PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

The Nature and Inquiry of Research: Quantitative Research Designs

Name: Nicole M. Clemente

Grade & Section: 11-Mendeleev

Quantitative Research vs. Qualitative Research

• Quantitative research is a type of research that is objective in nature while investigating
a phenomenon, focusing more on the results of the study. Data gathered are organized
through numerical scales and are expressed by statistical computations. A researchers’
thoughts or feelings must not get involved along the process as the main focus is the object
of the study.
• Qualitative research is the exact opposite of quantitative research for it is more subjective
in nature, mostly about the understanding of human behavior, perception, and beliefs. It is
also process-oriented; thus, data collection is not strictly structured and is more open-ended
for it mainly deals more about complex details that cannot be explained by numbers.
Strength and Weaknesses of Qualitative Research
Strengths:
o More accurate and precise data can be produced because of a larger number of
participants involved in the study.
o Organization of data is not that complicated as it can be numerically scaled.
o Obtains objective understanding of the world.
o Variables can be manipulated by the researcher.
o More objective and not susceptible to biases.
o Systematic and replicable.
Weaknesses:
o Data collected cannot fully-expressed more complex things.
o Participants are limited to a given set of options in answering the survey.
o Sometimes too expensive than conducting a qualitative research.
o Careful hypothesis development to avoid subjective biases.
Variables and Classification of Variables
Variable is an item used in data gathering that is capable to be changed to different values.
Classification of variables:
o Nominal – variables are categorical, carrying names or labels as values and it has
no sense of ordering.
 o Ordinal – almost similar to nominal, but data can be arranged and ordering is
important as data is capable to be ranked.
o Interval – a data can differ from another data with just a certain amount of degree.
o Ratio – it possesses a fixed zero point where differences and ratios are absolutely
meaningful.
Quantitative Research Designs
• Experimental research design – manipulating conditions and studying effects. It must be
accomplished in a controlled environment where the researcher has a hypothesis and
variables. It tests an idea to determine whether it influences an outcome. Commonly used
for researches involving cause and effect between two variables.
o True experiments – the researcher randomly assigns participants to different
conditions of the experimental variable.
o Quasi-experiments – include assignment, but not random assignment of
participants to groups.

Variables can be classified as:

➢ Independent variable – variables that cause change to the subject.
➢ Dependent variable – Variables that bear or manifest the effects caused by the
independent variable.
Some examples of experimental research design:
➢ What are the effects of marketing strategies to the financial performance of
various companies in the Philippines?
➢ Does social media have a negative effect to the mental well-being of Generation-
Z?

• Non-experimental research design:

o Descriptive (describing characteristics) - aims to describe systematically the facts
and characteristics of a given population or area of interest, factually and
accurately. It has three types:
▪ Observational methods – are used to document and describe animal and
human behavior in a natural or artificial environment.
▪ Case studies – involves an in-depth study of an individual or a small group
of individuals.
▪ Survey research designs – involves administering a survey to a sample or
the entire population of people to describe the attitudes, opinions, behaviors,
or characteristics of the population. It has two types:
➢ Cross-sectional survey – used when the researcher collects data at
one point in time. The purpose is to examines current attitudes,
beliefs, opinions, or practices.
 ➢ Longitudinal survey designs - collecting data about trends,
changes in a cohort group, or changes in a panel group.

Some examples of descriptive research design:

➢ What hinders some students these days to drop-out from their schools?
➢ What influences college students to pursue their chosen career?

o Correlational (studying relationships) – describes the measure and degree of

association between two or more variables or sets of scores. It has two types:
▪ Explanatory research design – determines the extent to which two
variables (or more) co-vary.
▪ Prediction research design – prediction research design seeks to identify
variables that will predict an outcome or criterion.

• Some examples of correlational research design:

➢ Is there a relationship between a person’s English-speaking skills to his level of
intelligence?
➢ Does social media usage have any relationship to teenagers’ mental health
condition?

• Co-vary means to predict a score on one variable with knowledge about the
individual’s score on another variable.
• Variables can either be predictor variable (an independent variable) or a criterion
variable (dependent or the response variable). An example is:
Independent variable – the amount of sleep a student gets.
Dependent variable – the score of the student in an exam.