Kinds of Quantitative Research Designs

 There are four main types of quantitative research designs: descriptive, correlational, quasi-
experimental and experimental.
 The differences between the four types primarily relates to the degree the researcher designs for
control of the variables in the experiment.
 Following is a brief description of each type of quantitative research design, as well as chart
comparing and contrasting the approaches.

A Descriptive Design seeks to describe the current status of an identified variable. The researcher does not
begin with a hypothesis, but typically develops one after the data is collected. Data collection is mostly
observational in nature. These research projects are designed to provide systematic information about a
phenomenon.

Examples of Descriptive Research:

 A description of the tobacco use habits of teenagers
 A description of how parents feel about the twelve-month school year
 A description of the attitudes of scientist regarding global warming
 A description of how JHS students spend their time during summer vacation

A Correlational Design explores the relationship between variables using statistical analysis. However, it
does not look for cause and effect and therefore, is also mostly observational in terms of data collection. In
this, relationships between and among a number of facts are sought and interpreted. This type of research
will recognize trends and patterns of data, but it does not go so far in its analysis to prove causes for these
observed patterns. Cause and effect is not the basis of this type of observational research. The data,
relationships, and distributions of variables are studied only. Variables are not manipulated; they are only
identified and are studied as they occur in a natural setting.

Examples of Correlational Research:

 The relationship between intelligence and self-esteem
 The relationship between diet and anxiety
 The relationship between an aptitude test and success in an Algebra course
 The relationships between the types of activities used in math classrooms and student
achievement

A Quasi-Experimental Design (often referred to as Causal-Comparative) seeks to establish a cause-effect

relationship between two or more variables. The researcher does not assign groups and does not
manipulate the independent variable. Control groups are identified and exposed to the variable. Results are
compared with results from groups not exposed to the variable.

Examples of Correlational Research:

 The effect of preschool attendance on social maturity at the end of the first grade
 The effect of taking multivitamins on students’ school absenteeism
 The effect of gender on Algebra achievement
 The effect of part-time employment on the achievement of students
 The effect of age on lung capacity

Experimental Designs, often called true experimentation, use the scientific method to establish cause-effect
relationship among a group of variables in a research study. Researchers make an effort to control for all
variables except the one being manipulated (the independent variable). The effects of the independent
variable on the dependent variable are collected and analyzed for a relationship. Experiments can be
conducted in an artificial or laboratory setting such as at a university (laboratory experiments) or in field
settings such as in an organization where the phenomenon of interest is actually occurring (field
experiments).

Examples of Experimental Research:

 The effect of a new treatment plan on breast cancer
 The effect of positive reinforcement on attitude toward school
 The effect of teaching with a cooperative group strategy or a traditional lecture approach on
students’ achievement