Module 1

Practical Research 2

Week 1

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student:

1. Describes the characteristics,strengths,weaknesses,and kinds of
quantitative research.
2. Illustrates the importance of quantitative research across fields.
TOPIC: Nature and Inquiry Research

CORE VALUES:Competence

INTRODUCTION:
These are the common questions that the process of research seeks to find
answers to. How would you seek answers?What common sources of information
should you look at?How will you determine the reliability of the information that
you will find? Why is it important for you to be knowlegeable about your topic?
When you go through the research process,you will find out ways in which you
can ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information that you will gather.
Further,you will know appropriate means to collect facts,arrange them,and
present them comprehensively. In this regard,you will no longer be encountering
confusing facts and doubtful solutions.

LESSON PROPER:

A. Research Defined;

Innovations and breakthroughs that you come to know and enjoy are products of
research.Etymologically,research comes from the middle French word
“recherche” which means means the act of searching closely.Additionally the
word research is a combination of the prefix re-which means “once again” and
the word search means“to look for”. To summarize,research is the process of
looking information once gain.Its main objective is to answer questions and

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acquire new information,whether to solve a problem or to shed light on
confusing facts.

B. What is a quantitative Research?

Quantitative research is “explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that

are analyzed using mathematically based methods(in particular statistics)”.This
type of research utilizes numbers and statistical analysis.It is deal in studying
phenomenon which must contend with the problem of measurement.Quantitative
research is the traditional ,positivist scientific method which refers to general set
orderly,disciplined procedures to acquire information. It utilizes deductive
reasoning to generate predictions that are tested in the real world.

C. Characteristics of quantitative research:

1. It is reliable and objective.

2. It uses statistics to generalize a finding.
3. It reduces and restructures a complex problem to a limited number of
variables.
4. It looks at the connections between variables and establishes cause and
effect relationships in highly controlled circumstances.
5. It tests theories and hypotheses.
6. It assumes that the sample is representative of the population.
7. The subjectivity of its methodology is a secondary concern.
8. It deals with the details of the subject.

Strengths of quantitative research:

1. It allows the researcher to measure and analyze the data to arrive at an

objective answer to the problem posed or stated.
2. The result is reliable since the study uses a big sample of population.
3. Standards are usually used in choosing the instruments,in sampling
procedures, and in choosing the most appropriate statistical treatment,thus
making the research replicable.

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4. Personal biases can be avoided since personal interaction is not part of the
research process.
5. Processes involved are simplified since the steps in doing quantitative
research are made easy and systematic.

Weaknesses of quantitative research:

1. The context of the study or the experiment is ignored in such a way that it
does not consider the natural setting where the study is conducted.
2. Having a large study sample requires researchers to spend more resources.
3. Results are limited since they are usually based on the analysis of numbers
and are not obtained from detailed narratives.
4. It provides less elaborate accounts of human perceptions.
5. In experimental research,the level of control might not be normally placed
in the real world because it is usually done in a laboratory.
6. Findings can be influenced by the researcher’s perspective since most of
the time the participants are unknown to him/her.

Importance of quantitative reseach in different fields:

.Most areas of study have to deal with processes that involve

experimentations,tests and research. In these situations,quantitative measures are
more or less involved.In validating results or findings quantitative research can
be useful. Here are the importance of quantitative research in different areas.

1. Education = Quantitative research can be used in measuring the level of

performance of students as well as the teachers. It can also be used to assess the
effectiveness of the methods used,the different programs conducted,and the
satisfaction of all stakeholders in the educational sector including
students,faculty,parents,administrators,the community, the government and non-
governmental organizations.Through this research method,the interest of
these groups can be enhanced by implementing quantifiable best practices.

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2. Business = Quantitative research is a very valuable tool in business when it
is used intelligently.It can improve the overall marketing strategy;help the
company make informed decisions on how to move forward with a particular
product or service and even solicit consumers’ opinions for productivity.

3. Medical and Health Allied Services = Since health practitioners are

concerned with human life, the discharge of their duties is very critical. Thus
healthcare procedures, routines and other systems must be based on the result of
scientific investigation. The statistics on the rate of recovery, the number of
patients with illnesses and sicknesses, the efficacy of medicines and drugs,
among others, when analysed, can become rich sources of information and a
basis of good practices in medical treatment and intervention.

4. Science and Technology= the noted observation for a phenomenon, the rate
of processing of certain devices, and the time consumed for any procedure are
factors to be considered. The data collected will lead to a more responsible and
accountable operation of the different components of technology.

ASSESSMENT::

Answer the following questions based on your knowledge gained from the
discussion.
1. Define quantitative research.
2. Explain at least (2) characteristics of research.
3. Give at least(2) strength of quantitative research and explain.
4. Give at least (2) weaknessess of quantitative research and explain.
5. Specify the importance of quantitative resarch to the different
areas.Mention at least (2) areas of study as examples.

SUMMARY:

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Research is a continuous and repetitious pursuit of knowledge in order to arrive
at the truth. Research aims to produce and utilize new knowledge or information,
validate existing knowledge, and improve the researcher. According to the aim
of researcher, research is classified either as basic or applied. Basic research is
done to come up with new knowledge or to have a fuller grasp of the subject
while applied research is done to utilize Research topics maybe sourced from the
various disciplines or subject areas, provided or put into operation knowledge
whether it be old or new.
There are two main types of research approaches: the quantitative and qualitative
approaches. Qualitative research studies a phenomenon in its natural setting and
captures data from the source. It aims to present an in depth understanding of
human behaviour. Quantitative research yields measurable values that can be
analysed using statistics, figures, and mathematical models. Quantitative research
cuts acros different fields and disciplines. Quantitative research has strengths and
weaknessess.

Reference:

Cristobal,Amadeo,Cristobal,Maura Consolacion,2017, Practical Research 2,For

Senior High School,Published by C & E Publishing,Inc.

Solano,Irene,David,Oliver ,2019,Practical Research 2,Published by;Diwa

earning Systems Inc..

ASSESSMENT

Answer the following questions based on your knowledge

gained from the discussion.

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1. Define quantitative research.
Quantitative research is collecting numerical data that are
analysed using mathematically based methods. It utilizes
numbers and statistical analysis. It is deal in studying
phenomenon which must contend with the problem of
measurement.

2. Explain at least (2) characteristics of research.

1. It deals with the details of the subject.

2. It tests theories and hypotheses.

3. Give at least (2) strength of quantitative research and

explain.
1. Personal biases can be avoided since personal interaction is
not part of the research process.
Explanation: In research, bias occurs when systematic error is
introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging
one outcome or answer over others.

2. Processes involved are simplified since the steps in doing

quantitative research are made easy and systematic.
Explanation: it can only answered by numbers.

4.Give at least (2) weaknesses of quantitative research and

explain.

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 1. Results are limited since they are usually based on the
analysis of numbers and are not obtained from detailed
narratives.
Explanation: since this is a quantitative research the research
will be limited because it is analysed using mathematically
based methods.

2. It provides less elaborate accounts of human perceptions.

Explanation: unlike qualitative. Quantitative focus on numbers
so they can only answer using nunbers.

5. Specify the importance of quantitative research to the

different areas. Mention at least (2) areas of study as
examples.
1. Education
2. Science and Technology

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