research paper.
IDENTIFICATION

11. A short summary of the entire

paper. This includes goals and
objectives, results, and conclusions.
It is usually one of the last parts of
the paper to be written.
IDENTIFICATION

12. This includes purpose

and reason behind the
conduct of the study.
IDENTIFICATION

13. This consists Of

concepts(and their
relationships) on which the
study is anchored.
IDENTIFICATION

14. A claim of one or two

sentences in length that
outlines the problem
addressed by a study.
IDENTIFICATION

15. The statement created

by researchers when they
speculate upon the
outcome of a research or
experiment.
IDENTIFICATION

16. These are studies,

inquiries, or investigations
already conducted to which
the present proposed study
is related or has some
bearing or similarity.
IDENTIFICATION

17.The part which defines

technical terms based on
how they are used in the
study, specifically in the title.
IDENTIFICATION

18. An account of what has been published

on a topic by accredited scholars and
researchers. This includes books, journals,
monographs, magazines, encyclopedia and
other publications.
IDENTIFICATION

19.This is lists the different references used in

the study such as books, encyclopedias,
dictionaries, journals, magazines, periodicals,
theses and dissertations (published or
unpublished), legal bases (Republic Act,
Presidential Decree, Memorandum Order,
Laws), and websites.
IDENTIFICATION

20. This includes pertinent papers and

materials related to the study, such as
the authorization letter, letter of
transmittal, the research instruments,
statistical breakdowns, the curriculum
vitae or biographical sketch.
Time’s up
ANSWER KEY

A.TRUE OR FALSE
1. TRUE
2.TRUE
3.FALSE
4.TRUE
5.TRUE
6.FALSE
7.FALSE
8.FALSE
9.TRUE
10.TRUE
ANSWER KEY

B. IDENTIFIATION
1. ABSTRACT
2.INTRODUTION/ BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
3.CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
4.STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
5.HYPOTHESIS/ RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
6.RELATED STUDIES
7.DEFINITION OF TERMS
8.RELATED LITERATURE
9.BIBLIOGRAPHY
10.APPENDICES
ON YOUR WAY HOME, YOU
ENCOUNTER A HANDSOME GUY/
PRETTY GURL IN A JEEPNEY,
YOU SUDDENLY FELL IN LOVE AT
FIRST SIGHT. WHAT WILL BE
YOUR FIRST MOVE?
 RESEARCH
• Re ---------------- Search
• Re means (once more,
afresh, anew) OR (back; with
return to a previous state)
• Search means (look thorough or
go over thoroughly to look
something) OR (examine to find
anything concealed)
31
Sir Jest wants to launch its
company in Pakistan?

32
He is in a process of
Decision Making

33
Research Methods
Two main types:
1. Quantitative Research
2. Qualitative Research
Research Methods

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Decision making Needs…

CONVICTION

Knowledge to
There should be Goals
justify
no doubts achievement
your decisions

37
 Research?

Research is an
ORGANIZED and
SYSTEMATIC way of
FINDING ANSWERS to
QUESTIONS.

38
• SYSTEMATIC
because there is a definite set of
procedures and steps which you will
follow. There are certain things in the
research process which are always done
in order to get the most accurate results.

39
• ORGANIZED

in that there is a structure or method in

going about doing research. It is a
planned procedure, not a spontaneous
one. It is focused and limited to a specific
scope.

40
• FINDING ANSWERS
is the end of all research. Whether it is the
answer to a hypothesis or even a simple
question, research is successful when we
find answers. Sometimes the answer is
no, but it is still an answer.

41
• QUESTIONS
are central to research. If there is no
question, then the answer is of no use.
Research is focused on relevant, useful,
and important questions. Without a
question, research has no focus, drive, or
purpose.

42
 Defining Research
1). A collection of methods and
methodologies that researchers apply
systematically to produce scientifically
based knowledge about the social
world.
(Neuman)

43
• Methodology:
» Methodology & methods, two terms
are often treated as synonyms.
Methodology is broader and envelops
methods. It is understanding the
social-organizational context,
philosophical assumptions, ethical
principals and political issues of the
enterprise of researchers who use
methods.

44
• Methods:
» Methods are set of specific
techniques for selecting cases,
measuring and observing aspects of
social life, gathering and refining
data, analyzing data and reporting on
results.

45
 Defining Research
2). Research must be systematic and
follow a series of steps and a rigid are
standard protocol. These rules
broadly similar but may vary slightly
between the different fields of science.

