Practical Research 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF

NOTES [Q1-S1] QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Lessons Outline: Quantitative Research, Data Collection Methods, and

Approaches
1. Characteristics of Quantitative Research
1.1. Quantitative Research, Data Collection Methods, and Quantitative Research
Approaches
1.1.1. Quantitative Research • It is used to examine the relationship between
1.1.2. Quantitative Data Collection Methods
variables, quantify the problem by way of
1.1.3. Quantitative Approaches
1.2. Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative generating numerical data and explain the
Research phenomenon by way of gathering numerical data
1.2.1. Purpose that can be analyzed using statistical tools.
1.2.2. Approach to Inquiry
1.2.3. Hypothesis Quantitative Data Collection Methods
1.2.4. Theoretical – Conceptual Framework
1.2.5. Review of Related Literature • These include various forms of surveys, mobile
1.2.6. Measurement
surveys, face-to-face interviews, online polls, and
1.2.7. Sampling
1.2.8. Data Collection Strategies systematic observations.
1.2.9. Data Interpretation and Conclusion
1.3. Mixed Methods
Quantitative Approaches
2. Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research
2.1. Quantitative Research Designs
• These are best used to answer what, when, and
2.2. Strengths of Quantitative Research who questions and are not well suited to how and
2.3. Weaknesses of Quantitative Research why questions.
3. Types of Quantitative Research
3.1. Descriptive Research Differences between Qualitative and
3.2. Survey Research Quantitative Research
3.3. Correlational Research
3.4. Causal-Comparative or Quasi-Experimental Research
3.5. Experimental Research
4. Importance of Quantitative Research
4.1. It is useful in generating large amount of data and in identifying
the patterns of behavior of various sectors in different settings.
4.2. If you are after objectivity, then quantitative research may be
adopted because it is less prone to bias as the findings are
expressed in terms of numbers.
4.3. Quantitative research is adopted by some researchers instead of
qualitative research.
4.3.1. It is more reliable and objective.
4.3.2. It uses statistics to generalize a finding.
4.3.3. It reduces and restructures complex problem to a limited
number of variables.
4.3.4. It looks at relationships between variables and can
establish cause and effect in highly controlled
circumstances.
4.3.5. It tests theories and hypotheses.
4.3.6. It assumes that a sample is representative of the
population.
4.3.7. It less recognizes the researcher’s subjectivity.
4.3.8. It is less detailed than qualitative research.
5. The Nature of Variables
5.1. Variables
5.2. Independent and Dependent Variables
5.2.1. Independent Variables
5.2.2. Dependent Variables
5.3. Categorical and Continuous Variables
5.3.1. Categorical / Discrete / Qualitative Variables
5.3.1.1. Nominal Variables
5.3.1.2. Dichotomous Variables
5.3.1.3. Ordinal Variables
5.3.2. Continuous / Quantitative Variables
5.3.2.1. Interval Variables
5.3.2.2. Ratio Variables

