Practical Research 2

The Nature of Quantitative Research

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 Introductory Message
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 What I Need to Know

As you journey to another research endeavor for this semester, it is necessary for
you to learn what quantitative research is and how important it is in your daily life.
Specifically, this module explains the following:
1. Characteristics of Quantitative research, strengths, weaknesses, and kinds of
Quantitative research
2. Importance of Quantitative Research across fields
3. Nature of variables

Learning Competencies
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Describe the characteristics, strengths, weaknesses of each kind of
Quantitative Research CS_RS12-Ia-C-1
2. Realize the importance and application of Quantitative research across fields
CS_RS12-Ia-C-2
3. Differentiate the nature of variables and their uses CS_RS12-Ia-C-3

What I Know

Activity 1. Let’s check your prior knowledge on quantitative research study…

Directions: Read each item carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is true
and write FALSE if the statement if false. Write your answers in
your Activity Notebook/ Activity Sheets.

1. Qualitative research uses inductive approach to test theory.

2. The researchers in quantitative type of research must focus on a
specific research question that can be addressed in the study.
3. In quantitative research, it requires a careful review of the
research literatures and developing hypotheses that frequently
come from social theory.
4. The questionnaires or experiments will be employed in quantitative
study.
5. Quantitative Research involves counting or measuring and
often statistical tests are applied to detect or confirm
tendencies.
6. Probability or non-probability sampling approaches in quantitative
study are required from the researchers before drawing a sample
size.
7. Using questionnaire is one of the most popular tools for the
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 What’s In

Activity 2

Directions: Write 3 things you know about Quantitative Research, 2 things

you still want to know more and 1 question you have about it.

What I knew … What I want to know What I want to ask …

more …

What’s New

Task 3

Directions: Make a concept map. Write at least 10 words/phrases that are

related or have something to do with Qualitative Research.

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 What is It

Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing

numerical data. It emphasizes 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. Quantitative research focuses on gathering
numerical data and generalizing it across groups of people or to explain a
particular phenomenon. The final written report has a set structure
consisting of introduction, literature and theory, methods, results, and
discussion (Cresswell, 2013).

Your goal in conducting quantitative research study is to determine the

relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another (a
dependent or outcome variable) within a population. Quantitative research
designs are either descriptive (subjects usually measured once) or
experimental (subjects measured before and after a treatment). A descriptive study
establishes only associations between variables ; an experimental study
establishes causality (Babbie, 2010).

Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic, and an objective stance.

It focuses on numeric and unchanging data and detailed, convergent
reasoning rather than divergent r easoning such as the

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 generation of a variety of ideas about a research problem in a
spontaneous, free-flowing manner (Babbie, 2010).

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

The main characteristics of qualitative research (Brians, Craig

Leonard et al. (2011) are the following:
The data is usually gathered using structured research instruments.
The results are based on larger sample sizes that are representative of
the population.
The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given its
high reliability.
The researcher has a clearly defined research question to which
objective answers are sought.
All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.
Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged in
tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual forms.
Project can be used to generalize concepts more widely, predict
future results, or investigate causal relationships.

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 The researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or computer
software, to collect numerical data.

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

The quantitative as survey approach has two significant advantages.

First, it can be administered and evaluated quickly. There is no need to
spend time at the organization prior to administering the survey, and the
responses can be tabulated within a short timeframe. Second, numerical
data obtained through this approach facilitates comparisons
betweenorganizations or groups, as well as allowing determination of the
extent of agreement or disagreement between respondents (Yauch and
Steudel, 2003).

Strengths Weaknesses
1. Reliability by 1. No human
critical perception and
analyzed. beliefs.
2. Short time frame Quantitative
Research 2. Lack of
for administered resources for
survey. Methodology
large scale
3. Facilitated Approach
research.
numerical data for 3. No depth
groups and extents experience
of agree or disagree description.
from respondents.

Figure 1. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative

Methodology by Carr, L. T. (1994)

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 TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
The term research can mean any sort of “systematic research in any field
of inquiry” (Kabir, 2016). Basic research is concerned with clarifying underlying
processes, with the hypothesis usually expressed as a theory.On the other
hand, applied research is interested in examining the effectiveness of particular
educational practices. Researchers engaged in applied research studies may or
may not want to investigate the degree towhich certain theories are useful in
practical settings.
Experimental Research
Experimental research is the most conclusive of scientific methods
because the researcher actually establishes different treatments and then
studies their effects. Results from this type of research are likely to lead to
the most clear-cut interpretation. It is very popular in natural sciences such
as the Science Investigatory Project (SIP) in the junior high school.

