PR2 | PREMID • V12

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

• deals with numerical data.

• It collects measurable information and uses statistical methods to describe, explain, or determine relationships among variables.

Characteristics:

– Objective

– Measurable

– Systematic

– Uses structured instruments

– Statistical analysis

Major Characteristics:

• Objectivity

• Replicability

• Controllability

• Generalizability

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OBJECTIVITY: Results observable and measurable facts using structured instruments, not personal opinions.

  • Example: Using students’ grades from records.

REPLICABILITY: The study can be repeated by other researchers using the same procedures and obtain similar results.

CONTROLLABILITY: Researchers identify and control variables that may influence the outcome.

  • Example: Same sunlight and water in a plant experiment.

GENERALIZABILITY: Findings can represent a larger population when appropriate sampling is used.

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STRENGTHS:

• uses statistics

• large samples

• objective findings

• tables and graphs

• easy comparison

• replicable

WEAKNESSES:

• requires large samples

• time-consuming

• statistical expertise

• human experiences reduced to numbers

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VARIABLES— is anything that can be observed, measured, or studied.

• Examples: people, objects, events, behaviors, situations.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (the cause), variable manipulated by the researcher.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE (the effect), variable measured by the researcher.

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Types of Quantitative Research

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: describes characteristics or conditions without manipulating variables.

CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH: determines relationships between variables without establishing cause and effect.

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH: determines cause-and-effect by manipulating variables and using random assignment.

QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH: studies cause-and-effect without random assignment; existing groups are used.

COMPARATIVE RESEARCH: compares groups or varaibles to determine similarities or differences.

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Key Takeaways:

• Quantitative research uses numbers.

• Four characteristics: Objectivity, Replicability, Controllability, and Generalizability.

• IV = Cause; DV = Effect

• Choose the proper research design.