EM 1: The Characteristics, Kinds,

Strengths, and Weaknesses of Meaning of Research

Quantitative Research The word research is derived from
the Middle French "recherche", which means
1.1 Introduction to Research
"to go about seeking", the term itself being
derived from the Old French term
Nature of Inquiry and Research
"recerchier" a compound word from "re-" +
"cerchier", or "sercher", meaning to search
Inquiry, a term that is synonymous
and search again. The earliest recorded use
with the word “investigation”, is the answer
of the term was in 1577. The word research
to this question. When you inquire or
has two parts, re (again) and search (find),
investigate, you tend to ask questions to
denoting that we are taking up activity to look
probe or examine something. You do this kind
into an aspect once again or we want to look
of examination through your HOTS or
for new information about something.
higher-order thinking strategies of
inferential, analytical, critical, creative, and
The Merriam The Merriam-Webster
appreciative thinking to discover more
Online Dictionary defines research as “a
understandable or meaningful things beyond
studious inquiry or examination; especially
the object of your inquiry. Thinking in this
investigation or experimentation aimed at
manner makes you ask open-ended
the discovery and
questions to elicit the views, opinions, and
interpretation of facts, revision of accepted
beliefs of others in relation to your research.
theories or laws in the light of new facts, or
(Small,2012)
practical application of such new or revised
theories or laws"
Research is a scientific, experimental, or
inductive manner of thinking. Starting from
John W. Creswell defines research as " a
particular to more complex ideas, you
process of steps used to collect and analyze
execute varied thinking acts that range from
information to increase our understanding of
lower-order to higher-order thinking
a topic or issue. It consists of three steps:
strategies reflected by these research
pose a question, collect data to answer the
activities: identifying the topic or problem,
question, and present an answer to the
gathering data, making theories, formulating
question."(Creswell, 2008)
hypotheses, analyzing data, and drawing
conclusions. Cognitively driven terms like
Defined in simplest terms, research is
empirical, logical, cyclical, analytical, critical,
searching for and gathering information,
methodical, and replicable are the right
usually to answer a particular question or
descriptive words to characterize research.
problem. Research projects of various types 4. Research deals with the main
and complexity are an integral part of the problem through sub-problems
educational experience and offer you the 5. Research seeks direction through
opportunity to learn a valuable set of skills. appropriate hypotheses
In fact, the ability to locate and evaluate 6. Research deals with facts and their
information--which is the essence of meaning
research and valuable skill in many areas of 7. Research is circular
life--is a large part of what it means to be an Here is another characterization of the
educated person. (College of San Mateo, research:
2017) 1. Empirical - based on observations
and experimentation on theories
Research is a systematic and 2. Systematic - follows an orderly and
intellectual investigation or experimentation sequential procedure
of matter aimed for the discovery and 3. Controlled - all variables except
interpretation of new facts or theories, those that are tested/experimented
developing methods and systems for the upon are kept constant.
advancement of human knowledge. There 4. Employs hypothesis - guides the
are still so many other definitions of investigation process
research available around but suffice it to 5. Analytical - there is a critical analysis
say that the above-mentioned definitions are of all data used so that there is no
able to cover enough ground to define what error in their interpretation.
research really is. 6. Objective, Unbiased, & Logical - all
findings are logically based on
Characteristics of Research empirical
Leedy (1774) enumerates some basic 7. Employs quantitative or statistical
characteristics of research. He says that methods - data are transformed into
research has seven discrete characteristics numerical measures and are treated
which appear sequentially. Every researcher statistically
is familiar with these steps, which taken
together comprise the particular approach
1.2 The Characteristics, Kinds,
to the discovery of truth which we call Strengths, and Weaknesses of
research. (Leedy, 1974) Quantitative Research
1. Research begins with a question in
What is Quantitative Research?
the mind of the researcher.
2. Research requires a plan
3. Research demands a clear
Research methods are divided broadly into focuses on verifiable observation as opposed
quantitative and qualitative methods. to theory or logic. Most often this type of
Qualitative Research seeks to answer research is expressed in numbers. A
questions about why and how people behave researcher will represent and manipulate
in the way that they do. It provides in-depth certain
information about human behavior. observations that they are studying. They will
(SkillsYouNeed,2017) attempt to explain what it is they are seeing
and what effect it has on the subject. They
Qualitative Research is primarily will also determine what the changes may
exploratory research. It is used to gain an reflect. The overall goal is to convey
understanding of underlying reasons, numerically what is being seen in the
opinions, and motivations. It provides research and to arrive at specific and
insights into the problem or helps to develop observable conclusions. (Klazema, 2014)
ideas or hypotheses for potential
quantitative research. It is also used to Characteristics of Quantitative Research
uncover trends in thought and opinions, and
dive deeper into the problem. Qualitative 1. Objective. Quantitative research
data collection methods vary using seeks accurate measurement and
unstructured or semi-structured techniques. analysis of target concepts. It is not
Some common methods include focus groups based on mere intuitions and
(group discussions), individual interviews, guesses. Data are gathered before
and participation/observations. The sample proposing a conclusion or solution to
size is typically small, and respondents are a problem.
selected to fulfill a given quota. (Wyse, 2011) 2. Clearly Defined Research Questions.
In quantitative research, the
Quantitative Research is used to quantify researchers know in advance what
the problem by way of generating numerical they are looking for. The research
data or data that can be transformed into questions are well-defined for which
useable statistics. It is used to quantify objective answers are sought. All
attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other aspects of the study are carefully
defined variables- and generalize results designed before data are gathered.
from a larger sample population. 3. Structured Research Instruments.
Data are normally gathered using
Quantitative research is a type of empirical structured research tools such as
investigation. That means the research questionnaires to collect measurable
characteristics of the population like
 age, socio-economic status, and the appropriate for your research questions.
number of children, among others. The following precedes the different types of
4. Numerical Data. Data are in a form of Quantitative research types with the
numbers and statistics, often description of each and examples:
organized and presented using
tables, charts, graphs, and figures 1. Survey Research uses
that consolidate large numbers of interviews, questionnaires,
data to show trends, relationships, or and sampling polls to get a
differences among variables. sense of behavior with
5. Large Sample Sizes. To arrive at a intense precision. It allows
more data analysis, a normal researchers to judge
population distribution curve is behavior and then accurately
preferred. This requires a large present findings. It is usually
sample size, depending on how the expressed in a percentage.
characteristics of the population Survey research can be
vary. Random sampling is conducted around one group
recommended in determining the or used to compare several
sample size to avoid the researcher’s groups. When conducting
bias in interpreting the results. survey research, people
6. Replication. Reliable quantitative questioned must be sampled
studies can be repeated to verify or at random. It allows more
confirm the correctness of the accurate findings across a
results in another setting. This greater spectrum of
strengthens the validity of the respondents.
findings thus eliminating the Example:
possibility of spurious conclusions. ● Determining the
7. Future Outcomes. By using complex promotion rate of
mathematical calculations and with Doctorate holders five
the aid of computers, if then years after earning
scenarios may be formulated thus the degree.
predicting future results.
2. Descriptive Research
Kinds of Quantitative Research describes the current status
of an identified variable or
Various kinds of quantitative phenomenon. The researcher
research will help you decide which is most does not usually begin with a
 hypothesis but is likely to Correlational Research
develop one another after attempts to determine the
collecting data. Analysis and extent of a relationship
synthesis of the data provide between two or more
the test of the hypothesis. variables using statistical
Systematic information data. Relationships between
collection requires carefully and among a number of facts
selecting the units studied are sought and interpreted to
and measuring each variable recognize trends and
to demonstrate validity. patterns in data, but it does
Examples: not go so far in its analysis to
● The establish cause and effect for
determination them. Data relationships and
of the different distributions of variables are
physical observed only. Variables are
activities and not manipulated; they are only
how often high identified and studied as they
school occur in a natural setting.
students do it Example:
during the ● The relationship of
quarantine teenagers’ sense of humor
period. with positive psychological
capacity.
3. Correlational Research
establishes a relationship 4. Casual-comparative/Quasi-E
between two close entities xperimental Research
and determines how one attempts to establish
impacts the other. For this, a cause-and-effect
researcher needs at least two relationships among the
separate groups. This type of variables. These designs are
Research will recognize similar to true experiments
trends and patterns in data, but have some key
but it does not go so far in its differences. An independent
analysis to observe the variable is identified but not
different patterns. manipulated by the
experimenter, and the effects
 of the independent variable on variable is manipulated to
the dependent variable are determine the effects on the
measured. The researcher dependent variables.
does not randomly assign Subjects are randomly
groups and must use ones assigned to experimental
that are naturally formed or treatments rather than
pre-existing groups. identified in naturally
Identified control groups occurring groups.
exposed to the treatment Example: A comparison of the
variable are studied and effects of various blended
compared to those not. learning on the reading
Example: comprehension of elementary
● The effects of students.
unemployment on
attitude towards Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative
following safety Research
protocol in
ECQ-declared areas.
Strengths Weaknesses

