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QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

• Based on the measurement or quantity.
• Uses scientifically collected and statistically analyzed data to investigate observable phenomena.

NUMERICAL DATA

• Are generally easier to collect than descriptions or phrases used in qualitative research.
• Non-numerical numbers can be expressed in numbers unless we do a survey using a rating scale such as Likert Scale.

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

1. Large Sample Size - to obtain more meaningful statistical results, the data come from a large sample size.
2. Objectivity - data gathering and analysis of results are done accurately, objectively, and are unaffected by the researcher's intuition and personal guesses.
3. Concise Visual Presentation - data is numerical which makes presentation through graph, chart, and table possible and with better conveyance and interpretation.
4. Faster Data Analysis - the use of a statistical tools gives way for a less time-consuming data analysis.
5. Generalized Data - data taken from a sample can be applied to the population if sampling is done accordingly.
6. Fast and Easy Data Collection - depending on the type of data needed, collection can be quick and easy.

• It uses standardised research instruments that allow the researcher to collect data from a large sample size efficiently

1. Reliable Data - data is taken and analyzed objectively from a sample as a representative of the population, making it more credible and reliable for policymaking and decision making.
2. High Replicability - can be repeated to verify findings enhancing its validity, free from false or immature conclusions.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

ADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

1. Strictly objective.
2. Numerical and quantifiable data can be used to predict outcomes.
3. Findings are generalizable to the population.
4. There is conclusive establishment of cause and effect
5. Fast and easy data analysis using statistical softwares.
6. Fast and easy data gathering
7. Quantitative research can be replicated or repeated.
8. Validity and reliability can be established.

DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

1. It lacks the necessary data to explore a problem or concept in depth.
2. It does not provide comprehensive explanation of human experiences.
3. Some information cannot be described by numerical data such as feelings and beliefs.
4. The research design is rigid and not very flexible
5. The participants are limited to choose only from the given responses.
6. The respondents may tend to provide inaccurate responses.
7. A large sample size makes data collection more costly.

IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS FIELDS

• The value of quantitative research to man’s quest to discover the unknown and improve underlying conditions is undeniable. Throughout history, quantitative research has paved the way to find meaningful solutions to difficulties.
• For instance, the development of vaccines to strengthen our community against virus
• The findings of the quantitative study can influence leaders’ and law-makers’ decision for crafting and implementing laws for the safety and welfare of the more significant majority.
• Helps us determine and better understand relationships between variables or phenomena crucial to reducing the range of uncertainty because the mathematics behind quantitative studies helps us make close estimates of the outcome.
• Most inventions and innovations are products of quantitative studies.
• To improve or enhance ways of doing things, to disprove or provide a new hypothesis, or simply to find answers to questions or solutions to problems in daily life.
• Quantitative research is often used because of its emphasis on proof rather than discovery.

THE USE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS FIELDS

ABM

- design a new product or service, figuring out what is need and ensure the development of the product targeted towards demand.

- Utilize research result to guarantee sufficient distributions of their products and decide where they need to increase their product distributions.

- It may also help a small business decide if a procedure or strategy should be changed to meet the requirements of the customer base.

- Correctly determine its customer and their preferences, establish the enterprise in the most feasible location.

ANTHROPOLOGY

- Anthropology is a research method of combining qualitative and quantitative research data. It is concerned with exploring connections simultaneously, amidst cultural differences, alternatives and identity.

- It uses in true experiments in studying people provided that you follow certains steps (Bernard, 2004)

COMMUNICATION

- interested in how an understanding of a particular communication phenomenon might generalize to a larger population.

SPORTS MEDICINE - used to analyze how sports may be used as an alternative way of medicating an illness.

MEDICAL EDUCATION

- tends to be predominantly observational research based on survey or correlational studies. The design test interventions like curriculum, teaching-learning process or assessment with experimental groups.

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES - how patterns of behavior or perceptions might differ from one group or type of a person to another.

EDUCATION - quasi experiments are most often used in evaluating social problems.

PSYCHOLOGY

- Mertens (2005) says that the dominant paradigms that guided early psychological research were positivism and its successor, post-positivism. Positivism based on rationalistic and empiricist philosophy, that originated with Aristotle, Francis Bacon, John Locke, August Comte, and Immanuel Kant.

STEM -

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS FIELD

SOCIAL SCIENCE

- show effects of intervention to group behavior.

- understand cultural or racial conflicts

- human satisfaction and stressor

NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE

- investigate the effectiveness of a proudcr or treatment to illnesses

- Finding or enhancing alternative energy sources

- advancement in material science

AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

- increase the yield of crops

- prevent and cure crops and livestock diseases.

SPORTS

- enhance athletic performance

BUSINESS

- offer device marketing strategies

- improve marketability

ARTS AND DESIGN

- show relationship between color and architectural space

- maximize use of multimedia and adaptation for recreation, business marketing and lifestyle changes.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

- determine cause and effects of climate change

VARIABLES - are elements, attributes, characteristics, categories and values which are being considered, measure, given value, and oftentimes manipulated in conducting research.

