LESSON 3:

STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND

IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH ACROSS FIELDS
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 MODULE 1
 GUIDE QUESTIONS

What are the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative

research?
What is the importance of quantitative research across
fields.
 TREE WITH GOOD AND DEFECTIVE FRUITS

Draw a tree in the box on the next page. Imagine the

trees bearing good fruits and defective fruits. On the
left-side branches of the tree, write the strengths of a
quantitative type of research. On the right side
branches, write the weakness of a quantitative type of
research.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• ADVANTAGES • DISADVANTAGES
• UNBIASED • INACCURATE
• CAN GENERALIZED • COSTLY
• GATHERING OF DATA IS FASTER • MATRABAHO
• CANNOT MAKE ANY CHANGES
ONCE STARTED
 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
STRENGTHS
 Study findings can be generalized to
the population about which
information is required
 Sample individuals communities, or
organizations can be selected to
ensure that the results will be
representative of the population
being studied
 Structural factors that determine
how inequalities (such as gender
inequalities) are produced can be
analyzed
WEAKNESSES
 Many kinds of information are
difficult to obtain through structured
data collection instruments,
particularly information on sensitive
topics such as domestic violence and
income.
 Many groups such as sex workers,
drug users, illegal immigrants,
squatters and ethnic minorities are
always difficult to reach, but the
problems are often greater for
quantitative data collection
methods.
 Self-reported information obtained
from questionnaires may be
inaccurate or incomplete.
 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

 Estimates the magnitude and  There is often no information on

distribution of impacts can be
obtained.
 Estimates of the costs and benefits of
interventions can obtained.
 Clear documentation can be
provided regarding the content and
application of the survey instruments
so that other researchers can assess
the validity of the findings.
 Standardized approaches permit the  Studies are expensive and time
study to be replicated in different
areas or over time with the
production of comparable findings.
contextual factors to help interpret
results or to explain variations in
behavior between households with
similar economic and demographic
characteristics.
 The administration of a structured
questionnaire creates an unnatural
situation that may alienate
respondents.
consuming, and even preliminary
results are usually not available for a
long period of time.
 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
STRENGTHS
 It is possible to control the effects of
extraneous variables that might
result in misleading interpretations
of causality (although this can be
challenging in the natural settings of
evaluations.)
WEAKNESSES
 Research methods are inflexible
because the instruments cannot be
modified once the study begins.
 Reduction of data to number results
in lost information.
 The correlations produced (e.g.
between costs and benefits, gender,
and access to services or benefits)
may mask or ignore underlying
causes or realities.
 Untested variables may account for
program impacts
 Errors in the hypotheses tested may
yield misimpressions of program
quality or influential factors.
 STRENGHTS AND WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• Study can be generalized • Many kinds of information are difficult to obtain
• Sample individuals can be selected • Many groups are difficult to reach
• Structural factors produced can be analyzed • Information obtained from questionnaires may be
• Magnitudes and impacts can be obtained inaccurate or incomplete

• Cost and benefits can be obtained • No information on contextual factors to interpret

results
• Clear documentation can be provided
• Questionnaire creates unnatural situation
• Study can be replicated
• Studies are expensive and time consuming
 STRENGHTS AND WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• It is possible to control the variables
• Research Methods cannot be modified once the
study begins
• Reduction in data to number results can lead to
lost of information
• The correlations produced may mask or ignore
underlying realities
• Untested variable may account for program impacts
• Errors in the hypothesis may yield
misinterpretations
 IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

1. It is useful in generating large amounts of data and in

identifying the patterns of behavior of various sectors in
different settings.
2. Less prone to bias as the findings are expressed in terms
of numbers.
 IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

3. A. More reliable and objective, B. uses statistics to

generalize findings, C. reduces and restructures a complex
problem to a limited number of variables, D. looks at
relationships between variables and can establish cause and
effect in highly controlled circumstances, E. test theories
and hypothesis, F. assumes that a sample is representative
of the population, G. Subjectivity of the researcher is
recognized less, H. it is less detailed that qualitative
research.
 POST TEST

Four Good Seeds of the Quantitative Research

Instructions: Write four good areas of quantitative research
which make it important to researchers and users of data.