What is It

Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing

numerical data. It emphasizes 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 focuses on gathering
numerical data and generalizing it across groups of people or to explain a
particular phenomenon. The final written report has a set structure
consisting of introduction, literature and theory, methods, results, and
discussion (Cresswell, 2013).

Your goal in conducting quantitative research study is to determine

the relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another (a
dependent or outcome variable) within a population. Quantitative research
designs are either descriptive (subjects usually measured once) or
experimental (subjects measured before and after a treatment). A descriptive
study establishes only associations between variables; an experimental
study establishes causality (Babbie, 2010).

Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic, and an objective

stance. Quantitative research focuses on numeric and unchanging data and
detailed, convergent reasoning rather than divergent reasoning such as the
generation of a variety of ideas about a research problem in a spontaneous,
free-flowing manner (Babbie, 2010).

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

The main characteristics of qualitative research (Brians, Craig

Leonard et al. (2011) are the following:
The data is usually gathered using structured research instruments.
The results are based on larger sample sizes that are representative of
the population.
The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given its
high reliability.
The researcher has a clearly defined research question to which
objective answers are sought.
All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.
Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged in
tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual forms.
Project can be used to generalize concepts more widely, predict future
results, or investigate causal relationships.

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 The researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or computer
software, to collect numerical data.

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

The quantitative as survey approach has two significant advantages.

First, it can be administered and evaluated quickly. There is no need to
spend time at the organization prior to administering the survey, and the
responses can be tabulated within a short timeframe. Second, numerical
data obtained through this approach facilitates comparisons between
organizations or groups, as well as allowing determination of the extent of
agreement or disagreement between respondents (Yauch and Steudel, 2003).

Weaknesses
Strengths
1. No human
1. Reliability by
perception and
critical analyzed.
beliefs.
2. Short time frame Quantitative
Research 2. Lack of
for administered
resources for
survey. Methodology
large scale
3. Facilitated Approach research.
numerical data for
3. No depth
groups and extents of
experience
agree or disagree from
description.
respondents.

Figure 1. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

Methodology by Carr, L. T. (1994)

TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

The term research can mean any sort of “systematic research in any
field of inquiry” (Kabir, 2016). Basic research is concerned with clarifying
underlying processes, with the hypothesis usually expressed as a theory.
On the other hand, applied research is interested in examining the
effectiveness of particular educational practices. Researchers engaged in
applied research studies may or may not want to investigate the degree to
which certain theories are useful in practical settings.
Experimental Research
Experimental research is the most conclusive of scientific methods
because the researcher actually establishes different treatments and then
studies their effects. Results from this type of research are likely to lead to
the most clear-cut interpretation. It is very popular in natural sciences such
as the Science Investigatory Project (SIP) in the junior high school.

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Correlational Research
Correlational research is a type of research that is done to determine
relationships among two or more variables and to explore their implications
for cause and effect. An example question for correlational research is, Is
there a relationship between student’s academic performance and
availability of ICTs at home? Here, you are going to gather the data and
investigate the extent of relationship between the academic performance and
availability of ICT at home. Perhaps, you can assume that students with
more ICTs available at home have better academic performance. But,
without manipulating the data, the researcher has to test using a statistical
tool if your assumption is right.

Causal-Comparative
Causal comparative is a type of research that is intended to determine
the cause for or the consequences of differences between groups of people.
Suppose you want to determine whether students from single-parent
families do more poorly in his/her course than students from two-parent
families. Here, you might compare two groups of students who already
belong to one or the other type of family to see if they differ in their
achievement. Suppose the groups do differ, you can only conclude that the
difference does exist. However, you cannot conclude that the difference in
the family situation produced the difference in achievement. It’s because
there are other factors that may have caused/contributed the difference.

Survey Research
Survey research obtains data to determine specific characteristics of a
group. For an instance, you want to find out how the students feel about the
Modular Learning Modality and what they like about this approach. You
may get the data through a variety of survey techniques that measure their
views about the modular approach. A descriptive survey involves asking the
same set of questions of a large number of individuals using a
questionnaire. You can also gather the data through interview. Data will be
tabulated and reported.
VARIABLES
A variable is a concept, a noun that stands for variation within a class
of objects, such as chairs, gender, eye color, achievement, motivation, or
running speed. Even style and lust for life are variables.

Quantitative versus Categorical Variables

Quantitative variables exist in some degree along the range from less
to more, and you can assign numbers to different individual or subjects to
indicate how much of the variable they possess. Few examples are height
(e.g. 5’2”, 6’1”) and weight (e.g. 46kg., 42kg.). Oftentimes, quantitative
variables can be subdivided into smaller and smaller units such as length
which can be measured in miles, yards, feet, inches or in whatever
subdivision of an inch is needed.

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 Categorical variables do not vary in degree, amount, or quantity but
are qualitatively different. Few of the examples are eye color, gender,
religious preference, occupation, position on a baseball team, and most
kinds of research “treatments” or “methods”. Even, Learning Delivery
Modality (e.g. Printed modular distance learning, online distance learning,
etc.)
Independent versus Depended Variable
Independent variables are those that the researcher chooses to study
in order to assess their possible effect(s) on one or more variables. It is
presumed to affect or somehow influence at least one other variable.

Dependent variables are those variables that are presumed to be

affected by the independent variables. This means that dependent variables
“depends on” what the independent variables do to them, or how
independent variables affect them. It can be portrayed graphically as follows:

Independent Dependent
variable(s) Variable(s)
(presumed or possible (presumed result)
cause)

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