Mixed Methods
• Combining quantitative and qualitative research
designs are also becoming popular.
• This again depends on the research objective and
research questions.
• The choice of method depends on the topic or
the problem for the research.
• Whether it is quantitative or qualitative – or mixed
– will depend on the nature of the research.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative Research Designs
• They use numbers in stating generalizations
about a given problem or inquiry in contrast to
qualitative research that hardly uses statistical
treatment in stating generalizations.
• These numbers are the results of objective scales
of measurements of the units called variables.
Strengths of Quantitative Research
1. Relatively easy to analyze because it provides
numerical data that can be easily interpreted.
2. The findings of the study can be generalized to the
population about which information is required.
3. The data gathered by the researcher/s can be very
consistent, precise, and reliable.
4. Clear documentation can be provided regarding the
content and application of the survey instruments so
that the other researchers can assess the validity of
the findings.
5. Quantitative studies can be replicated. Standardized
approaches permit the study to be replicated in
different areas or over time with the production of
comparable findings.
6. The effects of extraneous variables (not the
independent variable, but could affect the results of
the experiment) can be controlled.
Weaknesses of Quantitative Research
1. Improper representation or computation for the
target population might hinder the research for
achieving its desired purpose and objectives.
2. Related secondary data are sometimes not available
or accessing available data is difficult to obtain
through structured data collection instruments.
3. Lack of resources for the data gathering. Self –
reported information obtained from questionnaires
may be inaccurate or incomplete.
4. Difficult to understand the context of a
phenomenon. Some researchers find difficulty in data
analysis.
5. Inability to control the environment.
6. Studies are expensive and time–consuming, and
even the preliminary results are usually not available
for a long period of time.
TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• There are varied ways of doing quantitative
research.
1. Descriptive Research
It aims to define the existing condition of a
classified variable.
• This type of research is intended to offer
methodical data or systematic information
about a phenomenon.
• In addition, this type of research does not usually
start with a hypothesis but rather after
systematic data gathering since the test of
hypothesis comes from data analysis.
• Gathering of data necessitates thorough
selection not only of the units studied but the
measurement of each variable as well.
• Examples:
o A description of how senior high school
students celebrate their birthdays
o A description of how parents feel about the
“Blended Learning” in education
o A description of the attitudes of women’s
groups towards Rodrigo Duterte’s joke about
an Australian rape victim
2. Survey Research
• A survey is intended to acquire information from
people concerning the predominance,
distribution, and interrelations of variables
within the identified group of people.
• In simple terms, surveys are done to gather
evidence on people’s knowledge, opinions,
attitudes, and values on various issues and
concerns.
• Surveys are inclined for collecting data that are
mainly quantitative. (Bryman 2008, 165)
• Examples:
o Voter Preference
o Survey on sexual violence against women and
girls in Quezon City
 o Metro Manila survey of adolescence on
health
o ASEAN business outlook survey 2016
o Survey of ASEAN employers
3. Correlational Research
• It tries to define the degree of relationship
between two or more variables using statistical
data.
• This type of research seeks to interpret the
relationship between and among a number of
facts.
• In addition, this type of research distinguishes
tendencies and patterns in data, but it does not
go so far in its analysis to prove causes for these
observed patterns.
• Moreover, the data, relationships, and
distribution variables are identified only in a
natural setting and not in a manipulated one.
• Examples:
o The relationship between successful career
and educational attainment
o The relationship between high grades and
having tutors
o The relationship between entrance exam
results and attendance in review centers
o The relationship between study habits and
academic performance
4. Causal-Comparative or Quasi-Experimental
Research
• It endeavors to ascertain cause–and–effect
relationships among variables.
• This type of research is very similar to true
experiments but with key dissimilarities such as
(1) an independent variable is identified but
not manipulated, and
(2) the effects of the independent variable on the
dependent variable are measured.
• You do not randomly assign groups but rather
use those that are naturally formed or preexisting.
• The recognized control groups exposed to the
treatment variable are compared to groups who
are not.
• In arriving at conclusions, establishing causes
must be done prudently, as other variables, both
known and unknown, could still affect the
outcome.
• Example:
o The effects of studying in Catholic schools on
the moral value system of those who
graduate from these schools
o The effects of exercising regularly to body
fitness
o The effects of gender on college course
sources
o The effect of good family upbringing to good
performance in class
o The effects of Christian Living organization on
a student’s religiosity
o The effects of marital status on business
success
5. Experimental Research
• It is usually termed as true experimentation.
• It applies the scientific method to prove “the
cause-and-effect relationship among a group
of variables that make up a study.”
• The true experiment is also usually considered as
a “laboratory study,” yet this is not most of the
time the situation because a laboratory setting
may not be necessary.
• Characteristics of a True Experiment. A true
experiment includes:
(1) any study where an effort is made to identify
and impose control over all other variables
except one
(2) an independent variable which is
manipulated to determine its effects on the
dependent variables
(3) subjects that are randomly assigned to
experimental treatments rather than
identified in naturally occurring groups.
• Examples:
o The effects of counseling and medical
treatment on alcoholism
o The effects of support groups on smoking
o The effects of positive reinforcement on one’s
attitude to excel in school
o The effects of peer counseling and support
group on a student’s emotional condition
o The effects of a kind and supportive home
room adviser on the students’ helpfulness
o The effects of a math terror teacher on
students’ attitude about attending math
classes under that teacher
IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• People do research to find solutions, even
tentative ones, to problems, in order to improve
or enhance ways of doing this, to disprove or
provide a new hypothesis, or simply to find
answers to questions or solutions to problem in
daily life.
• Research findings can affect people’s lives, ways