46
Research is used as

Basis of knowledge

47
 Alternative to Research
• Authority
• Tradition
• Common sense
• Media myths
• Personal experience

48
 1). Authority
• When you accept something as true just
because someone in a position of
authority says it is true or it is an
authoritative publication, you are using
authority as basis of knowledge.

• Parents, Teachers, Books.

49
 2). Tradition
• Tradition is a special case of authority-the
authority of the past. It means you accept
something as being true because “it’s the
way things have always been.

50
 3). Common Sense
• You rely on what everyone knows and
what “just makes sense”.

• It is about ordinary reasoning.

• It can originate from tradition

51
 4). Media Myths
• Media tends to perpetuate the myths of a
culture.

52
 5). Personal Experience
• If something happens to you, if you
personally experience it or see it, you
accept it as true.

53
 Types of Research
1. Quantitative Research
2. Basic Research
3. Applied Research
4. Longitudinal Research
5. Qualitative Research
6. Descriptive Research
7. Classification Research

54
 Types of Research
8. Comparative Research
9. Explorative Research
10. Explanatory Research
11. Causal Research
12. Theory-testing Research
13. Theory-Building Research
14. Action Research

55
 1). Quantitative Research
• It is based on methodological principals of
positivism and neo-positivism
• It adheres to standards of strict research
design.
• Statistical analysis is used in it.

56
 2). Basic Research

• Purpose of gaining knowledge

• It advanced understanding about social
world
• Help in supporting & rejecting existing
hypothesis & theories

57
 3). Applied Research

• Aims at solving specific problems

• Aims at establishing policy programs that
will help to improve social life
• Types of applied research are action
research, social impact studies, cost-
benefit analysis, evaluation research

58
 4). Longitudinal Research
• It involves study of sample at more than
one point in time or occasion
• e.g. Trend studies, Panel studies

59
 4A). Cross sectional Research
• It involves study of many cases at one
point in time or occasion
• Snapshot in time
• Example
• Cholesterol measurement and ECG
measured at the same time

60
 5). Qualitative Research

• It is based on methodological principals of

phenomenology, symbolic interactionism,
hermeneutics.
• It aims at exploration of social world.
• Lazarsfeld: following elements are
there….exploration, relationship discovery,
establishing construct, testing hypothesis.

61
 6). Descriptive Research
• Usually it forms preliminary study of a
research project.
• It aims at describe social events, relations
and events.
• It provides background information about
an event in question.

62
 7). Classification research
• It aims at categorization of units into
groups
• To demonstrate differences
• To explain relationships

63
 8). Comparative Research
• To identify similarities and differences
between units at all levels.

64
 9). Exploratory Research
• It aims at gaining information about an
issue in hand.

65
 10). Explanatory Research
• It aims at explaining social relations and
events.
• To build, test or revise a theory.

66
 11). Causal Research
• It aims at establishing cause and effect
relationship among variables.

67
 12). Theory testing Research
• It aims at testing validity of a theory

68
13). Theory building Research
• To establish and formulate theory

69
 14). Action Research
• It is application of fact findings to practical
problem solving in a social situation with a
view to improve quality of action within it,
involving collaboration and cooperation of
researchers, practitioners and laymen.
• It can be situational (diagnose a problem
and attempts to solve it), collaborative,
participatory (researcher take part in
implementation of findings) and self-
evaluation (it involves constant evaluation
and adjustment of research and practice)
70
 Quiz # 1 Types of Research

Multiple Choice. Read and analyze

each item carefully. Write the letter of
the correct answer on your paper. If the
your answer was not in the choices
write letter E. Strictly No Erasures
1.
__________ a type of research that is the application of
fact findings to practical problem solving in a social
situation with a view to improve quality of action within it,
involving collaboration and cooperation of researchers,
practitioners and laymen.
a. Theory Testing c. Quantitative
b. Basic d. Action
2.
__________ a type of research that is used to establish

and formulate theory

.
a. Theory Testing c. Quantitative
b. Basic d. Action
3.
• __________ It aims at testing validity of a theory
.

a. Theory Testing c. Theory Building

b. Basic d. Action
4.
• __________ It is advanced understanding about
social world. It helps in supporting & rejecting
existing hypothesis & theories

.a. Theory Testing c. Theory Building

b. Basic d. Action
5.
• __________ It aims at establishing cause and effect
relationship among variables.
.

