QUANTITATIVE

RESEARCH
DESIGN
A research design refers to an
overall strategy that a researcher
uses to logically and coherently
integrate the various components
of a study.
Basic Quantitative Research
Design can be used to address or
match given problems and
objectives
Three Traditional
Categories of Research
Design

A. Exploratory
B. Descriptive
C. Causal
A. Exploratory Research Design
A research design which is
often used to establish an initial
understanding and background
information about a research
study of interest. It is described
as an informal or unstructured
way of investigating available
sources
This research design may include:
 Library search
 Secondary data analysis
 Experience surveys
 Opinionnaire
 Case analysis
 Focus groups
 Projective techniques
 Internet searches
Secondary data include information
which you may gather from:
 Books
 Journals
 Proceedings
 Newsletters
 Magazines
 Annual reports
Experience surveys refer to
gathering data from key informants
about a research topic.

In case analysis, you may review

past experiences or situations that
may have some similarities with the
present research problem
B. Descriptive Research Design
A research design which is
used to gather information on
current situations and
conditions. It helps provide
answers to the questions who,
what, when, where, and how of
a particular research study.
 Descriptive research studies
provide accurate data after
subjecting them to a rigorous
procedure and using large
amounts of data from large
numbers of samples.
 This design leads to logical
conclusions and pertinent
recommendations but is
dependent to a high degree
on data collection
instrumentation for the
measurement of data and
analysis.
CLASSIFICATION OF
DESCRIPTIVE DESIGN
1. Survey Design
It is usually used in
securing opinions and trends
through the use of
questionnaires and
interviews.
2. Correlation Research
Design
It is used for research
studies aimed to determine
the existence of a
relationship between two or
more variables and to
determine the degree of the
Examples:
 Mental ability and grade
in math
 Gender and math
performance
 Advertising costs and
sales
 Income and expenses
3. Evaluation Research
Design
It is conducted to elicit
useful feedback from a
variety of respondents from
various fields to aid in
decision making or policy
formulation.
Commonly used types of
evaluation based on the purpose of
the study
1. Formative Evaluation
It is used to determine the quality
of implementation of the project,
the efficiency and effectiveness of a
program, assessment of
organizational processes
Examples of formative evaluation
 Needs Assessment – evaluates
the need for the program or
project
 Process evaluation – evaluates
the process of implementation of
a program
 Implementation evaluation –
evaluates the efficiency or
effectiveness of a project or
program
 Program Monitoring – evaluates
the performance and
implementation of an unfinished
program
2. Summative Evaluation
It is done after the
implementation of the program.
It examines the outcomes,
products or effects of the
program.
Examples of Summative Evaluation
 Secondary Data Analysis – examine
existing data for analysis (Influence
of gender and mental ability in the
results of the NAT)
 Impact Evaluation – used to
evaluate the overall impact of the
program (determine the effect of
remedial classes on the performance
of the students in mathematics in
your school
 Outcome evaluation – to
determine if the program has
caused useful effects based on
target outcomes (to determine if
a leadership training program
for officers of student
organizations of a certain school
have enhanced the leadership
skills of the participants)
 Cost-effectiveness evaluation or
cost-benefit analysis – it
compares the relative costs to the
outcome or results of some
courses of action (a study on the
value of money returns of a
company brought about by an
interview training investment
for employees in the sales dept)
C. Causal Research Design
A research design which is
used to measure the impact that
an independent variable has on
another variable or why certain
results are obtained. It can also
be used to identify the extent
and nature of cause-and-effect
relationships.
Example of Causal Research
As price increases, the
demand for softdrinks
decreases
 POINTS OF COMPARISON OF THE
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
DESIGNS
Points of EXPLORATOR DESCRIPTIVE CAUSAL
Comparison Y

Research Unstructured Formal and Highly

Approach and flexible structured structured
Degree of Not well- Variables are Variables and
Problem defined defined relationships
Identification are defined
When to use? Initial research Often a follow- Late stage of
up to decision-
exploratory making
research
 Points of EXPLORATORY DESCRIPTIVE CAUSAL
Comparison
Goals and Provides Describe Explains the
objectives insights on a situations cause and
problem effect
relationship
between
variables
Sample size Small non- Large Large
representative representative representative
sample sample sample
Type of Research Hypothesis is Hypothesis is
Hypothesis questions only nondirectional directional
 Points of EXPLORATORY DESCRIPTIVE CAUSAL
Comparison
Data Data may not Data are Data are
management be statistically statistically statistically
and measurable measurable measurable
measurements