Practical Research II 6.
Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often
Mrs. Rosalina L. Guzman
Lesson 1: Characteristics, Strengths, Weaknesses,
and Kinds of Quantitative
Research
 Quantitative Research
- deals in numbers, logic, and an objective stance
- focuses on numbers and unchanging data and detailed
convergent reasoning rather than divergent.
Logic – the science that studies the formal processes
used in thinking and reasoning
Objective – based on facts rather than feelings
Stance – publicly stated opinion
Convergent – tending to move forward one point or to
approach each other
Main Characteristics of Quantitative Research
1. The data is usually gathered using structured research
instruments.
2. The results are based on larger sample sizes that are
representative of the population.
3. The research study can usually be replicated or repeated,
given its high reliability.
4. Researcher has a clearly defined research question to
which objective answers are sought.
5. All aspects of the study are carefully designed before the
data is collected.
arranged in tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual forms.
7. Project can be used to generalize concepts more widely,
predict future results, or investigate casual relationships.
Strengths:
 Testing and validating already constructed theories
about how and why phenomena occur
 Testing hypotheses that are constructed before the
data are collected
 Can generalize research findings when the data are
based on random samples of sufficient size
 Can generalize a research finding when it has been
replicated on many different populations and
subpopulations
 Useful for obtaining data that allow quantitative
predictions to be made
 The researcher may construct a situation that
eliminates the confounding influence of many
variables, allowing one to more credibly establish
cause and effect relationships
 Data collection using some quantitative methods is
relatively quick (e.g. telephone interviews)
 Provides precise, quantitative, numerical data
 Data analysis is relatively less time consuming (using
statistical software)
 The research results are relatively independent of the
researcher (e.g. statistical significance)
 It is useful for studying large numbers of people
Weaknesses:
 The researcher’s categories that are used might not
reflect local constituencies understandings
 The researcher’s theories that are used might not
reflect local constituencies understandings
 The researcher moght5 miss out on phenomena
occurring because of the focus on theory or hypothesis
testing rather than on theory or hypothesis generation
(called the confirmation bias)
 Knowledge produced might be too abstract and
general application to specific local situations, contexts,
and individuals
Two Kinds of Quantitative Research:
1. Experimental – is a quantitative research that treats or
deals with the object or subject of the research in a definite or
exact manner and determines the extent of the effects or
influence of the treatment on the object/subject then discovers
the cause of such effects.
In an experiment, the factor (also called an
independent variable) is an explanatory variable manipulated
by the experimenter. Each factor has two or more levels, i.e.,
different values of the factor. Combinations of factor levels are
called treatments.
Example of treatment: If somebody is sick (fever) you
give biogesic (paracetamol) as your treatment. The same thing
in experimental research you give treatments to make
changes in the dependent variables.
Sample Title of Experimental Research: “STUDY ON THE
EFFECT OF PARTS STRATEGY AND ANXIETY ON READING
COMPETENCY AT THE ELEVENTH GRADE STUDENT OF PALOMPON
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL”
2. Non-experimental – is a way of finding out truths about a
subject by describing the collected data about such subject
and determining their relationship or connections with one
another. Any treatment or condition is not involved in this type
of research. It collects data through survey, observation,
historical studies, case studies, documentary analysis, and so
on. (Suter 2012; Sarantakos 2013)
Sample Title of Non-Experimental Research: “A STUDY OF
THE CONSUMERS PERCEPTION OF VALUE IN ONLINE FASHION
RETAIL SALES”
Practical Research II
Mrs. Rosalina L. Guzman
Lesson 2: Importance of Quantitative Research
Across Fields
Importance of Quantitative Research Across Fields
The importance of quantitative research lies greatly in
the production of results that should reflect precise
measurement and in-depth analysis of data. It is also useful in
obtaining an objective understanding of people, things, places,
and events in this world; meaning attaching accurate or exact
meanings to objects or subjects, rather than inflated meanings
resulting from researcher’s bias or personal attachment to
things related to the research. Requiring the use of reliable
measurement instruments or statistical methods, a quantitative
study enables people to study their surroundings as objective
as they can. This kind of research is likewise an effective
method to obtain information about specified personality traits
of a group member or of the group as a whole as regards to
the extent of the relationship of their characteristics and the
reason behind the instability of some people’s characteristics.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS FIELDS
People do research to find solutions, even tentative ones to
problems, in order to improve or enhance ways of doing
things, to disprove or provide a new hypothesis or simply to
find answers to questions or solutions in daily life. In natural
and social sciences, quantitative research is the systematic,
empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical
and mathematical techniques.
Quantitative Research and Anthropology
Many discoveries in this field like human behavior in
the society, racial conflicts, and human evolution have given
enormous contributions to the improvement of human life.