a. Causal c. Exploratory
b. Explanatory d. Comparative
6.
• __________ a type of research that is used to identify
similarities and differences between units at all
levels.

a. Causal c. Exploratory
b. Explanatory d. Comparative
7.
• __________ It aims at gaining information about an
issue in hand.

a. Causal c. Exploratory
b. Explanatory d. Comparative
8.
• __________ It involves study of sample at more than
one point in time or occasion e.g. Trend studies, Panel
studies

a. Descriptive c. Cross-Sectional
b. Longitudinal d. Classification
9.
_____________It involves study of many cases at one
point in time or occasion. Example: Cholesterol
measurement and ECG measured at the same time

a. Descriptive c. Cross-Sectional
b. Longitudinal d. Classification
10.
_____________Usually it forms preliminary study of a
research project. It aims at describe social events, relations
and events. It provides background information about an
event in question
a. Descriptive c. Cross-Sectional
b. Longitudinal d. Classification
Time’s Up
 ANSWER KEY
1. D
2. E
3. A
4. B
5. A
6. D
7. C
8. B
9. C
10. A
II. Why conduct a research?
Characteristics, Strengths,
Weaknesses, and Kinds Of
Quantitative Research
Humans are 'intuitive' scientists ....always asking questions and testing theories
about themselves, others, events, the environment and the world around them.
Research is asking a question and finding out the answer…
1.It is looking into something.
2.It is looking for something.
3.It is comparing and contrasting things.
4.It is finding out more information...it is counting things ...making
inquiries...being curious...finding out what people think...finding out what
people do....finding out what works.... finding out what doesn't work...finding
out what people want...
What research have you conducted recently?
1.What decisions have you made about your day?
2.What decisions have you made today?
3.What influenced your decision to take this course?
4.How do you prepare and write assignments?
5.How do you decide how to provide the best quality of service for your
service users?
 Research gives us information about:

1.Thoughts and opinions 5.Norms

2.Attitudes 6.Scientific facts
3.Habits 7.Medical information
4.Culture
What do we do with research?
1.Have it as interesting fact
2.Use it to make decisions3
3.Use it to persuade influence others
4.Use it to affect change
5.Use it to change behaviour
6.Use it to better use...medical ...improve customer care...write
better funding applications....monitor and evaluate our
provision....
Introduction to Quantitative Research

The following definition, taken from Aliaga and Gunderson (2000),

describes what we mean by quantitative research methods very well:

“Quantitative research is ‘Explaining phenomena by collecting

numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based
methods (in particular statistics)”.
 Quantitative Research

“Quantitative methods emphasize objective measurements and

the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected
through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-
existing statistical data using computational techniques. Quantitative
research focuses on gathering numerical data and generalizing it
across groups of people or to explain a particular phenomenon”.

Babbie, Earl R. The Practice of Social Research. 12th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage, 2010; Muijs,
Daniel. Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. 2nd edition. London: SAGE Publications,2010.
What is Quantitative Research?

▪ In a nutshell, quantitative research generates numerical data or

information that can be converted into numbers.
▪ Only measurable data are being gathered and analyzed in quantitative
research.
▪ Goal or Aim of the Research:
– The primary aim of a Quantitative Research is to focus more in counting and
classifying features and constructing statistical models and figures to explain what is
observed.

▪ Quantitative Research is highly recommended for the late phase of

research because it provides the researcher a clearer picture of what to
expect in his research compared to Qualitative Research.
What is Quantitative Research?

▪ Data Gathering Instrument

– Quantitative Research makes use of tools such as questionnaires, surveys,
measurements and other equipment to collect numerical or measurable data.

▪ Type of Data
– if you are conducting a Quantitative Research, what will most likely appear in
your discussion are tables containing data in the form of numbers and statistics.

