What is Quantitative Research?

focuses on numeric and unchanging data and

detailed, convergent reasoning rather than
Quantitative research uses numbers in stating divergent reasoning Li.c., the generation of a
generalizations about a given problem or inquiry variety of ideas about a research problem in a
in contrast to qualitative research which hardly spontaneous, free- flowing It's main characteristic
uses statistical treatment in stating are: mammer J.
generalizations.
It's Main Characteristics
-These numbers are the results of objective sales
of measurements of the units of analysis called  The data is usually gathered wing
Variables structured research instruments.
 The results are based on larger sample
Why do we need research? All problems sizes that are representative of the
are researchable or not? population.
 The research study can usually be
Research is very vital to our day-to-day activities
replicated or repeated, given it's high
as well as to our everyday decision-making.
reliability.
Research therefore enables us:
 Researcher has a clearly defined research
 To determine the accuracy and validity of question to which objective answers are
popular beliefs, and religious practices by sought.
submitting them to systematic scrutiny.  All aspects of the study are carefully
 To enhance, modify or refine our knowledge designed before data is collected.
of phenomena or various theories  Data is in the form of numbers and
surrounding our environment and society. statistics, often arranged in tables, charts,
 To generate new concepts and explanations of figures or other non-textual forms.
existing rules and policies, beliefs and  Project can be wed to generalized
practices, economics, political or social concepts more widely,
system.  predict future results, or investigate causal
 To find answers to particular existing relationships
questions through investigation  Researcher user tools, such as
 To evaluate the findings of other researches/ questionnaires or armputer software, to
studies or build on where they stopped. collect numerical data.
 To bring the legacy left behind by early
Strength of Quantitative Research
scholars as well as the contributions of
modern scholars to the limelight.  Allows for a broader study, involving a
 To seek authentication or improvement for greater number of subjects, and
religious doctrines and practices, social enhancing the generalization of the
interactions, economic improvement, politics, results.
ideology, etc., and to enhance the excellence  Allows for greater objectivity and accuracy
of the ordinary and spiritual life of man. of results. Generally, quantitative methods
 To collect and analyze data that will enable us are designed to provide summaries of
to provide information and devices to policy data that support generalizations about
(or decision) makers. the phenomenon under study. To
accomplish this, quantitative research
Characteristics of Quantitative Research usually involves few variables and many
- Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic, cases, and employs prescribed procedures
and an objective stance. Quantitative research to ensure validity and reliability,
 Applying well-established standards Survey Research - Using survey research as the
means that the research. can be method of research, an organization conducting a
replicated, and then analyzed and survey asks different survey questions from the
compared with similar studies, respondents using various types like Online
 You can summarize vast sources of surveys, online polls, paper questionnaires, etc.
information and make comparisons across they collect data and analyze collected data in
categories and over time; and, order to produce numerical results.
 Personal bias can be avoided by keeping a
distance from participating subjects and
using accepted computational techniques. Causal-Comparative Research
Weakness of Quantitative Research - Causal-Comparative Research method is
used to draw conclusions with respect to
 Quantitative research can be costly,
the cause-and-effect equation between two
difficult, and time-consuming, difficult
or more than two variables, where one
because most researchers are non-
variable will be dependent on other
mathematicians
variables which will be independent.
 Quantitative studies require extensive
statistical treatment, and stringent Experimental Research
standards, more so with confirmation of
- This analysis is done for the purpose of
results. When ambiguities in some
proving or for disproving the statement. It is
findings surface, retesting and refinement
generally used in the field of natural
of the design call for another investment
sciences or in the field of social sciences as
in time and resources to polish the results.
in those areas various statements are there
Kinds of Quantitative Research which required to be proved as right or
wrong.
 Research design refers to the overall
strategy that you choose in order to
integrate the different components of the
study in a coherent and logical way, Importance of Quantitative Research
thereby ensuring you will effectively Across Fields
address the research problem.
 Furthermore, a research design
Quantitative Research and ACCOUNTING,
constitutes the blueprint for the selection,
BUSINESS and MANAGEMENT (ABM)
measurement, and analysis of data. The
research problem determines the research -Researches can help design a new product or
design you should use. service, figuring out what is needed and ensure
 Quantitative methods emphasize the development of product is highly targeted
objective measurements and the towards demand. Businessmen can also utilize
statistical, mathematical, or numerical research results to guarantee sufficient
analysis of data collected through polls, distribution of their products and decide where
questionnaires, and surveys, or by they need to increase their product distribution.
manipulating pre-existing statistical data
-Conducting researches can also help a business
using computational techniques.
determine whether now is the proper time to
open another branch or whether it needs to
apply for a new loan.
-It may also help a small business decide if a experimental group.
procedure or strategy should be change to meet
the requirements of the customer base. Research
Quantitative Research and the Behavioral
is important for any organization to remain in the
Sciences
market.
– it tends to explore how one behavior exhibited
-The primary function of research in ABM is to
by people is related to other types of behavior.
correctly determine its customers and their
preferences, establish the enterprise in the most
Quantitative Research in Education and
feasible location, deliver quality goods and
Psychology
services, analyze what the competitors are doing
and find ways on how to continuously satisfy the –Quantitative methods in education engages in
growing and varied needs of the clients. the science and practice
of educational measurement and evaluation,
primarily through the development and
Quantitative Research and Anthropology application of statistical methods, informed by
the study of teaching and learning statistics.
- it is concerned with exploring connections
simultaneously, amidst cultural Differences,
Alternatives and Identity. In the contemporary
Quantitative Research and the Social Sciences
academic, socio-cultural and political climate
these concepts have immense symbolic - it aims to be generalizable to large populations
overtones. by using specific sampling methods and large data
sets. It can provide important descriptive statistics
about a population or location, allowing us to
Quantitative Research and Communication
grasp key characteristics of the object(s) of study.
- researchers are often interested on how an
understanding of a particular communication
What is a variable?
phenomenon might be generalized to a larger
population. -A variable is any kind of attribute or
characteristic that you are trying to measure,
manipulate and control in statistics and research.
Quantitative Research and Sports Medicine
All studies analyze a variable, which can describe
- if you want to look at preferences for team a person, place, thing or idea. A variable's value
sports or individual sports in people in the can change between groups or over time.
Philippines, cross-sectional research would be
For example, if the variable in an experiment is a
useful. This would allow you to obtain opinions
person's eye color, its value can change from
from a range of people. You would send your
brown to blue to green from person to person.
participants a survey-type questionnaire that
allowed them to say which type of sport they
preferred.
Kinds of Variables and their Uses