Correlational Research 15
Correlational research is a type of research that is done to determine
relationships among two or more variables and to explore their implications
for cause and effect. An example question for correlational research is, Is there
a relationship between student’s academic performance and availability of
ICTs at home? Here, you are going to gather the data and investigate the extent
of relationship between the academic performance andavailability of ICT at
home. Perhaps, you can assume that students withmore ICTs available at
home have better academic performance. But, without manipulating the
data, the researcher has to test using a statistical tool if your assumption is
right.

Causal-Comparative
Causal comparative is a type of research that is intended to determine
the cause for or the consequences of differences between groups of people.
Suppose you want to determine whether students from single-parent families
do more poorly in his/her course than students from two-parent families.
Here, you might compare two groups of students who already belong to one
or the other type of family to see if they differ in their achievement. Suppose
the groups do differ, you can only conclude that the difference does exist.
However, you cannot conclude that the difference in the family situation
produced the difference in achievement. It’s because there are other factors
that may have caused/contributed the difference.

Survey Research
Survey research obtains data to determine specific characteristics of a
group. For an instance, you want to find out how the students feel about the
Modular Learning Modality and what they like about this approach. You
may get the data through a variety of survey techniques that measure their
views about the modular approach. A descriptive survey involves asking the
same set of questions of a large number of individuals using a

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questionnaire. You can also gather the data through interview. Data will be
tabulated and

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 reported.
VARIABLES
A variable is a concept, a noun that stands for variation within a class
of objects, such as chairs, gender, eye color, achievement, motivation, or
running speed. Even style and lust for life are variables.

Quantitative versus Categorical Variables

Quantitative variables exist in some degree along the range from less
to more, and you can assign numbers to different individual or subjects to
indicate how much of the variable they possess. Few examples are height
(e.g. 5’2”, 6’1”) and weight (e.g. 46kg., 42kg.). Oftentimes, quantitative variables
can be subdivided into smaller and smaller units such as length which can be
measured in miles, yards, feet, inches or in whatever subdivision of an inch
is needed.

Categorical variables do not vary in

16 degree, amount, or quantity but are
qualitatively different. Few of the examples are eye color, gender, religious
preference, occupation, position on a baseball team, and most kinds of research
“treatments” or “methods”. Even, Learning Delivery Modality (e.g. Printed
modular distance learning, online distance learning, etc.)
Independent versus Depended Variable
Independent variables are those that the researcher chooses to study
in order to assess their possible effect(s) on one or more variables. It is presumed
to affect or somehow influence at least one other variable.

Dependent variables are those variables that are presumed to be affected

by the independent variables. This means that dependent variables“depends
on” what the independent variables do to them, or how independent variables
affect them. It can be portrayed graphically as follows:

Independent Dependent
variable(s) Variable(s)
(presumed or possible (presumed result)
cause)

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What’s More

Activity 4:

Directions: Copy the diagram on your notebook and do what are asked.

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1. What is a Quantitative Research?

What are the kinds of Quantitative Give a sample research

Research? Give describe each. applicable for this type.

What I Have Learned

Activity 5

Directions. Write a short reflection in your Activity Notebook.

I thought

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 I learned that

What I Can Do

Activity 6. Let’s prove it…

Directions. List down at least 3 interesting topics/titles for a quantitative

research that are related in your chosen strand. Out of the
three topics, encircle the one that you think you are
most interested to conduct a research this semester.

3 Possible Research Topics

1.
2.
3.

Why are y o u interested to conduct this research?

How can this research benefit you as a researcher?

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 Assessment

Activity 7. Let’s check it out…

Directions. Read and analyze the statements below. Write True if the
statement is correct and False if it is wrong. Write youranswers
in your activity notebook.

1. Qualitative research uses inductive approach to test theory.

2. The researchers in quantitative type of research must focus on a
specific research question that can be addressed in the study.
3. In quantitative research, it requires a careful review of the research
literatures and developing hypotheses that frequently come from social
theory.
4. The questionnaires or experiment will be applied in quantitative study.
5. Quantitative Research involves counting or measuring often statistical
tests are applied to detect or confirm tendencies.
6. Probability or non-probability sampling approaches in quantitativestudy
are required the researchers to choose a proper way before drawing a
sample size.
7. Using questionnaire is one of the most popular tools for the quantitative
research.

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Glossary

Applied research -is a methodology used to solve a specific, practical

issue affecting an individual or group.

Basic research -is a type of research approach that is aimed at

Gaining a better understanding of a subject,
Phenomenon or basic law of nature.

Dependent variable - the variable that depends on other factors that are
measured. These variables are expected to change as
a result of an experimental manipulation of the
independent variable or variables. It is the presumed
effect.
Independent variable - the variable that is stable and unaffected by the
other variables you are trying to measure. It refers
to the condition of an experiment that is
systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is
the presumed cause.
Variable -in research simply refers to a person, place,
thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to measure in
some way.

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