Building Theories,

Concepts and
Quantitative Research
Andriani Kusumawati
KEY IDEAS
▪ The difference between purpose statements,
hypotheses, and research questions
▪ Variables in quantitative research
▪ Quantitative purpose statements, questions,
hypotheses
▪ Qualitative purpose statements, questions,
hypotheses
WHAT ARE PURPOSE STATEMENTS, RESEARCH
QUESTIONS, HYPOTHESES, AND OBJECTIVES?

Purpose Research Research

Hypothes
Statemen Question Objective
es
t s s
Overall Raise questions Make predictions State Goals
Intent Direction about expectations
to be answered

Form One or more One or more One or more One or More

sentences questions questions Objectives

Quantitative
Use and
Quantitative Quantitative Typically
and Research Quantitative
Qualitative
Qualitative Research
Research
Research
End of
Placement Introduction End of the introduction, after the literature
review, or in a separate section of the study
WHY ARE THESE
STATEMENTS AND
QUESTIONS IMPORTANT?
▪ Represent major signposts
▪ Help identify appropriate methods
▪ Help link intent with the results
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO DESIGN QUANTITATIVE
PURPOSE STATEMENTS, RESEARCH QUESTIONS, AND
HYPOTHESES

▪ What is a variable?
▪ What is a theory?
▪ What elements go into these statements and questions?
WHAT IS A VARIABLE?
A Variable
(A Characteristic or Attribute)
That can be and

Measured
Varies
(Can be assessed
on an instrument (Can assume
and recorded on different values or
an instrument) scores for
different
individuals)
 EXAMPLES OF VARIABLES
AND NON-VARIABLES
Variables Difficult but Almost
possibly impossible
• Leadership style measurable
▪ Organizational control variables
to measure
▪ Autism variables
▪ Socialization
▪ Imagination • Subconscious
▪ Intuition thoughts
▪ Discrimination
• World poverty
• Stereotypes
CATEGORICAL AND
CONTINUOUS MEASURES OF
VARIABLES
▪ A categorical measure is a value of a variable
assigned by the researcher into a small number of
categories. (e.g. Gender)
▪ A continuous measure is the value of a variable
assigned by the researcher to a point along a
continuum of scores, from low to high. (e.g. Age)
VARIABLES AND
CONSTRUCTS
▪ A Variable is an attribute or characteristic stated in a
specific or applied way
▪ A Construct is an attribute or characteristic expressed
in an abstract, general way.

Construct Student Achievement

Variable Grade Point Average

 TEORI

KONSEP KONSEP
A B

KONSTRU PROPOSIS KONSTRU

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OPERASIONALISA
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VARIA SINGLE
VARIA DEDUCTI
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HIPOTESIS Y2
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KONSTRUK DAN INDIKATOR/PROKSI
 + TEORI

Derajad PROPOSISI
Abstrak

- HIPOTESIS
 MASALAH
&
RUMUSAN
MASALAH
PENELITIAN
GRAND

PROPOSISI THEOR
Y
MODEL
MODEL
PENELITI
HIPOTESIS AN

MODEL
TEORETIS
THE FAMILY OF VARIABLES IN
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES
Probable Effect
Cause
(X) (Y) (Z)
Independent Intervening Dependent
Variables Variables Variables
•Treatment
•Measured

Control
Variables

Moderating Confounding
Variables Variables
FAMILIES OF VARIABLES
▪ Dependent Variables: An attribute or
characteristic influenced by the independent
variable.
FAMILIES OF VARIABLES
▪ Independent Variable: An attribute or
characteristic that influences or effects an outcome
or dependent variable.
▪ Treatment Variable
▪ Measured Variable
▪ Control Variable
▪ Moderating Variable
INTERVENING VARIABLES
▪ Intervening Variables (Mediating Variables):
An attribute or characteristic that “stands between”
the dependent and independent variables.
EXAMPLE OF AN INTERVENING
VARIABLE
Independent Dependent
Step 1 Variable Variable

Example Convenient office hours Student seeks help

for students from faculty

Independent
Independent Intervening
Step 2 Variable Variable
Variable
Convenient office hours Student becomes willing
Example
for students to take risks

