SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Practical
Research II
ALBERT JOHN B. FORNOLES
SHS Teacher III | Instructor
 LESSON 1

Introduction to
Quantitative
Research
 Learning Objectives

Upon completing the lesson, students should

be able to:

1. Recall what research is all about;

2. State the meaning of quantitative
research;
3. Describe the characteristics of
quantitative research;
 Learning Objectives

Upon completing the lesson, students should

be able to:

4. Distinguish qualitative research from

quantitative research; and
5. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of
quantitative research.
 TOPIC OUTLINE

Introduction to Quantitative Research

❑ Quantitative Research
❑ Characteristics of Quantitative Research
❑ Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative
Research
❑ Importance of Quantitative Research
 PR I Lesson 1

What is
research?
 What is research?

❑ Research is the systematic investigative

process used to increase or revise current
knowledge by discovering new facts.

❑ It is the process of systematic inquiry that is

designed to understand, describe, predict,
and control an event.
 Activity #1

Write down 10 words/phrases you can associate

with these two types of research approaches.

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

 Let’s Review…

Qualitative
Research
 Definition

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
• Tends to focus on how people or
groups have different views of
looking at reality
• Takes account of the complex
situations in the real world
• Studies behavior in natural settings
 Definition

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
• Focuses on experiences or on data
that cannot be adequately
expressed numerically
• Concentrates on description and
interpretation
• Uses a flexible research process
 Let’s define…

Quantitative
Research
 Definition

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative methods emphasize objective

measurements and the statistical,
mathematical, or numerical analysis of data
collected through polls, questionnaires, and
surveys or by manipulating pre-existing
statistical data using computational
techniques.
(USC Libraries, 2015)
 Definition

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative research focuses on gathering

numerical data and generalizing it across
groups of people or to explain a particular
phenomenon.

(USC Libraries, 2015)

 Take Note…

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Deals with
Deals more
non-
or less with
numerical
numbers
data

(USC Libraries, 2015)

 Definition

Quantitative research reflects the

philosophy that everything can be
described according to some type of
numerical system.

(Quantitative research, n.d.)

 Example

The height of a person inches, meters, centimetres

The weight of a person kilograms, pounds
The age of a person Years, months, weeks, days
The gender of a person Using a numerical system of categorization
e.g. 1 for female, 2 for male
A person’s education e.g. number and grade of school certificates;
classification of undergraduate degrees
A person’s political e.g. using a scale that goes from 0 for the
views extreme left-wing to 10 for extreme right-wing

(Quantitative research, n.d.)

 Definition

Quantitative research is about asking

people for their opinions in a structured
way so that you can produce hard facts
and statistics to guide you. To get reliable
statistical results, it is important to survey
people in fairly large numbers and to
make sure they are a representative
sample of your target market.
(Atom Content Marketing, 2009-2015)
 Definition

Quantitative research is a more logical and

data-let approach that provides a measure of
what people think from a statistical and
numerical point of view. For example , if you
wanted to know how many of your customers
support a proposed change in your products or
services and how strongly (on a scale) they
support it.

(Atom Content Marketing, 2009-2015)

 Definition

Quantitative research can gather a large

amount of data that can be easily organized or
manipulated into reports for analysis.

(Atom Content Marketing, 2009-2015)

 Definition

Quantitative research largely uses methods

such as questionnaires and surveys with set
questions and answers that respondents tick
from a predefined selection. Answers can be
measured in strengths of feeling such as
“strongly agree”, “disagree”, or numbers such
as scales out of 10.

(Atom Content Marketing, 2009-2015)

 Definition

Quantitative research is very flexible in terms of

how it is carried out such as through the post,
online, or even over-the-phone. If you are carrying
out research, make sure that you have a fair cross-
section of respondents and that you have enough
of them to provide a greater range of reliable data.
To help gain willing participants, companies often
offer incentives such as free products or financial
remuneration for their time.

(Library British Board, n.d.)

Definition
Definition
What do you see?

(Imkid.com)
 PR II Lesson 1

Characteristics of
Quantitative Research
(USC Libraries, 2015)
 Characteristics…

The data is usually gathered

using structured research
instruments. These are usually in
the form of numbers and
statistics often arranged in
tables, charts, figures, or other
non-textual forms.
(USC Libraries, 2015)
 Characteristics…

The results are based on larger

sample sizes that are
representative of the population.

(USC Libraries, 2015)

 Characteristics…

The research study can usually be

replicated or repeated, given its
high reliability.
In research, high reliability refers to the consistency of the measure. If a
measurement system produces similar results under the same conditions,
it is considered reliable. High reliability is one indicator that
measurement is valid, meaning it produces results that correspond to
real properties, characteristics, and variations in the physical or social
world. If a method is not reliable, it probably isn’t valid (bing.com, 2023).

(USC Libraries, 2015)

 Characteristics…

The researcher has a clearly

defined research question to
which objective answers are
sought. S/he uses tools such as
questionnaires or computer
software to collect numerical
data.
(USC Libraries, 2015)
 Characteristics…

All aspects of the study are

carefully designed before data is
collected.

(USC Libraries, 2015)

 Characteristics…

The project can be used to

generalize concepts more widely,
predict future results, or
investigate casual relationships.

(USC Libraries, 2015)

 PR II Lesson 1

Key features of
Quantitative Research
(Quantitative research, n.d.)
 Key features…

It is usually based upon

numerical measurements, thus,
tends to use numbers and
statistical methods as key
research indicators and tools.

(Quantitative research, n.d.)

 Key features…

It tends to be associated with

analysis.

(Quantitative research, n.d.)