▪ Approach
– In Quantitative Research, researchers tend to remain objectively separated from
the subject matter. This is because Quantitative Research is objective in
approach in the sense that it only seeks precise measurements and analysis of
target concepts to answer his inquiry.
 Use of statistics
Statistics is the most widely used branch of
mathematics in quantitative research outside
of the physical sciences, and also finds
applications within the physical sciences.
Quantitative research using statistical
methods starts with the collection of data, based
on the hypothesis or theory. Usually a big
sample of data is collected – this would require
verification, validation
and recording before the analysis can take place. Software
packages such as SPSS and R are typically used for this
purpose.
 SPSS Statistics is a software package used for logical batched and non-
batched statistical analysis. Long produced by SPSS Inc., it was acquired
by IBM in 2009. The current versions (2015) are officially named IBM SPSS
Statistics . Companion products in the same family are used for survey
authoring and deployment (IBM SPSS Data Collection), data mining (IBM
SPSS Modeler), text analytics, and collaboration and deployment (batch and
automated scoring services).
The software name originally stood for StatisticalPackage for the Social Sciences (SPSS),[2]
reflecting the original market, although the software is now popular in other fields as well,
including the health sciences and marketing. International Business Machines Corporation
(commonly referred to as IBM) is an Americ an multinational technology company headquartered
in Armonk, New York, United States, with operations in over 170 countries.
R is an open source programming language and software environment for statistical
computing and graphics that is supported by the R Foundation for Statistical Computing.
[6] The R language is widely
used among statisticians and data miners for developing statistical software[7] and data
analysis.[8] Polls, surveys of data miners, and studies of scholarly literature databases show
that R's popularity has increased substantially in recent years.[9]
Why do Quantitative
Research
When do Quantitative Research?

▪ If your study aims to find out the answer to an inquiry through numerical
evidence, then you should make use of the Quantitative Research.
▪ In general, use qualitative research at the beginning of a design process to
uncover innovations. Use quantitative research at the end of a design
process to measure improvement.
▪ French sociology Pierre Bourdieu followed a typical arc to the narrative
research by first investigating economic class in an open-ended fashion.
Once he established what he thought was going on, he tested these ideas
with large surveys.
▪ The main activity for which quantitative research is especially suited is the
testing of hypotheses.
Quantitative Data

“Quantitative data is information about quantities; that is,

information that can be measured and written down with
numbers.”

▪ Some examples of quantitative data are your height, your

shoe size, and the length of your fingernails.
▪ Quantitative data defines whereas qualitative data describes.
Units and variables in Quantitative data

▪ Units:
When we collect data in quantitative educational research, we have
to collect them from someone or something. The people or things
(e.g. schools) we collect data on or from are known as units or cases.
▪ Variables:
The data that we are collecting from these units are known as
variables. Variables are any characteristic of the unit we are
interested in and want to collect (e.g. gender, age, self-esteem).
Units and Variables

▪ The label ‘variable’ refers to the fact that these data will differ
between units.
For example, achievement will differ between pupils and schools,
gender will differ between pupils, and so on.
▪ If there are no differences at all between the units we want to study,
we probably aren’t going to be able to do any interesting research
(for example, studying whether pupils are human would not yield
interesting findings).
Quantitative Research Design

Quantitative research design is the standard experimental method

of most scientific disciplines.

 They are most commonly used by physical scientists, although

social sciences, education and economics have been known to use
this type of research. It is the opposite of qualitative research.
 Quantitative experiments all use a standard format, with a few
minor inter-disciplinary differences, of generating a hypothesis to
be proved or disproved. This hypothesis must be provable by
mathematical and statistical means, and is the basis around which
the whole experiment is designed.
Quantitative Research Design

▪ Randomization of any study groups is essential, and a control

group should be included, wherever possible. A sound quantitative
design should only manipulate one variable at a time, or statistical
analysis becomes cumbersome and open to question.
▪ Ideally, the research should be constructed in a manner that allows
others to repeat the experiment and obtain similar results.
Quantitative Research Design

▪ There are four main types of Quantitative research:

1. Descriptive
2. Correlational
3. Causal-Comparative/Quasi-Experimental
4. Experimental Research.
 DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
▪ This type of research describes what exists and may help to uncover new facts and
meaning. The purpose of descriptive research is to
observe, describe, document
aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs.

