LESSON 1: CHARACTERISTICS, STRENGTHS, allow the researchers to comprehend a

WEAKNESSES AND KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE huge amount of vital information.

RESEARCH • The data in quantitative research can
be analyzed in a quick and easy way.
The Nature of Inquiry and Research deals With the use of statistically valid random
more on the origin of the research and how models, tests, standardized instruments,
we should start on making a study. We say questionnaires and checklists, findings
the word "nature" because we deal with can be generalized to the population
what is already fixed. We can never about which information is necessary.
change the fact that Inquiry and Research • Replicable. This research can be
always start in the beginning, which is the replicated but with different areas of
title. We should begin the title by thinking concern and location. Dimensions can
deeply and decide what specific study also be an additive factor to improve
should be defended. the previous research.
• Having a data collection using some
Characteristics of Quantitative Research: quantitative methods is relatively quick
• The data is usually gathered using (e.g. telephone interviews), and data
structured research instruments. analysis is less time consuming (using
• The results are based on larger sample statistical software).
sizes that are representative of the • It must be persistent and leisured to
population. ensure that the research has accuracy,
• The research study can usually be reliability and validity as it is very useful
replicated or repeated, given its high for studying a large number of people.
reliability. • Constructed theories are tested and
• Researchers have a clearly defined validated based on how and why
research question to which objective phenomena occur.
answers are sought. • Hypothesis can be constructed as a
• All aspects of the study are carefully subject for investigation and test.
designed before data is collected. • It is useful for obtaining data which
• Data are in the form of numbers and allows quantitative predictions to be
statistics, often arranged in tables, done.
charts, figures, or other non-textual • Allowing one to more credibly establish
forms. cause-and-effect relationships, the
• Projects can be used to generalize researcher may create a situation that
concepts more widely, predict future eliminates the confusing influence of
results, or investigate causal many variables.
relationships. • The research results are independent of
• Researchers use tools, such as the researcher (e.g. statistical
questionnaires or computer software, to significance).
collect numerical data. • With many people in power, it may have
higher credibility (e.g. administrators,
Strengths of Quantitative Research: politicians, and people fund programs).
• Since quantitative research is objective
and provides numerical data, it cannot Weaknesses of Quantitative Research:
be easily misinterpreted. • It requires a large number of
• Statistical techniques were used to respondents. The larger sample size, the
facilitate sophisticated analysis and more or better the statistical findings are,
 but some studies have difficulty allows for more accurate findings across
gathering the data. a greater spectrum of respondents.
• It is costly. Due to the very large sample,
the expenses will be greater in reaching 2. CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH. It tests for
out to these people and in reproducing the association between two variables.
the questionnaires. Performing correlational research is
• The produced knowledge could be so done to establish what the effect of one
abstract and general for direct on the other might be and how that
application to specific local. affects the relationship. Correlational
• The produced knowledge could be so research is conducted in order to explain
abstract and general for direct a noticed occurrence. In correlational
application to specific local situations, research the survey is conducted on a
contexts, and individuals. minimum of two groups. In most
• Researchers must be watchful on correlational research there is a level of
respondents who are just guessing in manipulation involved with the specific
answering the research instrument as variables being researched. Once the
some of them may not reveal the real information is compiled it is then
response due to ethical issues analyzed statistically to draw
• The used variables of a researcher might conclusions about the effect that one
not reflect the understandings of local has on the other.
constituencies. The researcher might
miss out on phenomena occurring 3. CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE RESEARCH. It
because of the focus on theory or looks to uncover a cause and effect
hypothesis testing rather than on theory relationship. This research is not
or hypothesis generation (called the conducted between the two groups.
confirmation bias). Rather than look solely for a statistical
relationship between two variables it
Kinds of Quantitative Research: tries to identify, specifically, how the
According to April Klazema (2014), there different groups are affected by the
are four kinds of quantitative research for same circumstance. Causal-
students and researchers. These kinds are comparative research involves
Descriptive Research, Correlational 'comparison.' In causal-comparative
Research, Causal-Comparative Research, research the study of two or more groups
and Experimental Research. The ideas were is done without focusing on their
explained in these manners: relationship. As always, the use of
1. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH. It uses interviews, statistical analysis is engaged to
questionnaires, and sampling polls to get synthesize the data in a clear method for
a sense of behavior with intense presentation.
precision. It allows researchers to judge
behavior and then present the findings in 4. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH. Though
an accurate way. This is usually questions may be posed in the other
expressed in a frequent count or a forms of research, experimental
percentage. Survey research can be research is guided specifically by a
conducted around one group hypothesis. Sometimes experimental
specifically or used to compare several research can have several hypotheses.
groups. When conducting survey A hypothesis is a statement to be proven
research it is important that the people or disproved. Once that statement is
questioned are sampled at random. This made experiments will be conducted to
 find out whether the statement is true or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena. The
not. This type of research is the bedrock process of measurement is central to
of most sciences, in particular the natural quantitative research because it provides
sciences. If natural sciences, such as the fundamental connection between
biology, are something you are empirical observation and mathematical
interested in you should check out expression of quantitative relationships.
