QUANTITATIVE

RESEARCH
PRACTICAL RESEARCH II
Humans are 'intuitive' scientists
....always asking questions and
testing theories about themselves,
others, events, the environment and
the world around them.
RESEARCH IS ASKING A QUESTION AND FINDING
OUT THE ANSWER…

1. It is looking into something

2. It is looking for something.
3. It is comparing and contrasting things.
4. It is finding out more information...it is
counting things ...making inquiries...being
curious...finding out what people
think...finding out what people do....finding
out what works.... finding out what doesn't
work...finding out what people want
 We research people and their behaviour,
opinions, attitudes, trends and patterns,
also politics, animals, health and illness.
Research can be conducted either
WHAT DO WE informally for our own benefit, through
RESEARCH? asking questions, watching, counting or
reading and formally, for medical or
academic purposes, as a marketing
strategy, to inform and influence politics
and policy.
Research may be carried out in our own lives,
through the media, in our place of work, with
our friends and family or through reading past
research. Our views - personal, social,
community and worldwide and our own
identities are socially constructed through our
own theorizing
 1. Thoughts and opinions
2. Attitudes
3. Habits
4. Culture
5. Norms
6. Scientific facts
7. Medical information

RESEARCH GIVES US
INFORMATION ABOUT:
 1.Have it as interesting fact
2. Use it to make decisions
3. Use it to persuade influence
others
WHAT DO WE DO
4. Use it to affect change
WITH RESEARCH? 5. Use it to change behavior
6. Use it to better use...medical
...improve customer care...write
better funding
applications....monitor and evaluate
our provision.
Quantitative research is defined by Bryman and Bell
(2005, p. 154) that ‘entailing the collection of numerical
data and exhibiting the view of relationship between
theory and research as deductive, a predilection for
natural science approach, and as having an objectivist
conception of social reality’.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative research is
influenced by the
empiricist paradigm.
HOW?
Quantitative research is the
systematic empirical investigation of
observable phenomena via
statistical, mathematical or
computational techniques.
The objective of quantitative
research is to develop and employ
mathematical models, theories
and/or hypotheses pertaining to
phenomena.
The process of measurement is central
to quantitative research because it
provides the fundamental connection
between empirical observation and
mathematical expression of
quantitative relationships.
Quantitative data is any data that is in
numerical form such as statistics, percentages,
etc. The researcher analyzes the data with the
help of statistics. The researcher is hoping the
numbers will yield an unbiased result that can
be generalized to some larger population.
 The generation of models, theories
QUANTITATIVE and hypotheses
RESEARCH IS
GENERALLY
The development of instruments
MADE USING and methods for measurement
SCIENTIFIC Experimental control and
METHODS,
WHICH CAN manipulation of variables
INCLUDE: Collection of empirical data
Modeling and analysis of data
Statistics is the most widely used branch of
mathematics in quantitative research
outside of the physical sciences, and also
finds applications within the physical
sciences.
Quantitative research using
statistical methods starts with
the collection of data, based on
the hypothesis or theory. Usually
a big sample of data is collected
– this would require verification,
validation and recording before
the analysis can take place.
Your goal in conducting quantitative research study is to
determine the relationship between one thing [an
independent variable] and another [a dependent or
outcome variable] within a population. Quantitative
research designs are either descriptive [subjects usually
measured once] or experimental [subjects measured
before and after a treatment]. A descriptive study
establishes only associations between variables; an
experimental study establishes causality.

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative research deals in numbers,
logic, and an objective stance.
Quantitative research focuses on numeric
and unchanging data and detailed,
convergent reasoning rather than
divergent reasoning [i.e., the generation
of a variety of ideas about a research
problem in a spontaneous, freeflowing
manner].
 The data is usually gathered using structured research
instruments.
The results are based on larger sample sizes that are
representative of the population.
The research study can usually be replicated or repeated,
given its high reliability.
Researcher has a clearly defined research question to which
ITS M A I N
objective answers are sought.
C H A R AC TERISTI CS
All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is
ARE:
collected. Data are in the form of numbers and statistics,
often arranged in tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual
forms.
Project can be used to generalize concepts more widely,
predict future results, or investigate causal relationships.
Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or computer
software, to collect numerical data.
 The weight of a person (in kilograms)
T HE OV ER ARCHI NG The height of a person (in metres)
AI M O F A
Q UANTI TATI V E
The age of a person (in years and months)
R ES EARCH ST U DY The gender of a person (using a numerical
I S TO CL AS S I F Y system of categorisation, e.g. 1 for female, 2
F EAT UR ES , CO U N T for male)
T HEM , AN D
CO N ST R UC T A person’s education (e.g. number and
STAT I STI CA L grade of school certificates; classification of
M O DEL S I N A N undergraduate degree)
AT T EM PT TO
EX P L AI N WHAT I S A person’s political views (e.g. using a scale
O B S ERV ED. that goes from 0 for extreme left-wing to 10
for extreme right-wing)
STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES OF
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 Allows for a broader study,
involving a greater number of
subjects, and enhancing the
generalization of the results;

