(Quantitative Research)

Definitions of Research
 Research came from the French word
"recherche" which means to travel through or
survey
Definitions of Research
 UNESCO (1962) defined research as the orderly
investigation of a subject matter for the purpose
of adding to knowledge.
 “Systematic, controlled, empirical and critical
investigation of hypothetical prepositions about
the presumed relations among natural
phenomena”. - Kerlinger, 1973
Definitions of Research
 “Careful, systematic, reliable and valid method
of investigating knowledge and solving
problems”. Wiersma, 1991.
 “Systematic process of collecting and analyzing
information in order to increase our
understanding of the phenomenon with which
we are concerned or interested.” Leedy, 1997
Definitions of Research
 Best and Khan (1995) defined research as the
systematic objective analysis and recording of
controlled observations that may lead to the
development of generalizations, principles or
theories, resulting in prediction and possibly
ultimate control of events.
A succinct definition…
 methodical investigation into a subject in order
to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory,
or to develop a plan of action based on the
facts discovered
 Microsoft® Encarta® (2009)
The
Scientific
Method
Characteristics of Research
Process
 Research originates with a question or problem
-inquisitive mind
 Researchers require a clear articulation of a
goal
-ambiguity must be avoided
 Research requires a specific plan of procedure
-carefully planned attack
Research Process
Characteristics of Research
Process
 Research usually divides the principal problems
into more manageable sub-problems
 Researchers are guided by specific research
problems, question or hypothesis
 Research accepts certain critical assumption
-the assumptions must be valid or else
the research cannot proceed
Characteristics of Research
Process
 Research requires the collection and
interpretation of data in attempting to resolve
the problem that initiated the research
 Research is by its nature, cyclical or more
exactly helical.
 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
VS.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Why Quantitative?
 Why do you think we need to learn
about quantitative research?
 Is qualitative research not enough?
Quantitative Research
 A type of research that is `explaining
phenomena by collecting numerical
data that are analyzed using
mathematically based methods (in
particular statistics)‘ (Creswell, 1994)
Group Activity
 Compare and contrast the two types of
research using a Venn Diagram.
Quantitative vs Qualitative
 Quantitative and qualitative methods differ in
their
 assumptions about the purpose of research itself
 methods utilized by researchers
 kinds of studies undertaken,
 the role of the researcher,
 and the degree to which generalization is
possible.
Quantitative Research
 is used to answer
questions about
relationship among
measured variables with
the purpose of
explaining, predicting
and controlling
phenomena.
Quantitative vs Qualitative
Orientation Quantitative Qualitative

A single reality, i.e., can be

Assumption
measured by an Multiple realities
about the world
instrument
Establish relationships
between measured Understanding
Research variables ; situations and events
Purpose from participants‘
Explain the causes of perspectives
relationships
Orientation Quantitative Qualitative

•flexible, changing
•procedures are strategies and
established before techniques;
study begins (pre-
•design emerges during
Research methods established); the course of research
and processes •a hypothesis is
formulated before •hypothesis is not
research can begin; needed to begin
research;
•deductive in nature
•inductive in nature
Orientation Quantitative Qualitative

The researcher is ideally

The researcher
an objective observer
participates and
who neither participates
Researcher's role becomes immersed in
in or influences what is
the research/social
being studied (a
setting
detached observer)

Universal context-free Detailed context-based

Generalization
generalization generalizations
Sources of
Differences
Qualitative Research Method Quantitative Research Method
•When in-depth
understanding of a specific •To get a broad comprehensive
issue is required understanding of the situation
•To understand behavior, •to get socio-demographic
perception and priorities of
affected community characteristics of the population
•to explain information •to compare relations and
provided through correlations between different issues
When to quantitative data
use it?
•to emphasize a holistic •when accurate and precise data
approach (processes and is required
outcomes)
•When assessors only knows
•to produce evidence about the
roughly in advance what type and size of problems
he/she is looking for’
•recommended during latter
•recommended during
earlier phases of assessments phases of assessment
 •to explore,
understand
phenomena •to seek precise measurement,
•provides in depth quantify, confirm hypotheses
understanding of
specific issues •provides general overview
Objectives •detailed and •provides demographic
and complete information, characteristics
Features contextualization,
interpretation and •objective and reliable
description •apt for generalization
•perspectives, opinions
•objectively verifiable
and explanations of
affected populations •prediction, causal explanation
toward events, beliefs
or practices
 •data which can be counted or
•data can be observed measured, involves amount,
Data but not measured measurement or anything of
format •mainly textual but also quantity
categorical •mainly numerical and
categorical values
•Answers questions
•Answers a controlled sequence
arising during the
discussion of questions with pre-determined
Answers
-How; Why; What do I possible answers
the
questions
need to look for in more -What
detail?
-How many?
•Questions are
generally open ended •Questions are closed
 •Looks at the whole
context from within
•Searches for patterns
Perspective •lends itself to community
•looks at specific aspects
participation. Seeks depth from the outside
of perspective though
ongoing analysis

•Quick counting estimates

•Individual interviews
•sampling surveys
•key informant interviews

Methods
•semi-structured •population movement
interviews tracking
•focus group discussions
•observation •registration
•structured interviews
 Non random
Sampling
(purposive) Random