Quantitative Research and Medical Education THE VARIABLES IN RESEARCH

- it enhances the quality of medical education - variable refers to a “characteristics that has two
and designs test interventions like curriculum, or more mutually exclusive values or properties”
teaching learning process, or assessment with an (Sevilla and Other, 1988). Sex, for instance, has
two properties which are maleness and
femaleness. The ages of different persons have b. RATIO VARIABLES – It have values that lie
different values; so with their size, height, weight along an evenly dispersed range of
and income. The phenomenon of variety is what numbers when there is absolute zero. It
makes life interesting; it is one of the motivating possesses the properties of interval
factors of the research undertaking. variable and has a clear definition of zero,
indication that there is none of that
-The root word of variable is “vary” or simply
variable
“can change”. These variables are among the
- Examples of which are height, weight,
fundamental concepts of research, alongside with
and distance. Most scores stemming
measurement, validity, reliability, cause and
from response to survey items are
effect; and theory. Bernard (1994) defines a
ratio-level values because they
variable as something that can take more than
typically cannot go below zero.
one value, and values can be words or numbers.
-A variable specifically refers to characteristics, or
DISCRETE VARIABLES – This is also known as
attribute of an individual or an organization that
categorical or classificatory variable. This is any
can be measured or observed and that varies
variable that has limited number of distinct values
among the people or organization being studied
and which cannot be divided into fractions like
(Creswell, 2002).
sex, blood group, and number of children in
family. Discrete variable may also categorized
TYPES OF VARIABLES (ALLEN, TITSWORTH, HUNT, into:
2009)
a. NOMINAL VARIABLE- It represent
categories that cannot be ordered in any
CONTINUOUS VARIABLES – A variable that can particular way. It is a variable with no
take infinite number on the value that can occur quantitative value. It has two or more
within the population. Its values can be divided categories but does not imply ordering of
into fractions. Examples of this type of variable cases. Common examples of this variable
include age, height, and temperature. Continuous include eye color, business type, religion,
variables can be further categorized as: biological sex, political affiliation,
basketball fan affiliation
a. INTERVAL VARIABLES – It have values that
lie along an evenly dispersed range of
b. ORDINAL VARIABLE- It represent
numbers. It is a measurement where the
categories that can be ordered from
difference between two values does have
greatest to smallest. This variable has two
meaning. Examples of interval data include
or more categories which can be ranked.
temperature, a person’s net worth (how
Examples of ordinal variable include
much money you have when you subtract
education level, income brackets, etc.
your debt from your assets), etc.