Udemy's course on writing an A+ Biology
Paper. It will help you use the types of Health Sciences (Medical Technology,
quantitative research to great effect. Dentistry, Nursing, Medicine, etc.) use
quantitative research designs like
LESSON 2: IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE descriptive, pre-experimental, quasi-
RESEARCH ACROSS FIELDS experimental, true-experiment, case study,
among others.
People do research to find solutions, even
tentative ones, to problems, in order to 1. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH and
improve or enhance ways of doing things, ANTHROPOLOGY
to disprove or provide a new hypothesis, or Anthropology is a research method
simply to find answers to questions or of combining qualitative and
solutions to problems in daily life. Research quantitative research data. It is
findings can affect people's lives, ways of concerned with exploring
doing things, laws, rules and regulations, as connections simultaneously, amidst
well as policies, among others. Widely, cultural differences, alternatives and
quantitative research is often used because identity. In the contemporary
of its emphasis on proof rather than academic, socio-cultural and
discovery. In recent times, research studies political climate these concepts
are gaining an unprecedented focus and have immense symbolic overtones.
attention. Then, only the faculty in higher Quantitative research is used in
education has so much interest and Anthropology in many aspects. Like,
conduct researchers, but now even the true experiments may be used in
teachers in the basic education are studying people provided that you
engrossed in research and devote time and follow certain steps (Bernard, 2004).
effort in conducting research to improve This is to look into the Effects of an
educational practices that may lead to intervention in ethnic behavior of a
more quality learning of the students. Many group. Here, you need at least two
teachers do action research because there groups, called the treatment group
is a serious need to identify the problems of and the control group. One group
the deteriorating quality of education. By gets the intervention and the other
doing so, they can address systematically group doesn't. Next, individuals may
and make educational decisions regarding be randomly assigned, either to the
the problems met. Innovative teaching intervention group or to the control
strategies are products of research. In the group to ensure that the groups are
natural and social sciences, quantitative equivalent. Then, the groups are
research is the systematic, empirical measured on one or more
investigation of observable phenomena via dependent variables; this is called
statistical, mathematical or computational the pre-test. After which, the
techniques. The objective of quantitative intervention is introduced. Lastly, the
research is to develop and employ dependent variables are measured
mathematical models, theories and/or again. This is the post test. True
 experiments with people in the communicative behaviors are
laboratory are also common. associated with different stages in
Laboratory experiments often romantic relationships? What
produce results that beg to be tested communicative behaviors are used
in the natural world by to respond to co-workers displaying
Anthropologists. Aaron and Mills emotional stress? (Allen, Titsworth,
(1959, as cited by Bernard, 2004) Hunt, 2009)
demonstrated in a lab experiment
that people who go through severe 3. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH and SPORTS
initiation to a group tend to be more MEDICINE
positive toward the group than are Quantitative research is used to
people who go through a mild analyze how sports may be used as
initiation. They reasoned that people an alternative way of medicating an
who go through tough initiation rites illness. An example is the research
put a lot of personal investments into done by the University of Eastern
getting into the group. Later, if Finland which investigated the
people see evidence that the group relationship between mushrooming
is not what they thought it would be, of fast food chains and obesity, as
they are reluctant to admit the fact well as the intervention needed to
because of the investments. In Field, prevent children's obesity from
Janet Schofield and her colleagues reaching serious proportions. The
did a 3-year ethnographic study in research focused on the children's
middle school. During the first year, physical activity and physical
they noticed that African-American inactivity and the concomitant
and white children seemed to react impact on the children's amount of
differently to "mildly aggressive acts' - adipose tissue (fat mass) and the
things like bumping in the hallway, endurance fitness. The study is used
poking one another in the classroom, to analyze certain effects of physical
asking for food, or using another activity in weight control.
student's pencil without permission.