STRENGTHS
 Allows for greater objectivity and accuracy of results.
Generally, quantitative methods are designed to provide
summaries of data that support generalizations about
the phenomenon under study. In order to accomplish
this, quantitative research usually involves few variables
and many cases, and employs prescribed procedures to
ensure validity and reliability;

STRENGTHS
 Applying well-established
standards means that the
research can be replicated,
and then analyzed and STRENGTHS
compared with similar
studies;
Quantitative data is more
efficient and able to test
hypotheses, but may miss
contextual detail
WEAKNESSES
Uses a static and rigid
approach and so employs an
inflexible process of
discovery
WEAKNESSES
 The development of standard
questions by researchers can
lead to "structural bias" and
W EA KNESS ES false representation, where the
data actually reflects the view
of the researcher instead of the
participating subject
Results provide
less detail on
behavior, WEAKNESSES

attitudes, and
motivation
Researcher may collect a
much narrower and
sometimes superficial
dataset
WEAKNESSES
 Results are limited as
they provide numerical
descriptions rather than
detailed narrative and WEAKNESSES

generally provide less

elaborate accounts of
human perception.
 The research is often carried out
in an unnatural, artificial
environment so that a level of
control can be applied to the
WEAKNESSES
exercise. This level of control
might not normally be in place in
the real world thus yielding
"laboratory results" as opposed to
"real world results"
Preset answers will not necessarily
reflect how people really feel about a
subject and, in some cases, might just be
the closest match to the preconceived
hypothesis.
WEAKNESSES
There are four (4) main types of
quantitative designs: descriptive,
correlational, quasi-
experimental, and experimental.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

is a study designed to depict the

participants in an accurate way.
More simply put, descriptive
research is all about describing
people who take part in the study.
1. Observational, THERE ARE THREE
WAYS A
defined as a method RESEARCHER CAN
GO ABOUT DOING
of viewing and A DESCRIPTIVE
recording the RESEARCH
PROJECT, AND
participants THEY ARE:
2. Case study, defined as an
in-depth study of an
individual or group of
individuals
THERE ARE THREE WAYS A RESEARCHER CAN GO ABOUT DOING A
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT:
 3. Survey, defined
THERE ARE THREE
as a brief interview WAYS A RESEARCHER
CAN GO ABOUT
or discussion with DOING A
DESCRIPTIVE

an individual about RESEARCH PROJECT:

a specific topic
 is a quantitative method of
research in which you have 2 or
more quantitative variables from
the same group of subjects, & you
CO R RELATIONAL
STUDY are trying to determine if there is a
relationship (or covariation)
between the 2 variables (a
similarity between them, not a
difference between their means).
Theoretically, any 2 quantitative
variables can be correlated (for
example, midterm scores &
number of body piercings!) as long
as you have scores on these
variables from the same
participants; however, it is probably
a waste of time to collect & analyze
data when there is little reason to
think these two variables would be
related to each other.
 involves selecting
groups, upon which a
variable is tested, QUASI-
EXPERIMENTAL
without any random DESIGN
pre-selection
processes.
 is commonly used in sciences
such as sociology and
psychology, physics, chemistry,
biology and medicine etc. It is a
EXPERIMENTAL
collection of research designs
RESEARCH
which use manipulation and
controlled testing to understand
causal processes. Generally, one
or more variables are
manipulated to determine their
effect on a dependent variable.
The experimental method is
a systematic and scientific
approach to research in
which the researcher
manipulates one or more
variables, and controls and
measures any change in
other variables.
 1. Data is in the form of words, pictures or objects.
ACTIVITY 1.1 * 2. The data is usually gathered using structured research
instruments.
3. It is not based upon numerical measurements and does not use
numbers and statistical methods as key research indicators and
tools.
TRUE OR FALSE 4. It tends to be associated with small-scale studies and a holistic
perspective, often studying a single occurrence or small number of
occurrences/case studies in great depth.
* 5. The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given
its high reliability.
* 6. Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged
in tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual forms.
7. Emphasis is on discovery rather than proof.
* 8. The results are based on larger sample sizes that are
representative of the population.
9. It tends to be associated with emergent research design, using a
wide range of approaches
* 10. Researcher has a clearly defined research question to which
objective answers are sought.
1. Discuss the strengths
of a Quantitative
Research. (15pts)
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS COMPREHENSIVELY.
2. Discuss the weaknesses
of a Quantitative Research
(15pts)
1. DISCUSS THE STRENGTHS OF A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH.
Describe the following Kinds of Quantitative
Research.
1. Descriptive ________________________5pts
2. Correlational ______________________ 5pts
3. Quasi-experimental _________________5pts
4. Experimental ______________________5pts