Kinds, Importance, and Variables of Quantitative Research

The kind of research depends on the researcher’s aim in conducting the study and the extent to which the findings will be used.
Major kinds of quantitative research listed: Descriptive Research; Correlational Research; Evaluation Research; Survey Research; Casual-Comparative Research; Experimental Research.

Concerned with describing the nature, characteristics and components of the population of phenomenon.
Aims to accurately and systematically describe a population, situation or phenomenon.
There is no manipulation of variables or search for cause and effect related to the phenomenon.
Attempts to find general attributes of the presently existing situation and determine the frequency with which it occurs.

Systematic investigation of the nature of relationships, or associations between and among variables, without necessarily investigating causal reasons underlying them.
Concerned with the extent of relationships that exist between and among variables.

Aims to assess the effects, impacts or outcomes of practices, policies or programs.
Examples: assessing the implementation of nursing care in a hospital and determining the impact of a new treatment procedure for patients.

Used to gather information from groups of people by selecting and studying samples chosen from a population.
It may be done in various ways (face-to-face, phone, email, and online).
Can be cross-sectional - a type of observational study design that involves looking at data from a population at one specific point in time.
Longitudinal - involves repeated observations of the same variables (e.g., people) over long periods of time (i.e., uses longitudinal data).

Also known as ex-post facto (after the fact) research.
Derives a conclusion from observations and now compared to some dependent variables.
Discusses how and why a phenomenon occurs.
A methodology used to identify cause-effect relationships between independent and dependent variables.

Utilizes scientific method to test cause-and-effect relationships under conditions controlled by the researcher.
An effort is made to determine and impose control over all other variables except one.
Independent variable is manipulated to determine the effects of the dependent variable.

Researchers validate, test and challenge existing educational practices that may lead to reforms which are more contextualized, localized, and responsive to the needs of the learners.

Conduct research to design a new product or service, figuring out what is needed and ensuring that the development of a product is highly targeted towards demand.
Sufficient distribution of targeted products - Businessmen can also utilize research results to guarantee the sufficient distribution of their marketed product.
Research is important for any organization to remain competitive in the market.
Helps small businesses to decide if a procedure or strategy should be changed to meet the requirements of the customer base.

Conduct research to obtain significant information about disease trends and risk factors, results of various health interventions, patterns of care, and health care costs and use.
Helps in determining the effectiveness and even side effects of medicine in different populations and various contexts.
Helps in developing mechanisms for best practices and ensuring high quality patient care that only aims for human longevity.

Helps in providing designs that are creatively beautiful and at the same time give more convenience and efficiency as they utilize modern technology to adapt to the ever-changing society.
New materials and procedures may be developed so as to further strengthen the structural materials that can withstand various calamities and disasters.

Research aims to provide solutions to social problems directly felt by people.
Researchers in this field deal more with societal behaviors and social issues such as stress, worker ethics, organizational commitment, leadership style, child labor, teenage pregnancy, and human trafficking.
Lead to the formulation of new theories and practices that contribute to societal development and welfare.

A measurable characteristic that changes in value. Anything that may assume varied numerical or categorical values.
Examples: gender, socio-economic status, educational attainment.
Major variable types include:
- Continuous Variable
- Dichotomous Variable
- Interval Variable
- Ordinal Variable
- Ratio Variable
- Dependent Variable
- Discrete Variable
- Independent Variable
- Nominal Variable
- Variables (general term)

A variable that can take an infinite number of values.
Its values can be divided into fractions.
Examples: age, height, and temperature can be interval or ratio variables.
For instance, height cannot be negative and it cannot be higher than a practical maximum (e.g., three metres, as noted in the slide).

A measurement where the difference between two values has meaning.
Variables for which the central characteristic is that they can be measured along a continuum, and they have a numerical value.
Example: temperature.
Example: the difference between 20°C and 30°C is the same as between 30°C and 40°C.

Possesses the properties of an interval variable and has a clear definition of zero, indicating that there is none of that variable.
Examples: height, weight, and distance.

Also known as categorical or classificatory variables.
Any variable that has a limited number of distinct values and which cannot be divided into fractions.
Numeric variables that have a countable number of values between any two values.
A discrete variable is always numeric, and can be an ordinal or nominal variable.
Examples: number of customer complaints or the number of flaws or defects; can include groups like children, students, or parents.

A sub-type of nominal scale with only two categories like sex (male/female).
Dichotomous variables are nominal variables that have only two categories or levels.
Example: gender categorized as "male" or "female".

A variable that has two or more categories that can be ranked but a value cannot be placed on them numerically.
An ordinal variable is a categorical variable whose possible values are ordered.
Can be considered “in between” categorical and quantitative variables.
Example: Educational level categorized as elementary school, high school graduate, college.

Also called outcome variables.
The result or effect of the changes brought about by another variable (usually independent variable).
It depends on the independent variable.

Also called the cause variable.
The one responsible for the conditions that act on something else to bring about changes.
It is a variable that stands alone and isn’t changed by the other variables you are trying to measure.
Example: age.