Flexible, the assessor is

Study
the primary
Designs fixed, standards control the
instrument for data
and
collection and assessor's bias
Instruments
analysis

checklist with open

Questionna predetermined questionnaire
questions and flexible
ire
sequence with sequence and structure
 •Use inductive reasoning
•involves a systematic
and iterative process of
searching, categorizing
and integrating data
•describes the meaning
•Uses deductive
of research findings from methods
Analysis perspective of the
research participants •Descriptive statistics
•Involves developing
generalizations from a
•Inferential statistics
limited number of
specific observations or
experiences
•Analysis is descriptive
Key Characteristics
 Process is deductive
 To test ideas or hypotheses
 Data are numeric
 To enable statistical analysis
 Pre-specified methods are used
 To ensure scientific rigour
Key Objectives
 To describe
 To evaluate relationship
 Association between variables
 Causation
 To predict
 Identify variables that predict outcomes
 To compare
 Identify differences between groups
Identify the type of research
1. Prevalence of Midlife Crisis among Filipino
Farmers
2. Amf: Pagbabago ng Anyo at Kasidhian
3. Effect of Paternal Absence on Character
Strength
4. Acceptability of Shanghai with Bamboo Shoot
5. Conception and Misconception of JHS Students
on HUMSS
Approaches of Quantitative
Research
 Experimental Research
 It is the only type of research that directly
attempts to influence a particular variable, and
when properly applied, it is the best type for
testing hypotheses about cause-and-effect
relationships.
Approaches of Quantitative
Research
 Correlational Research
 It investigates the possibility of relationships
between two variables, but there is no
manipulation
Approaches of Quantitative
Research
 Causal-Comparative Research
 It determines the cause or consequences of
differences that already exist between or among
groups of individuals (i.e. difference between
male and female in terms of linguistic abilities)
Approaches of Quantitative
Research
 Survey Research
 It aims to describe the characteristics of a
population. In essence, what researchers want to
find out is how the members of a population
distribute themselves on one or more variables
(for example, age, ethnicity, religious preference,
attitudes toward school).
Characteristics
1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (ACEILMNRU)
Characteristics
2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(CDDEEITUV)

SHERLOCK HOLMES
Characteristics
3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(BCEEIJOTV)
Characteristic/Strength
4. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
(AABEEGIIILLNRTYZ)
Approach
 5. friendships and stress-induced illness
Approach
 6.effect of color of highlighter on memory
Approach
 8.
Approach
 7.
Group Activity
 Suppose you are to make a quantitative
research by continuing your study in PR1. Make
a quantitative research out of it with a
purpose/significance.
Importance of Quantitative
Research
 A research has significance.
 Some findings are used as basis for projects,
inventions and development.
Assignment
 Research on the importance of quantitative
research in the following fields:
Humanities & Social Sciences
Natural & Applied Science
Business & Entrepreneurship
Information & Communication Technology
Group Activity
 Illustrate the importance of quantitative
research in the following fields:
Humanities & Social Sciences
Natural & Applied Science
Business & Entrepreneurship
Information & Communication Technology
Application of QnR
 New product development
 Product improvement
 Product testing
 Efficiency gains
 Cost savings
Variables
 A property or characteristic of things and
people that varies in quality or quantity
 Types
 Independent
 Dependent
 Extraneous
Independent Variable
 Active independent variable
 manipulated/assigned by researcher
 Example: treatment assignment
 Attribute independent variable
 pre-existing characteristic, not under control of
researcher
 Example: sex, age, education level, comorbidities
Dependent Variable
 Presumed to be influenced by the independent
variable(s)
 usually represents outcome studied
Extraneous Variables
 random variables that are not objects of research
 Confounding: extraneous variables that are related to
independent variables
 Controlled: extraneous variables manipulated so as to
exclude their effect on the relationship between
independent and dependent variables or to reduce
the variability of the dependent variable.
 Uncontrolled: extraneous variables that have not been
controlled
Scales of Measurement
 Nominal
 Ordinal
 Interval
 Ratio
Nominal Variable
 qualitative categories that cannot be
ranked in a meaningful way in terms of
degree or magnitude
 Ex: race, sex, color of eyes
Ordinal Variable
 qualitative categories that are ordered in
terms of degree or magnitude
 Ex: educational attainment
Interval Variable
 quantitative values where differences between
attributes have consistent meaning and 0 is
arbitrary
 qualitative categories that ARE ordered and
there are numerical values assigned to each
category which are also ordered
 Ex: feelings towards President's handling of the
economy on a scale of 1 to 5
Ratio Variable
 quantitative values where differences
between attributes have consistent meaning
and 0 is absolute.
 an interval scale, plus a meaningful zero
When do we use quantitative
research?
1. When we want a quantitative answer
2. Numerical change which can accurately be
studied using quantitative methods.
3. Useful in quantifying opinions, attitudes and
behaviors and finding out how the whole
population feels about a certain issue.
When do we use quantitative
research?
4. Suitable to explain some phenomena
Ex: What factors predict the general English
proficiency of the fourth year students?
5. Testing of hypotheses
When shouldn’t we use
QnR?
 exploring a problem in depth
 developing hypotheses and theories
 When issues to be studied are particularly
complex
 When looking at the meaning of particular
events or circumstances.
Identify the type of QnR
 1. effect of having pets on happiness (Pet owner
vs. Non-pet owners)
 2. possible relationship between height and
basketball performance
 3. effect of amount of sleep on math scores
 4. number of students according to strand