 Key features…

It tends to be associated with

large-scale studies and with a
specific focus, often condensing
information from a large number
of specific occurrences to search
for a general description or to
investigate causal hypotheses.
(Quantitative research, n.d.)
 Key features…

It tends to be associated with

researcher detachment,
producing “objective” numerical
data that is independent of the
researcher, it has a very
controlled and exact approach to
research.
(Quantitative research, n.d.)
 Key features…

It tends to be associated with a

pre-determined research design
using measurements and
analyses in a systematic and
logically ordered fashion that
may be replicated relatively easily
by other researchers.
(Quantitative research, n.d.)
 Key features…

Validity and reliability can be

measured numerically using
statistical tests.

(Quantitative research, n.d.)

 Key features…

A common perception of
quantitative research is that the
emphasis is on proof rather than
discovery.

(Quantitative research, n.d.)

Question to Ponder

Do you think it is
advisable to use the
quantitative research
approach in your
paper or not?
 Activity #2

Group together the strengths and

weaknesses of Quantitative Research
based on the statements flashed on
the screen.
 Activity #2
• Useful for studying large numbers of people.
• The researcher’s categories and theories might
not reflect local consistencies’ understandings.
• The researcher might miss out on phenomena
occurring.
• Higher credibility with many people in power.
• Less time consuming.
• Provides precise, quantitative, numerical data.
• Knowledge produced might be too abstract and
general for direct application to specific local
situations, contexts, and individuals.
 Activity #2

STRENGHTS WEAKNESSES
Researcher’s categories and theories
Useful for studying large numbers of
that are used might not reflect local
people
consistencies’ understandings
Researcher might miss out on
Less time consuming
phenomena occurring
Knowledge produced might be too
Provides precise, quantitative, numerical abstract and general for direct
data - Independent application to specific local situations,
contexts, and individuals
Higher credibility with many people in
power
 PR II Lesson 1

Strengths and Weaknesses

of Quantitative Research
 Strengths of QR
• Clearly and precisely specifying both the
independent and the dependent variables
under investigation;
• Following firmly the original set of research
goals, arriving at more objective conclusions,
testing the hypothesis, and determining the
issues of causality; and
• Allowing for longitudinal measures of
subsequent performance of research
subjects.
 Weakness of QR
• Failure to provide the researcher with
information on the context of the situation where
the studied phenomenon occurs;
• Inability to control the environment where the
respondents provide the answers to the
questions in the survey;
• Limited outcomes to only those outlined in the
original research proposal due to closed-type
questions and the structured format; and
• Not encouraging the evolving and continuous
investigation of a research phenomenon.
(Matveev, 2002-2013)
Question to Ponder

Do you think it is
advisable to use the
quantitative research
approach in your
paper or not?
 PR II Lesson 1

Importance of
Quantitative Research
 Importance of QR
• More reliable and objective.
• Can use statistics to generalize a finding.
• Often reduces and restructures a complex problem to
a limited number of variables.
• Looks at the relationship between variables and can
establish cause and effect in highly controlled
circumstances.
• Tests theories or hypotheses.
• Subjectivity of the researcher in methodology is
recognized less.
• Less detailed than qualitative data and may miss a
desired response from the participant.
(Module 9: Introduction to Research, n.d.)
 Importance of QR
Quantitative research gives a more accurate
and precise result. It is often used by
researchers who want objective rather than
subjective data. It enables people to study their
surroundings as objectively as they can. This
kind of research takes away the researcher’s
biased opinion or personal attachment to the
object of the study. It is an effective method for
obtaining specific information, traits,
personality, and characteristics.
(Francisco et al., 2016)
 PR II Lesson 1

Advantages of
Quantitative Research
 Advantages of QR
• QR is an excellent way of finalizing results.
• It is a great way to prove or disprove a
hypothesis.
• The structure of this research has not changed
and is standard across many disciplines and
scientific fields.
• It is useful in testing the results gained for
qualitative research, arriving at a final
answer/theory.
• Results are often real and unbiased.

(Francisco et al., 2016)

 PR II Lesson 1

Disadvantages of
Quantitative Research
 Disadvantages of QR
• It can be difficult and expensive.
• It requires a lot of time and effort.
• It must be carefully planned.
• It can only generate proved or unproved results,
having very little space for grey areas and
uncertainty.

(Francisco et al., 2016)

 PR II Lesson 1

How to write/determine
quantitative research
questions
• Choose a starting phrase.
• Identify your variables (dependent, independent,
categorical, or continuous)
• Identify the variables you intend to measure.
• Identify the variables you intend to control.
• Identify the variables you intend to manipulate.
• Structure your questions in a way that the
readers can easily and clearly understand what
you want to achieve.

(Francisco et al., 2016)

 Examples
• How many calories do Filipinos consume per
day?
• How often do male and female high school
students upload photos on social media?
• What is the difference in the daily photo uploads
on Instagram of male and female high school
students?
• What is the relationship between study time and
examination scores of high school students?
• What percentage of Filipino women exceeds
their daily calorific allowance?
(Francisco et al., 2016)
 PR II Lesson 1

Main ideas of Lesson 1

Introduction to
Quantitative Research
 Main Ideas
• Quantitative research can be useful in
determining relationship(s) between data using
scientific investigation, and traditional
mathematical and statistical methods.
• Quantitative research gives out more accurate
and precise results than qualitative research.
• Quantitative research requires the researcher to
focus and give full attention to the object of
study.
• Quantitative research enables people to study
their surroundings as objective as they can.
(Francisco et al., 2016)
 PR II Lesson 1

Quiz #1 on
September 11, 2023