MODULE: PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

Chapter 2:
Characteristics, Strengths,
Weaknesses and Kinds of
Quantitative Research

Objectives:
a) Describes characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and kinds of quantitative
research.
b) Explain the kinds of quantitative research design.

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Characteristics, Strengths, Weaknesses

DEFINITION OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative research is an objective, systematic empirical investigation of
observable phenomena through the use of computational techniques. It highlights
numerical analysis of data hoping that the numbers yield unbiased results that can be
generalized to some larger population and explain a particular observation. Simply,
quantitative research is concerned with numbers and its relationship with events.

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

1. OBJECTIVE. Quantitative research seeks accurate measurement and analysis of
target concepts. It is not based on mere intuition and guesses. Data are gathered
before proposing a conclusion or solution to a problem.
2. CLEARLY DEFINED RESEARCH QUESTIONS. The researchers know in
advance what they are looking for. The research questions are well-defined for
which objective answers are sought. All aspects of the study are carefully designed
before data are gathered.
3. STRUCTURED RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS. Standardized instruments guide
data collection, thus, ensuring the accuracy, reliability and validity of data. Data
are normally gathered using structured research tools such as questionnaires to
collect measurable characteristics of the population like age, socio-economic
status, number of children, among others.
4. NUMERICAL DATA. Figures, tables or graphs showcase summarized data
collection in order to show trends, relationships or differences among variables. In
sum, the charts and tables allow you to see the evidence collected.
5. LARGE SAMPLE SIZES. To arrive at a more reliable data analysis, a normal
population distribution curve is preferred. This requires a large sample size,
depending on how the characteristics of the population vary. Random sampling is
recommended in determining the sample size to avoid researcher’s bias in
interpreting the results.
6. REPLICATION. Quantitative methods can be repeated to verify findings in another
setting, thus strengthen and reinforcing validity of findings eliminating the
possibility of spurious conclusions.
7. FUTURE OUTCOMES. By using complex mathematical calculations and with the
aid of computers, if-then scenarios may be formulated thus predicting future
results. Quantitative research puts emphasis on proof, rather than discovery.

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Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

Strengths
• Quantitative research design is the
most reliable and valid way of
concluding results, giving way to a
new hypothesis or to disproving it.
• Because of a bigger number of the
sample of a population, the results
or generalizations are more reliable
and valid.
• Quantitative experiments filter out
external factors, if properly
designed, and so the results gained
can be seen, as real and unbiased.
Quantitative experiments are useful
for testing the results gained by a
series of qualitative experiments,
leading to a final answer, and a
narrowing down of possible directions to follow.
• It is objective. The most reliable and valid way of concluding results, giving way to
a new hypothesis or to disproving it. Because of bigger number of the sample of a
population, the results or generalizations are more reliable and valid. Since it
provides numerical data, it can’t be easily misinterpreted.
• The use of statistical techniques facilitates sophisticated analyses and allows you
to comprehend a huge amount of vital characteristics of data.
• It is real and unbiased. If the research is properly designed it filters out external
factors, and so can be seen as real and unbiased.
• The numerical data can be analyzed in a quick and easy way. By employing
statistically valid random models, findings can be generalized to the population
about which information is necessary.
• Quantitative studies are replicable. Standardized approaches allow the study to be
replicated in different areas or over time with formulation of comparable findings.
• Quantitative experiments are useful for testing the results gained by a series of
qualitative experiments, leading to a final answer, and narrowing down of possible
directions to follow.

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Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

Weaknesses
• Quantitative research can be costly,
difficult and time-consuming- difficult
because most researchers are non-
mathematicians. '
• Quantitative studies require extensive
statistical treatment, requiring stringent
standards, more so with confirmation of
results. When ambiguities in some findings
surface, retesting and refinement of the
design call for another investment in time
and resources to polish the results.
• Quantitative methods also tend to turn
out only proved or unproven results,
leaving little room for uncertainty, or grey
areas. For the social sciences, education,
anthropology and psychology, human
nature is a lot more complex than just a simple yes or no response.
• Quantitative research requires a large number of respondents. It is assumed that
the larger the sample is, the more statistically accurate the findings are.
• It is costly. Since, there are more respondents compared to qualitative research,
the expenses will be greater in reaching out to these people and in reproducing
questionnaires.
• The information is contextual factors to help interpret the results or to explain
variations are usually ignored. It does not consider the distinct capacity of the
respondents to share and elaborate further information unlike the qualitative
research.
• Much information are difficult to gather using structured research instruments,
specifically on sensitive issues like pre-marital sex, domestic violence, among
others.
• If not done seriously and correctly, data from questionnaires may be incomplete
and inaccurate. Researchers must be on the look-out on respondents who are just
guessing in answering the instrument.

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Kinds of Quantitative Research

Kinds of Quantitative Research Designs

Research design refers to the overall strategy that you choose in order to
integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby
ensuring you will effectively address the research problem. Furthermore, a research
design constitutes the blueprint for the selection, measurement and analysis of data. The
research problem determines the research design you should use.
Quantitative methods emphasize objective measurements and the statistical,
mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and
surveys, or by manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational techniques.
Quantitative research designs are generally classified experimental and non-
experimental as the following matrix shows:

The following are the various kinds of quantitative research design that a researcher may
employ:
1. Experimental research design allows the researcher to control the situation. In
so doing, it allows the researcher to answer the question, "What causes something
to occur?" This kind of research also allows the researcher to identify cause and
effect relationships between variables and to distinguish placebo effects from
treatment effects. Further, this research design supports the ability to limit
alternative explanations and to infer direct causal relationships in the study; the
approach provides the highest level of evidence for single studies.