- In temperature, this may illustrate as

the difference between a temperature
KINDS OF VARIABLES
of 60 degrees and 50 degrees is the
same as difference between 30 INDEPENDENT VARIABLES – Those that
degrees and 20 degrees. The interval probably cause, influence, or affect outcomes.
between values makes sense and can They are invariably called treatment,
be interpreted. manipulated, antecedent or predictor
variables. This is the cause variable or the one
responsible for the conditions that act on dependent variable can be determined.
something else to bring about changes.
EXAMPLE: A study is on the relationship of CONFOUNDING VARIABLES – Variables that
study habits and academic performance of are not actually measured or observed in a
UTNHS senior high school students. STUDY study. They exist but their influence cannot be
HABITS is the independent variable because it directly detected in a study. Researchers
influenced the outcome or the performance comment on the influence of confounding
of the students. variables after the study has been completed,
because these variables may have operated to
explain the relationship between the
DEPENDENT VARIABLES – those that depend
independent variables and dependent
on the independent variables; they are the
variable, but they were not or could not be
outcomes or results of the influence of the
easily assessed.
independent variable. That is why it is also
called outcome variable.
EXAMPLE: A study is on the relationship of TOPIC 1: Choosing a Research Topic
study habits and academic performance of
UTNHS senior high school students. Step 1: Brainstorm for ideas. Choose a topic
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE is the dependent that interests you. Use the following
variable because it is depending on the study questions to help generate topic ideas.
habits of the students; if the students change  Do you have a strong opinion on a
their study habit the academic performance current social or political controversy?
also change.  Did you read or see a news story recently
that has piqued your interest or made
you angry or anxious?
INTERVENING OR MEDLING VARIABLES –
Variables that “stand between” the Step 2: Choose a topic that will enable you to
independent and dependent variables, and read and understand the literature.
they show the effects of the independent  Read a general encyclopedia article on
variable on the dependent variable. the top two or three topics you are
EXAMPLE: Consider the given below. Even if considering.
farm production is good, if the attitude  Use Web search engines. Google and
towards payment is negative, loan repayment Bing are currently considered to be two
would be low, whereas, if the attitude of the best search engines to find web
towards repayment is positive or favorable, sites on the topic.
loan repayment would be high. Step 3: Focus on Your Topic. Keep it
manageable. A topic will be very difficult to
CONTROL VARIABLES – A special types of research if it is too broad or narrow. One way
independent variables that are measured in to narrow a broad topic such as "the
the study because they potentially influence environment" is to limit your topic. Some
the dependent variable. Researchers use common ways to limit a topic are:
statistical procedures (e.g. analysis of
covariance) to control these variables. They  by geographical area
may be demographic or personal variables  by culture
 by discipline
that need to be “controlled” so that the true
 by population group
influence of the independent variable on the
 TOPIC 3: Quantitative Research Problem
Remember that a topic may be too difficult to
research if it is too: Nature of Quantitative Research Problem
 locally confined. 1.It is researchable.
 Recent
 broadly interdisciplinary - There is no known solution to the
problem.
Step 4: Make a list of key words. - The solution can be answered by using
Keep track of the words that are statistical methods and techniques
used to describe your topic. Look for
words that best describe your topic - There are probable solutions but they
are not yet tested.
Step 5: Be flexible.
 It is common to modify your topic during - The occurrence of phenomena requires
the research process. You can never be scientific investigation to arrive at solution
sure of what you may find. You may find
too much and need to narrow your focus,
or too little and need to broaden your 2. It should be SMART
focus.
Specific
Measurable
TOPIC 2: Research Title
Achievable and
1. Generally, the title is formulated before
the start of the research work. It may be Time-bound.
revised and refined later if needed.
2. Traditionally, title must contain the subject
matter of the study, the locale of the 3. Unlike qualitative research, which is
study, the population involved, and the expansive, widespread, and focused more on
period when the data were gathered; but processes, the quantitative research problem is
today, it is accepted if we include the geared toward a possible result.
subject matter and the population only.
3. The title indicates what is expected to be
found inside the research paper.
4. It must be brief and concise as possible.
5. Avoid using the terms “An Analysis of”, “A
Study of”, “An Investigation of”, and the
like.
6. If the title contains more than one line, it
must be written like an inverted pyramid
form.
7. All words in capital letters. TOPIC 4: Research Objectives
8. The title should not exceed to 12 words.
9. It shall not indicate any negative The Research Objectives
word/idea.
10. It must list key variables. - Thinking of a research problem or topic
is the BEGINNING ACT in research. After
this, the researcher should ask set of
 specific questions or sub-problems In writing this section:
about the research problem. These
1. Introduce and briefly define the variables
specific sub questions are called
under study.
Research Questions or Research
Objectives. 2. Cite the most important study or related
literature.
- It is defined as “statement of purpose
for which the investigation is to be 3. Be consistent with terms used.
conducted”.
4. Ensure that paragraphs summarize
- It is also SMART like the research unresolved issues, conflicting findings,
problem but they differ in form social concerns, or educational, national,
because it is written in interrogative or or international issues.
question form and the latter, in
5. Cite facts from international, national, and
declarative form. (Note: Research
local literatures and sources. (farthest to
Objectives could be either written in
nearest)
interrogative or declarative form but
some research books say that 6. Write the last paragraph to highlight the
interrogative is more effective than the research gap. Restate the problem which
latter form (Babbie 2013; Punch 2014).) leads you to research.
Guidelines in Formulating a Quantitative 7. Always cite the references of the
Research Problem and Research Objectives facts/literatures used.
1. Research problem should be Statement of the Problem
researchable.
This section contains the purpose
2. It should be written clearly and statements and the research questions. In other
concisely. words, this is where your quantitative research
problem and research objectives should be stated
3. Research problem should state the
in this prescribe format:
variables and their relationships with
one another. “This study (or research) aims to… (make
congruent with title).”
4. Construct an introductory statement to
present your research problem which is New paragraph:
the main problem or your study.
“Specifically, this research (or study) seeks to
5. State your research answer the following questions:”
objectives/questions, not in the form of
Phrase questions with the data to be
yes-or-no questions, but in informative
collected in mind. Answer the questions and
questions.
rephrase question, if your intended answer does
not match the question.