▪ This involves the collection of data that will provide an account or description of
individuals, groups or situations. Instruments we use to obtain data in descriptive
studies include questionnaires, interviews (closed questions), observation
(checklists, etc.)
▪ There is no experimental manipulation or indeed any random selection to groups, as
there is in experimental research.
▪ The characteristics of individuals and groups such as nurses, patients and families may
be the focus of descriptive research. It can provide a knowledge base which can act as
a springboard for other types of quantitative research methods.
 Descriptive research is a study designed to depict the participants
in an accurate way. More simply put, descriptive research is all about
describing people who take part in the study.
There are three ways a researcher can go about doing a descriptive
research project, and they are:
 Observational, defined as a method of viewing and recording the participants
 Case study, defined as an in-depth study of an individual or group of
individuals
 Survey,
about a defined
specific as a brief interview or discussion with an individual
topic
 CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
▪ Quantitative correlational research aims to systematically investigate and explain the
nature of the relationship between variables in the real world. Often the quantifiable
data (i.e. data that we can quantify or count) from descriptive studies are frequently
analysed in this way.
▪ Correlational research studies go beyond simply describing what exists and are
concerned with systematically investigating relationships between two or more
variables of interest (Porter & Carter 2000).
▪ Such studies only describe and attempt to explain the nature of relationships that exist,
and do not examine causality (i.e. whether one variable causes the other).
 Correlational study is a quantitative method of research in
which you have 2 or more quantitative variables from the
same group of subjects, & you are trying to determine if
there is a relationship (or covariation) between the 2
variables (a similarity between them, not a difference
between their means).
Theoretically, any 2 quantitative variables can be
correlated (for example, midterm scores & number of body
piercings!) as long as you have scores on these variables
from the same participants; however, it is probably a waste
of time to collect & analyze data when there is little
reason to think these two variables
would be related to each other.
 Causal-comparative/quasi-experimental
research
▪ Quasi-experimental research attempts to establish cause-effect relationships among the variables.
These types of design are very similar to true experiments, but with some key differences.
▪ An independent variable is identified but not manipulated by the experimenter, and effects of the
independent variable on the dependent variable are measured.
▪ It is not the same as true experimental research because quasi-experimental research studies lack
one or both of the essential properties of randomisation and a control group.
▪ The researcher does not randomly assign groups and must use ones that are naturally formed or
pre-existing groups.
▪ The major drawback with quasi-experimental research is that, compared to experimental research,
it has a weakness in that is not possible to deliver 'cause and effect' results.
▪ In other words, we cannot infer from quasi-experimental research that, for example, doing one
thing causes a particular phenomenon (e.g. smoking cigarettes causes cancer).
▪ Identified control groups exposed to the treatment variable are studied and compared to groups
who are not.
Quasi-experim ental design involves selecting groups, upon which a
variable is tested, without any random pre-selection processes.
For example, to perform an educational experiment, a class
might be arbitrarily divided by alphabetical selection or by
seating arrangement. The
division is often convenient and, especially in an educational
situation, causes as little disruption as possible.

After this selection, the experim ent proceeds in a very similar way
to any other experim ent, with a variable being compared between
different groups, or over a period of time.
 Experimental research
▪ often called true experimentation, uses the scientific method to establish the cause-
effect relationship among a group of variables that make up a study.
▪ The true experiment is often thought of as a laboratory study, but this is not always the
case; a laboratory setting has nothing to do with it. A true experiment is any study where
an effort is made to identify and impose control over all other variables except one.
▪ An independent variable is manipulated to determine the effects on the dependent
variables. Subjects are randomly assigned to experimental treatments rather than
identified in naturally occurring groups
 Experimental research is commonly used in sciences such as sociology and psychology, physics,
chemistry, biology and medicine etc. It is a collection
of research designs which use manipulation and controlled testing to understand causal processes.
Generally, one or more variables are manipulated to determine their effect on a dependent variable.
The experimental method is a systematic and scientific approach to
research in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables, and controls and measures any
change in other variables.
The word experimental research has a range of definitions. In the strict sense, experimental
research is what we call a true experiment.
This is an experiment where the researcher manipulates one variable, and control/randomizes the
rest of the variables. It has a control gr oup, the subjects have been randomly assigned between the groups, and the
researcher only tests one effect at a time. It is also important to know what variable(s) you want to test and measure.
 What is the basic methodology for a
quantitative research design?
The overall structure for a quantitative design is based in the scientific method. It
uses deductive reasoning, where the researcher forms an hypothesis, collects data in an
investigation of the problem, and then uses the data from the investigation, after analysis is made
and conclusions are shared, to prove the hypotheses not false or false. The basic procedure of a
quantitative design is:
1. Make your observations about something that is unknown, unexplained, or new. Investigate
current theory surrounding your problem or issue.
2. Hypothesize an explanation for those observations.
3. Make a prediction of outcomes based on your hypotheses. Formulate a plan to test your
prediction.
4. Collect and process your data. If your prediction was correct, go to step 5. If not, the hypothesis
has been proven false. Return to step 2 to form a new hypothesis based on your new knowledge.

