Concepts of Quantitative Research

Concepts of Quantitative Research

LECTURE NOTE 1​

Teacher: Gelli Aguilar-Abando

As you wake up in the morning and go about your daily activities, you may have thought about the activities your friends and other people are doing. What do they think and want? Are they curious about the ‘New Normal Community’?

• ​Are they curious about the ‘New Normal Community’? You may even wonder about the concerns in your neighborhood.

• How can everyone be safe from this pandemic crisis?​

• ​Can you do something to help protect your own environment?

Multiple Choice

When you start to ask questions and seek for information to find answers, CAN WE SAY THAT YOU ARE DOING RESEARCH?

• YES

• NO

WHY RESEARCH?

• Research is essential in obtaining solutions to various problems and in making life more convenient and meaningful.

WHAT IS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH?

• Is an objective, systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena through the use of computational techniques. It is more concerned with numbers and its relationship with events. ​

Can this be quantitative research?

• Rappler News revealed that “Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo is the biggest gainer among vice presidential candidates in a commissioned survey by Pulse Asia Research, Inc., released on March 15.”​

It inquires about people’s views in a structured manner so that hard evidences and statistics that may be used, e.g. decision making, can be generated.​

In this case in order to get consistent statistical results, it is vital to survey a considerable number of people and get a representative sample of the target population.​

You have already learned from your Practical Research 1 subject that data collection in qualitative research involve observations, interviews, open-ended questionnaires, documentations and focused group discussions. In quantitative research, it uses surveys and closed-ended questionnaires.​

​OBJECTIVE

​

It seeks accurate measurement and analysis of target concepts and the real or factual, not the emotional or cognitive existence of the object matters greatly. It is not based on mere intuitions and guesses.

​CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

test theories and hypotheses

​

​The researchers test their theories or hypotheses by proving or disproving it through the use of statistics.

​CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

experimental quantitative

​

​Example:

​[NULL hypothesis]

There is no significant difference between experimented fertilizer and the commercial fertilizer?

NON-experimental quantitative

​

​Example:

​[Assumptions]

The level of salary satisfaction of the employees may vary.

structured research instruments

​

Data are normally gathered using structured research tools such as questionnaires to collect measurable characteristics of the population like age, socio – economic status, number of children, among others.

​CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

NUMERICAL DATA

​

​Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often organized and presented using tables, charts, graphs, and figures that consolidate large numbers of data to show trends, relationships or differences among variables

​CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

LARGE SAMPLE SIZE

​

​The sample size depends on how the characteristics of the population but it is assumed that the sample is representative of the population.

​CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Representativeness in research refers to the range of the sample's differences in characteristics, groups or category. 

​

replication

​

​A reliable quantitative study can be repeated to verify or confirm the correctness of the results in another setting. This strengthens the validity of the findings that can result to the elimination of the possibility of spurious conclusions.

​CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

​For quantitative experimental research: The researcher attempts to provide multiple repitition of sample representation and testing.

​This is called COMPLETE RANDOM BLOCK DESIGN (sampling)

​For quantitative non-experimental research: The researcher attempts gather data from multiple samples under a category or group. 

​If you have surveyed or gathered data from a single person in SENIOR CITIZEN category about their satisfaction on COVID 19 vaccine, there could be weak representation of data, thus, may affect its reliability.