TOPIC 5: Chapter 1- Introduction Significance of the Study

Background of the Study This determines the audience who will

benefit from a study of the problem and explains
This description leads the reader to
how exactly will the results be significant to them.
understand the research questions and
appreciate why they are asked. In writing this section:
 1. In paragraph form, cite beneficiaries (e.g., A literature review is more than the search for
teachers, teacher trainers, educators; information, and goes beyond being a descriptive
curriculum developers, textbook writers; annotated bibliography. All works included in the
officials of school, division, region, central review must be read, evaluated and analyzed
office; policy makers) of results of study. (which you would do for an annotated
bibliography), but relationships between the
2. For each beneficiary group, specifically
literature must also be identified and articulated,
describe how it will benefit from the
in relation to your field of research.
findings.
3. 1-3 beneficiaries, paragraph form
"In writing the literature review, the purpose is to
4. 4 or more, bullet form
convey to the reader what knowledge and ideas
Scope and Limitations have been established on a topic, and what their
strengths and weaknesses are. The literature
This presents the coverage of the research
review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g.
in terms of location, time, respondents, etc., and
your research objective, the problem or issue you
the potential weaknesses or problems with the
are discussing or your argumentative thesis). It is
study identified by the researcher.
not just a descriptive list of the material available,
In writing this section: or a set of summaries.