5. Verify your findings. Make your final conclusions. Present your findings in an appropriate form
for your audience.
 Strengths of Quantitative Research

▪ Quantitative research design is an excellent way of finalizing results and

proving or disproving a hypothesis. The structure has not changed for
centuries, so is standard across many scientific fields and disciplines.
▪ After statistical analysis of the results, a comprehensive answer is reached,
and the results can be legitimately discussed and published.
▪ Quantitative experiments also filter out external factors, if properly
designed, and so the results gained can be seen as real and unbiased.
▪ Quantitative experiments are useful for testing the results gained by a series
of qualitative experiments, leading to a final answer, and a narrowing down
of possible directions for follow up research to take.
 Strengths of Quantitative Research
▪ Allows for a broader study, involving a greater number of subjects, and
enhancing the generalization of the results;
▪ Allows for greater objectivity and accuracy of results. Generally,
quantitative
▪ methods are designed to provide summaries of data that support
generalizations about the phenomenon under study. In order to
accomplish this, quantitative research usually involves few variables
and many cases, and employs prescribed procedures to ensure validity
and reliability;
▪ Applying well-established standards means that the research can be
replicated, and then analyzed and compared with similar studies;
▪ You can summarize vast sources of information and make comparisons
across categories and over time; and,
▪ Personal bias can be avoided by keeping a 'distance' from participating
subjects and using
 Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

▪ Quantitative experiments can be difficult and expensive and require a lot of time to perform.
▪ They must be carefully planned to ensure that there is complete randomization and correct
designation of control groups.
▪ Quantitative studies usually require extensive statistical analysis, which can be difficult, due to
most scientists not being statisticians. The field of statistical study is a whole scientific discipline
and can be difficult for non-mathematicians
▪ The requirements for the successful statistical confirmation of results are very stringent, with very
few experiments comprehensively proving a hypothesis; there is usually some ambiguity, which
requires retesting and refinement to the design. This means another investment of time and
resources must be committed to fine-tune the results.
▪ Quantitative research design also tends to generate only proved or unproven results, with there
being very little room for grey areas and uncertainty. For the social sciences, education,
anthropology and psychology, human nature is a lot more complex than just a simple yes or no
response.
 Weaknesses of Quantitative Research
▪ Quantitative data is more efficient and able to test hypotheses, but may miss contextual detail;
▪ Uses a static and rigid approach and so employs an inflexible process of discovery;
▪ The development of standard questions by researchers can lead to "structural bias" and false representation, where the
data actually reflects the view of the researcher instead of the participating subject;
▪ Results provide less detail on behavior, attitudes, and motivation;
▪ Researcher may collect a much narrower and sometimes superficial dataset;
▪ Results are limited as they provide numerical descriptions rather than detailed narrative and generally provide less
elaborate accounts of human perception;
▪ The research is often carried out in an unnatural, artificial environment so that a level of control can be applied to the
exercise. This level of control might not normally be in place in the real world thus yielding "laboratory results" as
opposed to "real world results"; and,
▪ Preset answers will not necessarily reflect how people really feel about a subject and, in some cases, might just be the
closest match to the preconceived hypothesis.
 Characteristics of Quantitative Research

Its main characteristics are:

▪ The data is usually gathered using structured research instruments.

▪ The results are based on larger sample sizes that are representative of the population.

▪ The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given its high reliability.

▪ Researcher has a clearly defined research question to which objective answers are sought.

▪ All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.
▪ Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged in tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual forms.

▪ Project can be used to generalize concepts more widely, predict future results, or investigate causal relationships.

▪ Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or computer software, to collect numerical data.

▪ The overarching aim of a quantitative research study is to classify features, count them, and construct statistical
models in an attempt to explain what is observed.
Key Points:

Quantitative Research:
▪ Has its main purpose in quantification of data (to describe variables).
▪ To examine relationships among variables.
▪ To determine cause-and- effect interactions between variables.
▪ Allows generalizations of results from a sample to an entire
population of interest.
▪ Measurement of the incidence of various views and opinions in a
given sample.
IMPORTANCE OF
QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
IMPORTANCE of QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
More reliable and objective
Can use statistics to generalize a finding
Often reduces and restructures a complex problem to a
limited number of variables
Looks at relationships between variables and can establish
cause and effect in highly controlled circumstances
Tests theories or hypotheses
Assumes sample is representative of the population
Subjectivity of researcher in methodology is recognized
less
Less detailed than qualitative data and may miss a desired
response from the participant
 IMPORTANCE OF
QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH ACROSS
THE FIELDS
 IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS THE FIELDS
 In the social sciences, it is also common to count
frequencies of observations; i.e. frequencies of
observable outcomes in an experiment.
Examples include the number of correct scores on an
assessment of an ability, and the number of statements on
a questionnaire endorsed by respondents.
Provided each observable outcome is the manifestation of
an underlying quantitative attribute, such frequencies will
generally indicate relative magnitudes of that attribute.
Strictly speaking, however, counts and frequencies do not
constitute measurement in terms of a unit of continuous
quantity.
Use in prosody and poetry
In prosody (patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry)
and poetic meter, syllable weight can be a governing
principle.
Many linguists use morae as a unit of syllable weight—a
syllable with more morae is heavier than one with fewer
morae.
Commonly, syllables with naturally long vowels, diphthongs,
and vowels followed by two or more consonants are said to
be “heavy”, “long”, or “bimoraic”, whereas syllables with
naturally short vowels, followed by only one or no
consonant, are said to be “light”, “short”, or “monomoraic”.
IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS THE FIELDS

Quantitative research is widely used in both

the natural and social sciences, from physics
and biology to sociology and journalism.
It is also used as a way to research different
aspects of music education.
The objective of quantitative research is to
develop and employ mathematical models,
theories and hypotheses pertaining to natural
phenomena.
The process of measurement is central to quantitative
research because it provides the fundamental connection
between empirical observation and mathematical expression
of quantitative relationships.
The term quantitative research is most often used in the
social sciences in contrast to qualitative research.
Virtually all research in physics is quantitative whereas
research in other scientific disciplines, such as taxonomy
and anatomy, may involve a combination of quantitative
and other analytic approaches
and methods.
IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS THE FIELDS

In the social sciences particularly,

quantitative research is often contrasted with
qualitative research which is the examination,
analysis and interpretation of observations
for the purpose of discovering underlying
meanings and patterns of relationships, ……
…….. including classifications of types of
phenomena and entities, in a manner that does
not involve mathematical models.
Approaches to quantitative psychology were first
modelled on quantitative approaches in the physical
sciences by Gustav Fechner in his work on psychophysics,
which built on the work of Ernst Heinrich Weber.
Although a distinction is commonly drawn between
qualitative and quantitative aspects of scientific
investigation, it has been argued that the two go hand in
hand.
For example, based on analysis of the history of science,
Kuhn (1961, p. 162) concludes that “large amounts of
qualitative work have usually been prerequisite to fruitful
quantification in the physical sciences”.
 IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS THE FIELDS
Qualitative research is often used to gain a general sense of
phenomena and to form theories that can be tested using further
quantitative research.
For instance, in the social sciences qualitative research methods are
often used to gain better
understanding of such things as intentionality (from the speech
response of the researchee) and meaning (why did this
person/group say something and what did it mean to them?).

Although quantitative investigation of the world has existed since

people first began to record events or objects that had been
counted,
the modern idea of quantitative processes have their roots in
Auguste Comte's positivist framework.
 IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS THE FIELDS
Quantitative research using statistical methods typically begins with the
collection of data based on a theory or hypothesis, followed by the application
of descriptive or inferential statistical methods.
Causal relationships are studied by manipulating factors thought to influence
the phenomena of interest while controlling other variables relevant to the
experimental outcomes.
In the field of health, for example, researchers might measure and study the
relationship between dietary
intake and measurable physiological effects such as weight loss, controlling for
other key variables such as exercise.
Quantitatively based opinion surveys are widely used in the media, with
statistics such as the proportion of respondents in favor of a position
commonly reported.
In opinion surveys, respondents are asked a set of structured questions and
their responses are tabulated. In the field of climate science, researchers
compile and compare statistics such as temperature or atmospheric
concentrations of carbon dioxide.
Examples of Quantitative research
 Has the change in household size over the years affected the
economy?
 Is the price of gasoline related to demand or price of oil?
 Has public consumption changed over the years?
 How has the increase in minimum wage affected small business?
 Has the new health insurance laws threatening small business?
 What happens to student loans if students fail to graduate from
college?
 Does unemployment directly affect changes in consumption?
 Is the economy causing some home health care workers to
disappear?