of doing things, laws, rules and regulations.
• Quantitative research, because of its emphasis
on proof rather than discovery, has been widely
used in most disciplines.
The value of quantitative research is essentially
captured in the identified strengths of this type of
research. Since quantitative research is about numeric
data and statistics, it is very beneficial in various aspects
of life such as the following:
1. It is useful in generating large amount of data and
in identifying the patterns of behavior of various
sectors in different settings. Analysis of quantitative
data will determine dissimilarities and similarities
among the identified patterns which will provide new
patterns. Discovering patterns of behavior gives us
an idea of how people think, want, and value.
These are rich sources of data of future related
interventions.
2. If you are after objectivity, then quantitative research
may be adopted because it is less prone to bias as
the findings are expressed in terms of numbers.
Quantitative analysis permits the researcher to
organize data for clear dissemination. Results are
analyzed in percentages and statistics and are
presented in graphs and charts.
3. Quantitative research is adopted by some
researchers instead of qualitative research due to the
following reasons:
a. It is more reliable and objective.
b. It uses statistics to generalize a finding.
c. It reduces and restructures complex problem
to a limited number of variables.
d. It looks at relationships between variables and
can establish cause and effect in highly controlled
circumstances.
e. It tests theories and hypotheses.
f. It assumes that a sample is representative of the
population.
g. It less recognizes the researcher’s subjectivity.
h. It is less detailed than qualitative research.
If you will notice, research is indeed very
important in different aspects. It is up for you, the
researchers, on how to realize this importance and how
to make it as a strength of the research that you conduct.
Do not forgot that those importance for it will help you
direct your research and achieve your objectives.
THE NATURE OF VARIABLES
Variables
• These are the foundations of quantitative
research.
• Hefner (n.d.) defined variables as any aspect of
theory that can vary or change as part of the
interaction within the theory.
• These are among the fundamental concepts in
research, alongside with measurement, validity,
reliability, cause and effect, and theory.
• It is any entity that can take on different values.
• Quantitative variables are numeric in nature.
• For example, when we talk about population of
Grade 11 learners in a certain school, we are
talking about the number of students in Grade 11
– a measurable attribute of the school. Therefore,
population would be a quantitative variable.
• A variable is not only something that we
measure, but also something that we can
manipulate and something that we can control.
Dependent and Independent Variables
Independent Variables (IV)
• It is sometimes called an experimental or
predictor variable and variable that is being
manipulated in an experiment in order to
observe the effect on a dependent variable.
• An independent variable is:
o sometimes called an outcome variable;
o the presumed cause in an experimental
study; and
o a stand-alone variable which is not
changed by other variables.
• These are individual variables that the researchers
believe may have an effect on the dependent
variable.
• Take note that independent variable causes a
change in the dependent variable and it is not
possible that dependent variable could cause a
change in the independent variable.
• Example: In a study to determine whether how
long a student sleeps affects test scores; the
independent variable is the length of time spent
sleeping while the dependent variable is the test
score.
Dependent Variables (DV)
• This is simply that, a variable that is dependent
on an independent variable(s).
• The values of the dependent variable depend
upon another variable – the independent
variable.
• A dependent variable is:
o the presumed effect in an experimental
study;
o what researchers are interested in; and
o the variable being tested or measured.
• Since dependent variable is the variable that is
measured in an experiment, thus, it is a measure
of a certain aspect of a participant’s behavior.
• Again, remember that dependent variables are
the products or results of the experimentation
or study.
• Example: In a study looking at how tutoring
impacts test scores, the dependent variable
would be the participants' test scores, since that
is what is being measured. The independent
variable then is the tutorial sessions.
Categorical and Continuous Variables
Categorical Variables
• These are also known as discrete or qualitative
variables.
 • Categorical variables can be categorized as
nominal, ordinal, or dichotomous.
1. Nominal Variables
• These are variables that have two or more
categories, but which do not have an intrinsic
order, meaning, there is no placement.
• The different categories of a nominal variable
can also be referred to as groups or levels of the
nominal variable.
• Example: A real estate agent could classify their
types of property into distinct categories such as
houses, condos, co-ops or bungalows. So "type of
property" is a nominal variable with 4 categories
called houses, condos, co-ops and bungalows.
2. Ratio Variables
• Ratio variables are interval variables, but with the
added condition that 0 (zero) of the
measurement indicates that there is none of that
variable.
• Examples: It includes height, mass, distance and
many more. The name "ratio" reflects the fact that
you can use the ratio of measurements and that
the number/data starts from zero.

2. Dichotomous Variables
• These are nominal variables which have only two
categories or levels.
• Some variables have only two values, reflecting
the presence or absence of a property.
• 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 variable (and also a nominal
variable). Other examples are employed and
unemployed, yes or no, and absent and present.

3. Ordinal Variables
• These are variables that have two or more
categories just like nominal variables, only that
the categories can also be ordered or ranked.
• An ordinal variable is similar to a nominal variable.
The difference between the two is that there is a
clear ordering of variables.
• Example: Suppose you have a variable (economic
status) with three categories namely low,
medium, and high. In addition to being able to
classify people into these three categories, you
can order the categories as low, medium, and
high.

Continuous Variables

• These are also known as quantitative variables.

• Continuous variables can be further categorized
as either interval or ratio variables.

1. Interval Variables
• These are variables which can be measured
along a continuum and have a numerical value.
• An interval variable is similar to an ordinal
variable, except that these intervals between the
values of the interval variable are equally spaced.
• Example: Suppose a researcher has a variable
such as annual income of three employees who
make Php 800,000, Php 900,000, and Php
1,000,000 respectively. The second employee
make Php 100,000 more than the first employee
and Php 100,000 less than the third person, and
the size of these intervals is the same.