1. cite data collection (period and school Purpose and Essential Elements of
year); Review of Related Literature (RRL)
2. identify schools involved, number of Purpose of Review of Related Literature (RRL)
classes, their grade/year level, number of
participants (or respondents, subjects), 1. It helps the researcher identify and define
and topics of lessons covered (if a research problem
applicable). 2. It helps justify the need for studying a
3. state inadequate measures of variables, problem.
loss or lack of participants, small sample 3. It prevents unnecessary duplication of a
sizes, errors in measurement, and other study
factors typically related to data collection
and analysis. 4. It can be a source of a theoretical basis for
the study
5. It enables the researcher to learn how to
Review of Related Literature conceptualize a research problem and
properly identify and operationally define
A literature review is an evaluative report of
study variables
information found in the literature related to your
selected area of study. The review should 6. It helps formulate and refine research
describe, summarize, evaluate and clarify this instruments
literature. It should give a theoretical base for the
7. It provides lesson for data analysis and
research and help you (the author) determine the
interpretation.
nature of your research. Works which are
irrelevant should be discarded and those which
are peripheral should be looked at critically.
Essential Elements of Review of Related
Literature (RRL)
 The literature review serves as in-depth a. The general problem and the variables
summary of the related literatures to the study. It should be defined.
does not only restate facts but rather critique and
b. Every important data should be
highlight their relevance to the research. In doing
highlighted to effectively discuss the
so, several elements should be observed in
problem or the variables such as the
writing this section:
theory, methodology, evidences,
1. Overview of the subject or topic, issues, conclusions, or even gaps.
or theories to be considered
c. The criteria in selecting the literature
2. Division of works such as those that should be considered to assess which
support a particular position, those resources are pertinent and should be
against, and those that offer other ideas included, and which are irrelevant and
should be removed.
3. Explanation of the comparison of the
gathered literature 2. The Body
4. Conclusions and the best arguments. a. Chosen approaches, conclusion of
authors, specific objective, and the like
should be included.
Stages Observed in Writing the Literature
Review b. Studies and literature should be
summarized. For the studies, primary
1. Problem formulation. The researcher must consideration must be given to the result
determine the research problem before the of the studies that includes the variables.
review of literature is conducted to fully
understand the variables considered in the
study. In choosing the literature, the following should
be considered:
2. Literature search. Any reading material that
is related to the study must include a i. Provenance. This refers to the author’s
discussion and explanation of at least one of credentials and the empirical basis of the
the variables. article or literature.
3. Data evaluation. The indicators that are ii. Objectivity. This refers to the rationality
synthesized from various relevant sources of every data or facts cited.
must further build the researcher’s
iii. Persuasiveness. This refers to the
confidence as the variables of his or her
degree of credibility of the data.
study are made clear.
iv. Value. This refers to the degree of the
4. Analysis and interpretation. Breaking the
contributions of the literature to clarify
entire reading article into smaller parts will help
variables
the researcher correctly interpret the information
in the reviewed materials. Format Styles or Approaches of RRL or Review of
Format of a Literature Review Related Literature

The general format of a literature review is as 1. Traditional Review of Literature

