Quantitative Research Notes

Quantitative Research

  • Uses scientifically collected and statistically analyzed data to investigate observable phenomena.
  • Commonly used in natural sciences research.

Characteristics:

  • Large Sample Size: Meaningful statistical results.
  • Objectivity: Data unaffected by researcher's intuition.
  • Concise Visual Presentation: Numerical data, graphs, charts, tables.
  • Faster Data Analysis: Using statistical tools.
  • Generalized Data: Sample data applied to the population.
  • Fast and Easy Data Collection: Standardized instruments.
  • Reliable Data: Objective analysis for policymaking.
  • High Replicability: Method can be repeated to verify findings.

Advantages:

  • Objective.
  • Numerical data predicts outcomes.
  • Findings are generalizable.
  • Cause and effect establishment.
  • Fast data analysis.
  • Easy data gathering.
  • Replicable.
  • Validity and reliability.

Disadvantages:

  • Lacks in-depth exploration.
  • Doesn't explain human experiences.
  • Some information can't be numerical.
  • Rigid design.
  • Limited response choices.
  • Inaccurate responses possible.
  • Costly with large samples.

Kinds of Quantitative Research Design

  • Descriptive Research
    • Answers the questions 4W and H (What, Where, When, Who, and How) except why.
    • Describes what exists; no experimental manipulation.
    • Goal: To describe the person or object of the study
    • Ex. “The determination of the different kinds of physical activities and how often high school students do it during the quarantine period. ”
  • Survey Research
    • Acquires information from people.
    • Gathers data on variables within a group.
    • Aims to gather evidence of people’s knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and values on various issues and concerns.
  • Correlational Research
    • Identifies the relationship between variables.
    • Data is collected by observation since it does not consider the cause and effect.
    • Ex. “The relationship between the amount of physical activity done and student academic achievement. ”
    • Based on pairs of measures or scores of a single sample.
    • Indicates strengths of relationships between two variables.
  • Ex Post Facto Research
    • Investigates relationships between previous events and present conditions.
    • Looks at causes of an already occurring phenomenon.
    • No experimental manipulation.
    • Ex. “How does the parent’s academic achievement affect the children obesity?”
  • Quasi-experimental Research
    • Establishes cause-and-effect relationships.
    • Lesser validity due to the absence of random selection and assignment of subjects.
    • Independent variable is identified but not manipulated.
    • Compares experimental and control groups.
    • Ex. “The effects of unemployment on attitude towards following safety protocol in ECQ declared areas. ”
  • Experimental Research
    • Establishes cause-and-effect relationships with random assignment and manipulations.
    • Ex. “ A comparison of the effects of various blended learning to the reading comprehension of elementary pupils. ”
  • True Experimental Research
    • The researcher is authorized to control the situation and manipulates the Independent Variable (IV) to detect its influence on the Dependent Variable (DV).
    • Attempts to identify the cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
    • Caution with experimental because it is artificial and may not be generalized well to the real world. It is because artificial settings may alter the behavior of the participants.

Research Variable

  • Changing quality, attribute, or characteristic of interest.
  • (\text{Ex. Intelligence, Social competence, bullying}).
  • Parametric methods (e.g., t-test, ANOVA) use mean and standard deviation.
  • Nonparametric methods compare mean ranks.

Quantitative Research and Different Fields

  • Anthropology
    • Study of humans, behavior, and societies.
    • Discoveries such as human behavior in the society, racial conflicts and human evolution.
    • Anthropologists study culture and its relationship to human life.
  • Communication
    • Conveying meanings through signs and symbols.
    • Communication research helps understand phenomena and direct communication.
  • Medicine
    • Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
    • Medical research advances knowledge to prevent and cure health problems.
  • Psychology
    • Study of the human mind and behavior.
    • Quantitative psychologists measure human behavior using statistical modelling.
  • Social Science
    • Study of society and human behavior.
    • Social Science Research: Gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information for purposes.

Research Title

  • Descriptive, direct, accurate, appropriate, interesting, concise, precise, unique, and non-misleading.

Background of the Study (BOTS)

  • Provides context with relevant studies.
  • Length and detail depend on complexity.

How to Write the BOTS

  • Start with a strong beginning
  • Cover key components
  • Take note of important prerequisites
  • Maintain a balance
  • Include historical data
  • Explain novelty
  • Increase engagement

Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Ambiguity.
  • Unrelated themes.
  • Poor organization.

Research Questions

  • Inquiry about a topic answered through research.
  • Guides and focuses the research.
  • Helps form a testable hypothesis.

Scope and Delimitation

  • Narrow down the study.
  • Define parameters and boundaries.
  • Scope: Domain of research.
  • Delimitation: Factors excluded from research.

Example

  • RQ: “What is the impact of bullying on the mental health of adolescents?”
  • Scope
    • Variables: “bullying” and “mental health”
    • Bullying type: Face-to-face and cyberbullying
    • Target population: Adolescents aged 12–17
    • Geographical coverage: France or only one specific town in France
    • Research design: Mixed-methods research, including thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and statistical analysis of a survey
    • Timeframe: Data collection to run for 3 months
    • Population size: 100 survey participants; 15 interviewees
  • Delimitation:
    • Exploring the adverse effects of bullying on adolescents' mental health Preliminary delimitation

Statement of the Problem (SOP)

  • Guides research design and ensures focus.
  • Addresses a gap in knowledge.

Theoretical Framework

  • How to Write a Theoretical Framework
    1. Identifying your key concepts.
    2. Evaluating and explaining relevant theories.
    3. Showing how your research fits into existing research.

Conceptual Framework

  • Understanding key concepts, variables, relationships and assumptions.

Purpose in Research:

  • Helps to clarify research questions
  • Provides a theoretical basis for the study
  • Guides data collection and analysis
  • Ensures research validity and reliability
  • Helps to make conclusions and recommendations

Importance in Research

  • Provide a basis for research design
  • Guide data collection and analysis
  • Ensure validity and reliability
  • Facilitate communication
  • Identify gaps in existing knowledge

Hypothesis

  • Null and Alternative Hypotheses are used in statistical hypothesis testing.

Null Hypothesis

  • No effect/relationship between variables.

Alternative Hypothesis

  • Predicts an effect/relationship.

Examples:

  1. H0: There is no relationship between height and shoe size.
    Alternative Hypothesis: Ha: There is a positive relationship between height and shoe size.
  2. H0: Experience on the job has no impact on the quality of a brick mason's work.