- the word variable was derived from the word vary which refers to factors which may differ or may change depending on a certain individual.

TYPES OF VARIABLES

• CONTINUOUS VARIABLES - take an infinite value and can be divided into smaller increments either decimal or fraction forms which represents an attribute or characteristics of a certain population.

Classification of Continuous Variable

1. Interval Variable - measure the diff in measurement of two values and provides interpretation based on the differences.
2. Ratio Variables - take values and measurement which has an absolute zero value. (pulse rate and temp Kelvin)

• DISCRETE VARIABLES - also known as classificatory or categorical variables. These variables are measure in finite and countable values.

Classification of Discrete Variable

1. Nominal Variable - CANNOT be arranged in order. These variables DON’T take numerical values or measurement.
2. Ordinal Variable - CAN be arranged in order or rank either from highest to lowest or from smallest to largest. These variables DON’T take numerical values or measurement.
3. Dichotomous Variable - consists of only two distinct categories or values. (yes or no)

KINDS OF VARIABLES

• Independent Variables - known to cause change, affect the outcome and influence other variables. IDV are often manipulated in order to test and identify the extent of its effect on DV.
• Dependent Variables - known as the result, effect or outcome variables which relies and influenced by IDV.
• Extraneous Variables - other factors that may influence the outcome that is not manipulated or pre-defined by the researcher. - may affect the result of the experiment, it is crucial for the researcher to identify them prior to conducting the experiment and control them in such a way that they do not threaten internal validity
• Control Variables - known to be constant and unchanged throughout the conduct of an investigations or research, and may greatly influence the result and outcome of a research.
• Confounding Variables - known as existing elements or factors whose effect and influence are either neglected, ignored and often time not measured their impact.

DESIGNING RESEARCH TOPIC - a well-defined research topic is essential for successful research. When the topic is not well-defined, it becomes unmanageable and may result in some drawbacks during data collection and analysis that could compromise the strength of your study.

4 Basic Steps in Designing Research Topic:

1. CHOOSE A BROAD TOPIC p
2. DO PRELIMINARY RESEARCH
3. DEFINE THE PROBLEM
4. REFINE THE QUESTION

RESEARCH TITLE is the most important element that captures reader’s attention and highlights the research problem under investigation.

- It is a concise description of the content of the research study containing the fewest possible words, yet adequate to describe the contents of the paper.

- It may seem very easy to write a research title but the truth is, it actually entails a detailed understanding of the research problem.

- If the research prob is not well-thought off, research may not have focus and direction.

SUGGESTION

- the title should be within the researcher’s interest so that he/she would be motivated.

- come up with a working title first rather than coming up with a final title.

- know where to locate research prob

BASIC GUIDELINES

- use an accurate description of the subject and scope of the study instead of using general terms

- DO NOT use abbreviations except for commonly known ones

- DO NOT include words like “The study of”, “analysis of”. “An investigation of”

- include the main dependent and independent variables.

- BE MINDFUL of the proper use of grammar and punctuation

- capitalize all nouns, pronoun, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, as well the first letter and last words

- the year should not be indicated unless it is historical study

- use current terminology

- 5 to 15 words for describing research study

- must reflect the tone of the paper.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY - part of the paper that informs the reader of the context of the study.

CONTEXT - means the situation or circumstances within which the research topic was conceptualized.

RESEARCH GAP - under unexplored area of a topic that requires further exploration.

BOTS AND RRL - involves reading past related studies, although they differ in some aspects.

- The RRL is more comprehensive and thoroughly discuss the studies mentioned in the background of research.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM - is a short, clear explanation of an issue or challenge that sums up what you want to change.

- formally introduces the problem that you want to investigate or address

RESEARCH PROBLEM - is a simple a problem you would like to investigate.

- it dealt more with the precision and specificity of the problem, it describes the trends and patterns of a phenomenon.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS - help clarify and specify the research problem.

- considered as sub-problems of your research problems, these questions are informative.

- it specifies the method of collecting and analyzing data and the type of data to be collected.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2020)

1. Feasible - is the research problem possible?
2. Clear - uniform agreement is required to lessen unnecessary variables that may lead to miscalculations, misunderstandings, and even confusion
3. Significant - importance of knowing the answer to the research question (relatable or relevant)
4. Ethical - the research questions are wary of the welfare of the subject involved

FORMULATING RESEARCH QUESTION

Research questions can be generally classified into 2: general and specific

GENERAL questions of the study is derived from the research problem

SPECIFIC questions are anchored on the general research problems

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION - specifies the coverage of your study such as variables, populations or respondents and timeline.

- delimitation cites factor of your study that are not included or excluded in your study.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY - refers to the potential importance, relevance or impact of the research findings.

- provides outline for the contributions for the existing body of knowledge.

DEFINITION OF TERMS - also known as Operational Definition Variable (ODV)

- an annex to a literature that contains the list of acronyms, jargons, credits, etc. that has been used for the entire research as technical and operational terms.