follows: A "traditional" literature review provides an
1. The Introduction overview of the research findings on particular
topics. A traditional literature is written by
examining a body of published work, then writing  explains the area of the research to set
a critical summary (an impressionistic overview) context for the issues/problem at hand;
of the body of literature. The purpose of a
 shows the current information regarding the
literature review is making clear for a reader what
issues/problem, previous studies, and its
the research collectively indicates with regard to a
relevant history; and
particular issue or question.
 tries to build on gaps in literature that has led
Traditional review is of different types that are as
to your study.
follows:
D.O. No. 16, 2017 suggests that Background of
1. Conceptual review – analysis of concepts or
the Problem/Study should contain:
ideas to give meaning to some national or world
issues.  Comprehensive discussion of the
2. Critical review – focuses on theories or (a.) nature,
hypotheses and examines meanings and results
(b.) extent and
of their application to situation.
(c.) salient features of the identified
3. State-of-the-Art review – makes the
problem or issue
researcher deal with the latest research studies
on the subject.  Elaboration of the different aspects of the
research setting showing in depth and
4. Expert review – encourages a well-known
critical analysis of the situation
expert to do the RRL because of the influence of
certain ideology, paradigm, or belief on him/her. Needed Supports:
5. Scoping review – prepares a situation for a  Literature/Previous Studies
future research work in the form of project
 National and Local Publications
making about community development,
government policies, and health services, among  Local/International Trends
others.
 Numerical Data (Graphs/Tables)
2. Systematic Review of Literature
Systematic reviews aim to find as much as
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
possible of the research relevant to the particular
OF DATA
research questions, and use explicit methods to
identify what can reliably be said on the basis of
these studies. Methods should not only be
• Tables
explicit but systematic with the aim of producing
varied and reliable results. Such reviews then go -Simplest way to summarize data
on to synthesize research findings in a form which
-Data is presented as absolute
is easily accessible to those who have to make
policy or practice decisions. In this way, numbers or percentages
systematic reviews reduce the bias which can
• Charts and graphs
occur in other approaches to reviewing research
evidence. -Visual representation of data

Background of the Study -Usually data is presented using

Percentages.
Right type of graphic:
Chart and graph
BAR Graph- comparison, categories of data
HISTOGRAM- represents relative frequency of
continuous data.
LINE GRAPH- displays trends overtime,
continuous data (ex, per month)
PIE GRAPH- show percentage or proportional
share.
METHOD OF DATA PRESENTATION
 REMEMBER:
1. Organize data into logical, sequential, and
meaningful categories and classifications to make
them amenable to the study and interpretation.
2. Explain the data or facts in terms of quantity,
quality, attributes, traits, patterns, trends,
relationships among others so as to answer
research questions/ problems or hypotheses,
which involve statistical techniques and
procedures.
3. Give the possible meaning, probable causes
and effects of a situation or a condition as
revealed by the findings.
4. Suggest to continue the situation if the
outcome is good and if otherwise, some remedies
or measures should be done to eradicate or
minimize its bad effects.

1. Using right table/graph for the right data and 5. Mention those who will benefit or will suffer
audience is very important in analyzing and from the study.
interpreting data.
2. Ensuring graphics to be self-explanatory is one
SOME PHRASES USED:
characteristic of presenting data.
• It appears therefore that the…
• It was noteworthy that…
• It should be noted from the responses
that…
• It should be mentioned that…
• It is expected that…
• Undoubtedly, many of the respondents
claim that…
DATA ANALYSIS METHOD
SCOPE AND LIMITATION
 research issues and concerns
 duration of the study
 constraints that have direct bearing on
the results of the study
 defines where and when the study is
conducted and who are the subjects/
respondents
 deals with the extent of the study to be
conducted
LIMITATIONS
 shortcomings, conditions, or influences
that can’t be controlled by the researcher
that place restrictions on the
methodology and conclusions of the study
 any limitations that might influence the
results should be mentioned in the study
DELIMITATION
 describe the boundaries that the
researcher have set for the study
 these are choices made by the researcher
which should be mentioned in the study
 things that you are not doing as a
researcher (and why you have chosen not
to do them);
 literature you will not review (and why
not);
 DELIMITATION
Limitation Delimitation

 shortcoming, condition or influence that cannot be  The boundary of the research study arising from th
controlled by the researcher that places restrictions researcher’s decision of what to exclude
on his/her methodology and conclusions
 Key word: boundary
 Key word: weakness

 population you are not studying (and why

not); and
 methodological procedures you will not
use (and why you will not use them).

SCOPE AND LIMIT

The components include (but are not
limited to) the following:
 topic of the study;
 objectives of the study and the issues it
will address;
 time frame in which the study will be
conducted;
 the locale or area where the study will be
conducted;
 characteristics of the participants in the
study (age, sex, education, economic,
status, civil status, and other traits), the
population and sampling; and
 research design, instrument and method.