Nature and Inquiry of Research

 Research is the method of acquiring knowledge based on the scientific method of inquiry to enrich the system of
objective knowledge in the fields of natural and social sciences.
 Research can be classified as either Qualitative or Quantitative.

Quantitative Research

 Quantitative research is essentially about collecting numerical data to explain a particular phenomenon.
 It inquires about people’s views in a structured manner so that hard evidences and statistics that may be used.
 It is either descriptive, wherein subjects are measured once, or experimental, wherein subjects are measured before
and after” (Babbie 2010).
 Data is “gathered using structured instruments. The results are based on large sample sizes that are representative
of the population and can be replicated” (Babbie 2010).
 It has “clearly defined research questions to which objective answers are sought” (Babbie 2010).

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

1. Positivism and Realism

2. Numerical Description – this refers to frequency distribution, percentage, and measures of central tendencies like
mode, median, and mean
3. Causal Explanation – this relates to the meaning of causality, which refers to a concern of establishing causal
connections rather than mere relationships (Bryman 2008)
4. Prediction – Is a statement about the future based on facts.
5. Nature of Social Reality – this refers to what can be known and how.
6. Objectivist – refers to the notion that reality is “objective,” “out there,” singular, and apart from the researcher, and
it can be measured objectively by using questionnaire or an instrument (Cresswell 1994)
7. Experimental/Manipulative – the researchers manipulate one variable and control/randomize the rest of the
variables.
8. Empirical Examination – Generally referred to as information that is derived through observation or experiment.
9. Measurement – The process of observing and recording the observations collected as part of a research effort.
10. Hypothesis Testing – an informed speculation, which is set up to be tested, about the possible relationship between
two or more variables (Bryman 2004)
11. Randomization
12. Research Protocol – the sequence of manipulations and measurement procedures that make up the experiment.
13. Questionnaire
14. Deductive Approach/ Testing of Theory – an approach to the relationship between theory and research in which the
latter is conducted with reference to hypotheses and ideas inferred from the former.

Strengths Limitations

It uses robust instrumentation, which may yield results

It employs inflexible research design due to the rigidity
that can be generalized to a larger population and other
and robustness of the instrumentation.
research settings.

It allows for greater accuracy of data because variables are Participants have limited participation on the design and
isolated, manipulated, and rigorously controlled. structure of the questionnaire.

Results can be replicated, analyzed, and compared with Numerical data do not provide detailed account of the
similar studies due to the use of robust instrumentation. phenomenon and do not capture human perception.

Numerical data allows summary of huge amount of Research is carried out in a laboratory setting and not in a
information and comparisons across categories over time. real-world setting.

Preselected options in a questionnaire do not necessarily

Personal bias is avoided because quantitative data are
reflect how participants truly feel about the question being
arrived at using established procedures.
asked
Kinds of Quantitative Research

1. Descriptive Research – designed to give “answers to the question of who, what, when, where, and how which are
linked with a research problem.
2. Experimental Research – a type of quantitative research that authorizes researchers to “control the situation which
allows them to answer the question “What causes something to occur?”
3. Survey Research – a survey is intended to acquire information from people concerning the predominance,
distribution, and interrelations of variables within an identified group.
4. Correlational Research – it tries to define the degree of relationship between two or more variables using statistical
data.
5. Causal – Comparative Research – it endeavors to ascertain cause – effect relationships among variables.

Importance of Quantitative Research

 It is useful in generating large amounts of data and in identifying the patterns of behavior of various sectors in
different settings.
 If you are after objectivity, then quantitative research may be adopted because it is less prone to bias as the findings
are expressed in terms of numbers.
 Quantitative research is adopted by some researchers instead of qualitative approach due to the following reasons:
a. It is more reliable and objective
b. It uses statistics to generalize a finding
c. It reduces and restructures a complex problem to a limited number of variables
d. It looks at relationships between variables and can establish cause and effect in highly controlled
circumstances
e. It tests theories and hypotheses
f. It assumes that a sample is representative of the population
g. The subjectivity of the researcher is recognized less
h. It is less detailed than qualitative research

Different Variables in Quantitative Research and Their Uses

1. Categorical Variable – A variable that is made up of different types or categories of a phenomenon.
(e.g. Variable gender is made up of two categories: Male and Female)
2. Quantitative Variable - A variable that varies in degree or amount of phenomenon.
(e.g. Variable anoual income varies from 0 to a very high level of income)
3. Independent Variable – A variable that is presumed to a cause changes in another variable; causal variable.
(e.g. Amount of studying (IV) affects test grade (DV)
4. Dependent Variable – A variable that changes because of another variable; the effect or outcome variable.
(e.g. Amount of studying (IV) affects test grade (DV)
5. Mediating Variable – A variable that comes in between other variables; helps to delineate the process through which
variables affect one another.
(e.g. Amount of studying leads to input and organization of knowledge in one’s long term memory (MV) which
affects test grade (DV)
6. Moderator Variable – A variable that delineates how a relationship of interest changes under different conditions
or circumstances.
(e.g. Perhaps the relationship between studying (IV) and test grades (DV) changes according to the level of use of
a drug such as Ritalin (moderator variable)

Prepared by:
Mary Jochelle S. Alburo
Instructor