A. Pre-experimental types of research apply to experimental designs with the

least internal validity. One type of pre-experiment, the single group, pre-test-

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post-test design, measures the group two times, before and after the
intervention.
Instead of comparing the pretest with the posttest within one group, the posttest
of the treated groups is compared with that of an untreated group. Measuring
the effect as the difference between groups marks this as between-subjects
design. Assuming both groups experienced the same time-related influences,
the comparison group feature should protect this design from the rival
explanations that threaten the within-subject design.
Two classes of experimental designs can provide better internal validity
than-pre-experimental designs: quasi-experimental and true experimental
(Dooly, 1999).
B. In a Quasi-Experimental Design, the researcher can collect more data, either
by scheduling more observations or finding more existing measures.

C. A True Experimental Design controls for both time-related and group-related

threats. Two features mark true experiments- two or more differently treated
groups and random assignment to these groups. These features require that
the researchers have control over the experimental treatment and the power to
place subjects in groups.
True experimental design employs both treated and control groups to
deal with time-related rival explanations.
A control group reflects changes other than those due to the treatment
that occur during the time of the study. Such changes include effects of outside
events, maturation by the subjects, changes in measures and impact of any
pre-tests.
True experimental design offers the highest internal validity of all the
designs. Quasiexperimental design differs from true experimental design by
the absence of random assignment of subjects to different conditions. What
quasi-experiments have in common with true experiments is that some subjects
receive an intervention and provide data likely to reflect its impact.

Types of Quasi-Experimental Design

1. Non-equivalent control group design - refers to the chance failure of
random assignment to equalize the conditions by converting a true
experiment into this kind of design, for purposes of analysis.
2. Interrupted Time Series Design - employs multiple measures before
and after the experimental intervention. It differs from the single-group
pre-experiment that has only one pretest and one posttest. Users of this
design assume that the time threats such as history or maturation
appear as regular changes in the measures prior to the intervention.

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2. Non-experimental Research Design
In this kind of design, the researcher observes the phenomena as they
occur naturally and no external variables are introduced. In this research design,
the variables are not deliberately manipulated nor is the setting controlled.
Researchers collect data without making changes or introducing treatments.
The Descriptive Research
The Descriptive research design's main purpose is to observe, describe and
document aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs and sometimes to serve as
a starting point for hypothesis generation or theory development

Types of Descriptive Research Designs

1. Survey - a research design used when the researcher intends to provide a
quantitative or numeric description of trends, attitudes or opinions of a
population by studying a sample of that population (Creswell, 2003). For
example, universities regularly float surveys to determine customer
satisfaction, that is, the students' attitudes toward or opinions regarding
student services like the canteen, clinic, security, the guidance and
counselling services, and the like.

2. Correlational - Correlational Research has three types:

• Bivariate correlational studies - obtain scores from two variables for
each subject, then use them to calculate a correlation coefficient. The
term bivariate implies that the two variables are correlated (variables are
selected because they are believed to be related).
Examples: Children of wealthier (variable #1), better educated (variable
#2) parents earn higher salaries as adults.

• Prediction studies - use correlation co-efficient to show how one

variable (the predictor variable) predicts another (the criterion variable).
Examples: Which high school applicants should be admitted to college?

• Multiple Regression Prediction Studies - suppose the high school

GPA is not the sole predictor of college GPA, what might be other good
predictors? All of these variables can contribute to the over-all prediction
in an equation that adds together the predictive power of each identified
variable.

3. Ex-Post Facto Research Design - These are non-experimental designs

that are used to investigate causal relationships. They examine whether one
or more pre-existing conditions could possibly have caused subsequent
differences in groups of subjects. Researchers attempt to discover whether

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differences between groups have results in an observed difference in the
independent variables.
Examples: What is the effect of home schooling on the social skills of
adolescents?
4. Comparative design - involves comparing and contrasting two or more
samples of study subjects on one or more variables, often at a single point
of time. Specifically, this design is used to compare two distinct 'groups on
the basis of selected attributes such as knowledge level, perceptions, and
attitudes, physical or psychological symptoms. For example, a comparative
study on the health problems among rural and urban older people from
district Mehsana, Gujarat.4.

5. Evaluative Research - seeks to assess or judge in some way providing

information about something other than might be gleaned in mere
observation or investigation of relationships.
For example, where a test of children in school is used to assess the
effectiveness of teaching or the deployment of a curriculum.
Evaluation research is conducted to elicit useful feedback from a variety of
respondents from various fields to aid in decision making or policy
formulation.
There are various types of evaluation depending on the purpose of the
study. Formative and summative evaluation types are most commonly used
in research.
Formative evaluation is used to determine the quality of implementation of
a project, the efficiency and effectiveness of a program, assessment of
organizational processes like procedures, policies, guidelines, human
resource development and the like.
6. Methodological - in this approach, the implementation of a variety of
methodologies forms a critical part of achieving the goal of developing a
scale-matched approach, where data from different disciplines can be
integrated.

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EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

For further reading please refer to the link provided:
Characteristics, Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative
Research
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y597DQOzDU8
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfvI4br109w
Kinds of Quantitative Research Designs
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JCy2PsNB_Q

• https://www.slideshare.net/maestrojoash/32-strengths-and-weaknesses-of-
qualitative-research
• https://www.academia.edu/35969852/Chapter_1_Lesson_1_Characteristic
s_Strengths_Weaknesses_Kinds_of_Quantitative_Research

CHAPTER 2: CHARACTERISTICS, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH 9