NATURE OF INQUIRYAND RESEARCHChapter One

HUMANS ARE NATURALLY CURIOUS!

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

An objective, systematic, empirical investigation of observable phenomena through the use of computational techniques.

CHARACTERISTICS:

1. Objective

2. Clearly Defined Research Questions

3. Structured Research Instruments

4. Numerical Data

5. Large Sample Sizes

6. Replication

7. Future Outcomes

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

STRENGTHS:

1. It is objective.

2. The use of statistical techniques facilitates analyses and allows you to comprehend a huge amount of vital characteristics of data.

3. The numerical data can be analyzed in a quick and easy way.

4. Quantitative studies are replicable.

WEAKNESSES:

1. It requires a large number of respondents.

2. It is costly.

3. The information contextual factors to help interpret the results or to explain variations are usually ignored.

4. Many information are difficult to gather using structured research instruments.

5. If not done seriously and correctly, data from questionnaires may be incomplete and inaccurate.

KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH:

1. Descriptive Research

2. Correlational Research

3. Evaluation Research

4. Survey Research

5. Causal-Comparative Research

6. Experimental Research

IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH:

Teaching

Profession

1Accounting

Business

Management

2 Science

Technology

Engineering

Mathematics

3Humanities

Social

Sciences

4

VARIABLES

A central concept in research.

A measurable characteristic that changes in value.

TYPES OF VARIABLES:

1. Continuous (Interval or Ratio)

2. Discrete (Nominal or Ordinal)

3. Dependent

4. Independent