Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic, and an objective stance

-used to populate statistics from a high volume sample.

The strength and weaknesses of Quantitative research.

 Quantitative data are pieces of information that can be counted and usually gathered by surveys from large numbers of
respondents randomly selected for inclusion.
Strengths
 Findings can be generalized if selection process is well-designed.
 Relatively easy to analyze
 Data can be very consistent, precise and reliable.
Weaknesses
 Related to secondary data is sometimes not available or accessing available data is difficult or impossible
 Difficult to understand context of phenomenon
 Data may not be robust enough to explain complex issues.

Descriptive research
 Is defined as a research method that describes the characteristics of the population or phenomenon
 Focuses on describing nature of demographic segment, without focusing on why.
Correlational research
-a type of non experimental research method.
Quasi-experimental research
-involves the manipulation of an independent variable
Experimental research
-A study that strictly adheres to scientific research design.
The Importance of Quantitative research
 More reliable and objective
 Can use statistics to generalise findings
 Often reduces and restructures a complex problem to a limited number of variable.
 Looks at relationship between variables.
 Tests theories or hypothesis
 Assumes sample is representative of the population.
 Subjectivity of researcher in methodology is recognized less.
 Less detailed than qualitative data
Nature of variables
- A variable is not only something that we measure, but also something that we can manipulate .
3 types of variables
1. Independent variable and dependent variable (cause and effect)
-independent variable act ad the cause in that they precede.
-dependent variable act as the effect in that they change.
2. Extraneous and confounding variables
-are those that affect dependent variable but not adequately controlled by the researcher.
3. Continuous and categorical value
-continuous variables are measured on a scale that theoretically can take on an infinite numbers of
value.
-categorical variables measured and assigned to groups on basis of specific characteristics.
-continuous variables can be converted to categorical variables, but categorical variables cannot be
converted to continuous variable.
Categorical variables are also known as discrete or qualitative variables.
Continuous variables are also known as quantitative variables.

Research Design refers to the sensible way during which the research was conducted consistent.
Selltiz C S., Wrightsman L.S and Cook S.W (1981) design is the deliberately planned to arrangement of conditions for
analysis and collection of data.
In addtion, Jankowicz (1981) he states the idea behind a design is that different kinds of issues logically demand different kinds
of data gathering arrangement so that the data will be:
 Relevant to your thesis or argument
 An adequate test of your thesis (unbiased or reliable)
 Accurate in establishing causality
 Capable of providing findings that can be generalized.
Possible research topic
1. Health care
2. Environmental protection
3. Traffic situation
4. All forms of violence
5. Child care/child protection
6. Population aging
7. Gender equality
8. Poverty alleviation
9. Technology enhancement
10. Agriculture

Research problem a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to eliminated, or troubling
questions that exists in scholarly literature, theory or practice.
-a heart of your study.
Sources of research problems;
 Personal interests and experiences
-ex. The use of formative test in statistics class; and the use of technology in research class.
 Deductions from theory
-ex. The effectiveness of math manipulative; and the effectiveness of mastery approach to learning research.
  Replication of studies
-ex. Checking findings of a major study; checking the validity of research findings with different subjects;
and checking trends or changes over time.
The characteristics of research problem
1. A research problem is not answerable by yes or no.
2. If implies relationship between the variable of the study.
3. The problem should be stated in clear, unambiguous manner.
4. A researchable problem must imply interpretation and analysis of data.
Research problem should follow the acronym: SMART
S specific
M measurable
A attainable
R realistic
T time bounded

Writing research title authors should realize that despite being repeatedly warned against it, most people do indeed fall prey to
judging a book, by it’s cover.
Elements of research

A good research paper title:

 Condenses the paper’s content in few words
 Captures the readers attention
 Differentiates the paper from other papers of the same subject area.
Purpose
-Why do I want to conduct this research study?
Subject matter
-what do I want to study about?
Locale
-where do I conduct the study?
Period
-how long will take for me to finish my study?
Population/respondents
-for whom will my data come from of be collected?

Research background the background of study establishes the context of research.

How to structure the background of study:

Dr. Sadchev (2018) emphasized that the author usually outlines historical developments in the literature that led to the current
topic of research concisely.
 What is known about the broad topic
 What are the gaps or missing links that need to be addressed?
 What is the significance of dressing thode gaps
 What are the rationale and hypothesis of your study?
Statement of the problem or research question
-an answerable inquiry into specific convern or issues in this case, it is a initial step in a research project. The research question is
the first step in the research project.
Writing a research question
 Specify your specific concern or issue
 Decide what you want to know about specifics concern into a question
 Ensure that the question is answerable
 Check to make sure the question is not too broad or too narrow

Scope and limitation it is important to narrow down your thesis topic and limit the scope of your study.
Sample phrases that help to express the scope of study:
 The coverage of this study…
 The study consists of…
 The study covers the…
 The study is focus on…
The delimitation of the study is delimiting a study by geographic location, age, sex, population traits, population size, or other
similar conditions.
Sample phrases that expresses delimitation:
 The study does not cover the..
 The researcher limited this research to..
 This study is limited to…
Conceptual framework an analytical tool woth many variations and contexts.
 Present a schematic diagram of the paradigm of the research and discuss the relationship of variables/elements
 Identify and discuss the variables related to the problem.
 Can use the input output model (IPO) or the dependent-independent moderator model.
 Serves as basis for the research paradigm and objectives
Conceptual paradigm assume that there is logical linear flow of events or processes that can be anticipated in the study.
Definition and terms typically an annex to a piece of (book, research paper, pamphlet etc.) either at the start or more likely
nears to top with an inventory of acronyms, jargon, credits, etc.
There are three ways in writing definition of terms:
1. Conceptual definition
-the universal meaning that is attributed to a word or group of words which understood by
many people.
- it is abstract and most general in nature.
2. Operation Definition
-the meaning of concepts or terms are used in a particular study.
3. Function definition
-establishes the rules and procedures the investigators will use to measure variables.
Hypothesis accroding to trochim (2020), a hypothesis is a specific statement of prediction.
Creswell (2014) & russell (2013), hypothesis is a tentative explanation or an answer to a question about variables, their
relationship, and other facts involved in the research.
Purposes of research question
 They guide you on which aspect of the research focus on.
 They provide opportunities to prove the relationship between variables.
 They give the right direction of the research.
 They outline your thoughts on your manner of summarizing results and of explaining the conclusions.
 they push for an empirical study to prove the existence of relationship of variables and the effects of independent
variable on the dependent variable.
Hypothesis vs. Research question
 their difference lies in the amount of stock knowledge you have about the focus of your study.
 If you know much about the variables or have a lots of knowledge about other factual data involved in the research
through review or related literature, you can formulate hypothesis.