NATURE OF INQUIRY

AND RESEARCH
Practical Research 2
 LEARNING TARGETS
I CAN... I CAN... I CAN...
describe illustrate the
differentiate kinds
characteristics, importance of
of variables and
strengths, weaknesses, quantitative
their uses.
and kinds of research across
quantitative research; fields; and
 Quantitative Research

01 02
A systematic and
Demands only real
scientific
or factual and not
investigation of
emotional or
numerical data and
cognitive data
their relationships.
03
Defined research
questions to which
objective answers are
sought (Babbie, 2010).
STRENG TH S
AND
WEAKN ES SES
 This design is an excellent way
to finalize result; proving or
rejecting hypothesis
STRENGTHS It filters out external factors
Results are real and unbiased
 There is usually some ambiguity, that requires
retesting and refinement of the design
Experiments can be difficult and expensive
WEAKNESSES With there are few rooms for grey and
uncertainty—for instance, human nature is a
lot more complex than just a simple yes/no
response
 Descriptive
kinds of Correlational

quantitative Causal-
ve
pa rati
research Com
Experimental
 Descriptive
Research
Attempts to describe the current
status of a selected variable
Provides information to the
subject of research

"The Tobacco Use Habits of Teenagers; Attitudes

of Scientists Regarding Global Warming; How
Parents Feel 12-month School Year"
 Correlational
Research
Answers the extent of
relationship of 2 or more
variables using statistical data
The data, relationships and
distributions of variable are
studied only
"Covariance of Smoking and Lung Disease; ACT
Scores and Freshman Grades; Relationship
between Diet and Anxiety"
Causal-Comparative/
Quasi-Experimental
Research
Attempts to establish cause-
effect relationship
Difference is, its independent
variable is not manipulated and
uses naturally formed groups
"The Effect Gender on Algebra Achievement;
Part-Time Employment on the Achievement
of High School Students"
 Experimental
Research
"True Experiment"
Identifies and imposes control over
all other variables
Independent variable is
manipulated; subjects are randomly
assigned
"The Effect Gender on Algebra Achievement;
Part-Time Employment on the Achievement
of High School Students"
IMPORTANCE ACROSS FIELDS

Behavioral
Communication
Science

Education and
Medicine
Psychology
 COMMUNICATION

Importance:
To understand particular communication phenomena
might be generalized to larger population

Example:
What communicative behaviors are used to respond to
co-workers displaying emotional stress
 MEDICINE

Importance:
It provides observational research through and based on
surveys or correlational studies

Example:
A research design that may enhance the quality of
medical education
 BEHAVIORAL
SCIENCE
Importance:
To determine how human behavior relates with other
people; individual differences that may affect human
relations

Example:
Parental Attachment During Childhood and Autonomy of
Adolescents
 EDUCATION AND
PSYCHOLOGY
Importance:
To create educational principles based on understanding
human behavior

Example:
Usefulness of Homework in Primary Education; An
introduction to the emotional impact modeling method of
an event
 Kin ds o f
Var iab le s a n d
Thei r Us e s
 Variables
These are properties or
characteristics of some
event, object, or person
that can take on different
value or amount.
CAN YOU TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE?
INDEPENDENT
VARIABLE

Causes change in the

dependent variable
Manipulated by the
researcher
 DEPENDENT
VARIABLE
Changes are caused by the
independent variable
Not manipulated by the
researcher but depend on
the independent
 OTHER VARIABLES
Intervening Antecedent
Variable Variable

This links or Variable that may

intervenes between increase/ decrease the
dependent and relationship between
independent variable independent and
dependent variables
 EXAMPLES
Intervening Variable: Study of association between being poor and
having a shorter life span. Just because someone is poor doesn’t
mean that will lead to an early death. Variables can include: lack of
access to healthcare or poor nutrition.

Antecedent Variable: A researcher wishes to study why some people

volunteer and some do not. They hypothesize that people with more
education (the antecedent variable) are more likely to know about
the existence of volunteer opportunities.
THANK YOU!
 referenceS
Books:
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Machi, L.A., & McEvoy, B.T. (2022). Literature review: Six steps to success. SAGE Publications, Inc.
Kumar, R. (2011). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (3th ed.). SAGE
Publications, Inc.

Online Resources:
Kanwal, Tooba. (2016). Quantitative research. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/ToobaSalman/quantitative-research-56914253
Winston-Salem State University. (2020). Retrieved July 5, 2020 from
https://www.wssu.edu/about/offices-and-departments/office-of-sponsored-programs/pre-
award/_Files/documents/develop-quantitative.pdf