It is objective. Since Quantitative

5. Experimental Research often
it provides research requires a
called true experimentation, numerical data, it large number of
can't be easily respondents.
uses the scientific method to misinterpreted. Therefore, it is
establish the cause-effect assumed that the
larger the sample is,
relationship among a group of the more
variables that make up a statistically
accurate the
study. The true experiment is findings are.
often thought of as a
The use of It is costly. Since
laboratory study, but this is statistical there are more
not always the case; a techniques respondents
facilitates compared to
laboratory setting has sophisticated qualitative
nothing to do with it. A true analysis and allows research, the
you to comprehend expenses will be
experiment is any study a huge amount of greater in reaching
where an effort is made to vital characteristics out to these people
data. and reproducing the
identify and impose control questionnaires.
over all other variables
except one. An independent
The numerical data The contextual
can be analyzed in a information factors
quick and easy way. that help interpret
the results or
Moreover, by
explain variations
employing are usually ignored.
statistically valid Moreover, unlike
random models, qualitative
findings can be research, it does
generalized to the not consider the
population about distinct capacity of
the respondents to
which information is
share and elaborate
necessary. further information

Quantitative studies Many information is

are replicable. difficult to gather
Standardized using structured
research
approaches allow
instruments,
the study to be specifically on
replicated in sensitive issues.
different areas or
over time with a
formulation of
comparable
findings.

If not done seriously

and correctly, data
from
questionnaires may
be incomplete and
inaccurate.
Researchers must
be on the lookout
for respondents
who are just
guessing in
answering the
instrument.