Quantitative Research Design

Descriptive Research

• Purpose: To describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon.

• Key Features:

  • No manipulation of variables

  • Collects data to describe "what exists"

• Example: Surveying students about their study habits.

Correlational Research

• Purpose: To determine if there is a relationship or association between two or more variables.

• Key Features:

  • No manipulation of variables

  • Cannot establish cause-and-effect

  • Shows whether variables are related (positive, negative, or no correlation)

• Example: Studying the relationship between screen time and sleep quality

Quasi-Experimental Research

• Purpose: To examine cause-and-effect relationships, like an experiment, but without random assignment.

• Key Features:

  • Manipulates the independent variable

  • Lacks random assignment of participants

  • Often used when randomization is not feasible (e.g., in schools or organizations)

• Example: Testing a new teaching method in one classroom, while another classroom follows the usual method.

Descriptive-Comparative Research

• Purpose: To compare two or more groups based on existing differences in a descriptive way.

• Key Features:

  • No manipulation of variables

  • Compares groups to find differences

  • Often answers the question “How does Group A differ from Group B?”

• Example: Comparing academic performance between male and female students.