——————————— INTRODUCTION TO PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 ———————————

Research
● diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts,
theories, applications

● to make research; investigate carefully

● to make an extensive investigation into

● Creation of new knowledge and/or use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to
generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings.

This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to
new and creative outcomes.

Importance of Research
1. Acquire knowledge effectively: understand more, expand prior knowledge, created new opportunities

2. Research helps in problem-solving: broaden understanding

3. Provides the latest information: up-to-date facts

4. Builds credibility: solid basis

5. Helps in business success: need solid proof & market research

6. Discover and Seize opportunities: usage of job advertisements

Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

expressed in words expressed in numbers and graphs

to understand CONCEPTS, THOUGHTS, used to test/confirm THEORIES, ASSUMPTIONS

EXPERIENCES

gather in-depth insights establish generalizable facts about a topic

interviews with open-ended questions, observations experiments, observation recorded as numbers, and
described in words, and literature reviews that survey with closed-ended questions
explore concepts and theories

Quantitative Research
According to Aliaga and Gunderson, (2000)
It is explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically
based methods (in particular statistics).

A phenomenon is a peculiar incident that can happen anywhere.

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

1. Reliable and Objective
2. Uses statistics to generalize finding
3. Reduced 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. Tests theories or hypotheses
6. It assumes that the sample is representative of populationi
7. The subjectivity of its methodology is a secondary concern
8. It deals with the details of the subject
 Advantages of Quantitative Disadvantages of Quantitative

Allows the researcher to measure and analyze the The context of the study or the experiment is ignored
data to arrive at an objective answer to the problem in such a way that it does not consider the natural
stated. setting where the study is conducted.

Reliable result = Big sample of population Large study sample = spend more resources

Replicable = Uses standard instruments, sampling Limited results since it is only based on analysis of
procedures, statistical treatment numbers, not from detailed narratives .

Can avoid personal biases since personal interaction It provides less elaborate accounts of human
isn’t part of the process perceptions.

Simplified processes since quantitative research In Experimental research, the level of control might
steps are easy and systematic not be normally placed in the real world because it is
usually done in a laboratory.

Results can be reduced through statistical treatments Preset or fixed alternative answers may not
and interpreted in a few statements. necessarily reflect the true answers of the
participants.

Findings can be influenced by the researcher’s

perspective since most of the time , the participant’s
are unknown to him/her.

Importance of Quantitative Research

1. In Education, it can be used in measuring the level of performance of students and teachers, and in
assessing the effectiveness of the methods and the different programs conducted.

2. In Business, it can improve the overall marketing strategy, and help the company make informed
decisions on how to best move forward with a particular product.

3. In Medical and Allied Services, it yields statistics that can help improve the rate of recovery of patients
with illnesses and sicknesses, and the efficacy of medicines and drugs, among others.

4. In Science & Technology, it can lead to a more responsible and accountable operation of the different
components of technology.

Kinds of Quantitative Research

1. Causal-comparative
research attempts to determine the cause or consequences of differences that already exist
between or among groups of individuals.

A. Female and male employees and their job satisfaction.

B. Gender causes differences in abilities.

2. Correlational
research determines the extent of a relationship between two or more variables using statistical
data.
3. Evaluation
research provides a means to judge actions and activities in terms of values, criteria and
standards.
4. Experimental
research uses the scientific method to establish the cause-effect relationship among a group of
variables
5. Descriptive
research provides systematic information about a phenomenon.

Variable
● A variable is any factor or property that à researcher measures, controls, and /or manipulates.
● It is also the changing quantity or measure of any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing
amounts or types.
● It is also a logical set of attributes, characteristics, numbers, or quantities that can be measured or
counted. It is also called a data item.