Independent Intervening Dependent

Step 3 Variable Variable Variable
Convenient office hours Student becomes willing
Example Student seeks help
for students to take risks from faculty
KARAKTERISTIK
1. Variabel mediator berada dalam satu jalur hubungan,
moderator di luar
2. Variabel mediator dipengaruhi IV dan mempengaruhi DV,
moderator lebih banyak tidak
3. dan…ciri khas variabel mediator (terutama dalam penelitian
sosial/keperilakuan) adalah mudah berubah, misal mood,
emosi, rasa puas, benci, sedih, dll. Sedangkan moderator
lebih susah berubah seperti kepribadian, usia, masa kerja,
budaya, dll.
PERSAMAAN DAN PERBEDAAN
(PAUL JOSE, 2008)
Similarities:
1.They both involve three variables;
2.You can use regression to compute both;
3.You wish to see how a third variable affects a basic relationship
(IV to DV).
Differences:
1.You create a product term in moderation; not in mediation;
2.You don’t have to centre anything in mediation;
3.Moderation can be used on concurrent or longitudinal data, but
mediation is best used on longitudinal data.
4.Graphing is critical for moderation; helpful for mediation.
FAMILIES OF VARIABLES
▪ Confounding Variables (Spurious Variables):
Attributes or characteristics that the researcher
cannot directly measure because their effects
cannot be easily separated from the other variables,
even though they may influence the relationship
between the independent and the dependent
variable.
THEORIES AS BRIDGES BETWEEN
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES

Independent Dependent
Variables Variables
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPLANATIONS
IN QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Broad
Extensive Tests by Abstractions
other researchers
As a formal theory that is expressed by connected
hypotheses and variables identified by authors

As a conceptual framework often expressed as a

visual model by other authors for relationship

As a theoretical rationale posed by other authors

based on studies for relationship

As explanation posed by the author as a hunch for

why the independent variable relates to the
Narrow
No Test dependent variable Application
ELEMENTS OF
QUANTITATIVE PURPOSE
STATEMENT
▪ Single sentence
▪ “The purpose of this study . . .”
▪ Theory
▪ Quantitative words (e.g. “Relate,” “Compare,”
“Describe”)
ELEMENTS OF
QUANTITATIVE PURPOSE
STATEMENT
▪ Variables
▪ Independent Variable (1st position in sentence)
▪ Dependent Variable (2nd position in sentence)
▪ Control and/or mediating variable (3rd position in
sentence)
▪ Research site
▪ Participants
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
▪ 3 types:
▪ Describe results to your variables
▪ Compare two or more groups on the independent
variable in terms of the dependent variable
▪ Relate two or more variables
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
▪ Three types:
▪ Null hypothesis
▪ Directional alternative hypothesis
▪ Non-directional alternative hypothesis
HOW DO YOU DESIGN QUALITATIVE PURPOSE
STATEMENTS AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS?

▪ Understand how these statements and questions

differ from quantitative research
▪ Understand the role of a central phenomenon in
qualitative research
▪ Understand qualitative research as an emerging
process
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN QUANTITATIVE AND
QUALITATIVE PURPOSE STATEMENTS AND RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
Quantitative - more closed Qualitative - more open-ended
1. Probable Cause/Effect 1. Descriptive (“What
happened?”)
(“Why did it happen?”)
2. Interpretive (“What was the
2. Use of theories (Why did it happen meaning to people of what
in view of an explanation or happened?”)
theory?”)
3. Process-oriented (“What
3. Assessing differences and magnitude happened over time?”)
“How much happened?”
“How many times did it happen?”
“What were the differences among
groups in what happened?”
 EXPLAINING OR PREDICTING VARIABLES VERSUS
EXPLORING OR UNDERSTANDING A CENTRAL
PHENOMENON

Qualitative
Quantitative
Understanding or
Explaining or exploring a Central
Predicting Variables Phenomenon
X Y
The independent variable (X) Y
influences a dependent
variable (Y) In-depth understanding of Y;
external forces shape and are
shaped by Y
TWO QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH CONSIDERATIONS
▪ The focus of the research is around a Central
Phenomenon which is an issue or a process the
researcher would like to study.
▪ Qualitative research is built on an emerging design
ELEMENTS OF QUALITATIVE
PURPOSE STATEMENT
▪ Single sentence
▪ “The purpose of this study . . . ”
▪ Central Phenomenon
▪ State qualitative type of design
▪ Qualitative words (e.g. “explore,” “understand,”
“discover”)
▪ Participants
▪ Research site
TWO TYPES OF QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
▪ Central question
▪ Sub-questions
▪ Differences between research questions and
questions asked during data collection