Quantitative Research and Communication
Researchers are often interested in how an
understanding of a particular communication phenomena
might be generalized to a larger population.
Example: What communicative behaviors are used to respond
to co-workers displaying emotional stress?
Qualitative Research and Medicine
This tends to be predominantly observational research
based on surveys or correlational studies. Experimental
research designs may enhance the quality of medical
education.
Quantitative Research and Behavioral Science
The output of this research focuses on how human
behavior relates with another people and also the individual
differences that may affect human relations.
Quantitative Research in Educational and Psychology
Many educational principles in understanding human
behavior are the offshoot of this research.
Quantitative Research and Social Science
The method employed in this type of quantitative social
research are mostly typically the survey and the experiment.
Example: the study of DSWD regarding 4P’s.
Practical Research II
Mrs. Rosalina L. Guzman
Lesson 3: Kinds of Variables and Their Uses
Variables
Variables are “changing qualities or characteristics” of
persons or things like age, gender, intelligence, ideas,
achievements, confidence, and so on that are involved in your
research study. Made up of the root or base word “vary” which
means to undergo changes or differ from. Variables have
different or varying values in relation to time and situation. For
instance, as years go by, your age or intelligence increases.
But placed in a situation where you are afflicted with a disease
or have no means of reading or no access to any sources of
knowledge, your intelligence tends to decrease.
Two Types of Variables
1. Independent Variables (IV) – are those that cause
changes in the subject.
2. Dependent variables (DV) – are those that bear or
manifest the effects caused by the independent
variables. Hence, in a causal relationship, the cause
comes from the independent variables; the effects on
the dependent variables
Example:
In an experimental research, the independent variable
as the condition or treatment applied to the experimental group
is under the control, direction, or manipulation of the
researcher or experimenter. For instance, to determine the
positive effects of one modern grammar theory called SFG
(Systematic Functional Grammar) on IC (Intercultural
Competence), you apply this theory in varied ways like
realizing this in a collaborative, oral, or written activity. In this
case, the SFG serves as the independent variable and the IC
as the dependent variable.
OTHER TYPES OF VARIABLES (Russel 2013; Babbie
2013)
Extraneous Variables – are to be controlled by you the
experimenter. But if they do not give in to your control, they
become confounding variables that can strongly influence
your study. Dealing with these types of variables gives you
difficulty in determining the real cause of changes in the
dependent variables; that is whether it is due only to the
independent variable or to the combination between the
confounding and the independent variables.
Constant Variable – do not undergo any changes during an
experiment. For example, in an experiment to test the effect of
different lights on plants, other factors that affect plant growth
and health, such as soil quality and watering, would need to
remain constant.
Attribute Variable – characteristics of people: intelligence,
creativity, anxiety, learning styles, etc. One example of an
attribute variable is gender. If a study compared men and
women on a dependent variable (e.g., response to this new
Miracle drug), then gender would be an attribute independent
variable in that study.
Covariate Variable – included in the research study to create
interactions with the independent and dependent variables.
For example, you are running an experiment to see how corn
plants tolerate drought. Level of drought is the actual
“treatment”
Continuous Variable – quantitative in nature and is used in
interval or ratio scale of measurement. In general, a
continuous variable is one that is measured, not counted.
Height, for example, is measured. Weight is measured.
Temperature, time, distance – all are continuous variables.
Dichotomous Varibale – has only two possible results: one or
zero. Dichotomous variables are nominal variables which
have only two categories or levels. For example, if we were
looking at gender, we would most probably categorize
somebody as either “male” or “female”. This is an example of a
dichotomous variables.
variables in the system. For example, take a simple causal
system like farming. Variables like weather, farmer skill, pests,
and availability of seed are all exogenous to crop production.
Endogenous Variable – found inside; as part of identified
model. For example, the amount of product (white sugar) is
the endogenous variable and is dependent on any number of
other variables which may include weather, pests, price of fuel,
etc. As the amount of sugar is entirely dependent on the other
factors in the system, it’s said to be purely endogenous.

Latent Variable – cannot be directly observed like personality

traits. Most constructs in research are latent variables.
Consider the psychological construct of anxiety, for example.
Any single observable measure of anxiety, whether it is a self-
report measure or an observational scale, cannot provide a
pure measure of anxiety. Observable variables are affected by
measurement error.

Manifest Variable – can be directly observed to give proofs to

latent variables. Example: Actual customer satisfaction is a
hidden or latent factor that can only be measured in
comparison to a manifest variable, or observable factor.
Suppose retailer Home Delight wants to get a sense of
whether its customers are happy with its new line of throw
pillows.

Exogenous Variable – found outside an identified model. An

exogenous variable is a variable that is not affected by other