There appeared to be no event of 4. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH and
racial conflict in the school, but MEDICAL EDUCATION
during interviews students were more Quantitative research in medical
likely to report being intimidated by education tends to be predominantly
their African-American peers than observational research based on
vice versa (Sagar & Schofield, 1980, surveys or correlational studies. The
as cited by Bernard, 2004). designs test interventions like
curriculum, teaching-learning
2. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH and process, or assessment with an
COMMUNICATION experimental group. Either a
Researchers are often interested in comparison or controlled group
how an understanding of a particular learners may allow researchers to
communication phenomenon might overcome validity concerns and infer
generalize to a larger population. For potential cause-effect
example, researchers can advance generalizations. Researchers are
questions like "What Effect do punitive used to coping with the emerging
behavioral control statements have trends in recent times.
on a classroom? What
5. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH and other doesn't. Students are measured
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES before and after the intervention to
Relationship Questions in today's see whether their reading scores
quantitative trend tend to explore improve. This design contains many of
how one behavior exhibited by the elements of a true experiment,
people is related to other types of but the participants are not assigned
behavior. Examples are verbally randomly to the treatment and
aggressive behaviors related to control groups.
physical aggression - that is, when a
person has a level of verbally 7. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH and
aggressive behavior, does he or she PSYCHOLOGY
tend to be physically aggressive? Are Mertens (2005) says that the
certain supervisor communication dominant paradigms that guided
skills related to the emotional early psychological research were
experiences of employees? positivism and its successor, post
Questions of difference explore how positivism. Positivism is based on
patterns of behavior or perceptions rationalistic, emp icist philosophy that
might differ from one group or type of originated with Aristotle, Francis
a person to another: Do people with Bacon, John Locke, August Comte,
disabilities experience emotional and Immanuel Kant the underlying
labor differently from those without assumptions of positivism include the
disabilities? Do women perceive belief that the social world can be
talkativeness (or lack of it) differently studied in the same way as the
from men? Do communication styles natural world, that there is a method
differ from one culture to the next? for studying the social world that is
(Alle, Titsworth, Hunt, 2009). When value-free, and that explanations of
quantitative researchers explore a causal nature can be provided.
questions of differences or questions
of relationships, they do so in an 8. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH &
attempt to uncover certain patterns ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS and
of behavior. If the researcher MANAGEMENT (ABM)
discovers that a certain relationship Researchers can help design a new
exists in a sample that she or he has product or service, figuring out what
drawn from the population, she/he is is needed and ensure the
then in a position to draw development of the product is highly
generalizations about patterns targeted towards demand.
expected of human behavior. Businessmen can also utilize research
results to guarantee sufficient
6. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH IN distribution of their products and
EDUCATION decide where they need to increase
Quasi Experiments are most often their product distribution. Conducting
used in evaluating social problems. research can also help a business
Suppose a researcher has invented a determine whether now is the proper
technique for improving reading time to open another branch or
comprehension among third graders. whether it needs to apply for a new
She/he selects two third grade loan. It may also help a small business
classes in a school district. One of decide if a procedure or strategy
them gets the intervention and the should be changed to meet the
 requirements of the customer base.
Research is important for any
organization to remain in the market. 10. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH &
The primary function of research in HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
ABM is to correctly determine its (HUMSS)
customers and their preferences, Quantitative research aims to be
establish the enterprise in the most generalizable to large populations by
feasible location, deliver quality using specific sampling methods and
goods and services, analyze what the large data sets. It can provide
competitors are doing and find ways important descriptive statistics about
on how to continuously satisfy the a population or location, allowing us
growing and varied needs of the to grasp key characteristics of the
client. object(s) of study. Furthermore,
quantitative skills can help
9. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH & SCIENCE, researchers in the social sciences and
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING and humanities to engage with other
MATHEMATICS (STEM) disciplines in the sciences and
Medical practitioners, for example, engineering, and to work in
conduct research to obtain interdisciplinary teams. a lack of
significant information about diseases quantitative understanding can limit
trends and risk factors, results of intellectual dialogue.
various health interventions, patterns
of care and health care cost and use. 11. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH &
The different approaches to research INFORMATION AND
provide complementary insights. COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Researchers help in determining the (ICT)
effectiveness and even side effects In the field of ICT, quantitative
of drugs and therapies in different methods often deal with results
populations and various institutions. It computation and system analysis
is also necessary in evaluating using a scientific approach. The
experiences in clinical practice in objective of the quantitative method
order to develop mechanisms for is to develop and employ models
best practices and to ensure high based on mathematical approach,
quality patient care. Researchers in hypotheses and theories pertaining
these fields ultimately aim for man's to the nature of an ICT phenomenon.
longevity. As for engineers, The process of measurement (which
architects, and other builders, we have come across in the previous
research helps in providing designs topic) is the focus of the quantitative
which are creatively beautiful and at method due to its connection
the same time give more between empirical observation and
convenience and efficiency as they mathematical expression of
utilize modern technology to adapt quantitative relationships. This
to the ever-changing society. New method is also known as an iterative
materials and procedures may be process where evidence is
developed so as to further strengthen evaluated, and hypotheses and
the structural materials that can theories are refined with some
withstand various calamities and technical advances, leveraging on
disasters. statistical approaches.
12. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH &
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Overtime, research in hospitality and
tourism has shed new light into various
fields such as management, human
behavior, finance, planning,
marketing and many more. Further
experimentation and interchange is
required to create methodologies
through which research may
become more accessible and
credible for the world.