Quantitative Research Approach

By: Esraa Jaff

Bahroz HashimLaveen JaffHazha Hiwa

February2017

An Introduction to Quantitative Research Approach

Esraa Jaff

Introduction

•Quantitative investigation of the world has existed since people first began to record events or objects that had been counted. •The research methodology that was traditionally used in social sciences for several decades was the quantitative methodology, which originated in the natural sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and was concerned with investigating things which could be observed and measured in some way. •Quantitative research was the generally accepted research paradigm in educational research until the early 1980s.

Quantitative research emerged around 1250 A.D. and was driven by investigators with the need to quantify data. Since then quantitative research has dominated the western cultural as the research method to create meaning and new knowledge.

What constitutes a quantitative research method involves a numeric or statistical approach to research design. Leedy and Ormrod (2001) alleged that quantitative research is specific in its surveying and experimentation, as it builds upon existing theories.

The methodology of a quantitative research maintains the assumption of an empiricist paradigm (Creswell, 2003). The research itself is independent of the researcher. As a result, data is used to objectively measure reality. Quantitative research creates meaning through objectivity uncovered in the collected data.

A few definitions of quantitative research approach “Quantitative researchers seek explanations and

predictions that will generate to other persons and places. The intent is to establish, confirm,or validate relationships and to develop generalizations that contribute to theory” (Leedy and Ormrod, 2001, p. 102).

Quantitative research begins with a problem statement and involves the formation of a hypothesis, a literature review, and a quantitative data analysis.

Creswell (2003) states, quantitative research “employ strategies of inquiry such as experimental and surveys, and collect data on predetermined instruments that yield statistical data” The findings from quantitative research can be predictive, explanatory, and confirming.

The next section focuses on quantitative research methodology

'Quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are used to obtain information about the world.

This research method is used:to describe variables;to examine relationships among variables;to determine cause-and-effect interactions

between variables.' (Burns & Grove 2005:23)

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.

Quantitative research focuses on gathering numerical data and generalizing it across groups of people or to explain a particular phenomenon.

Quantitative Research Process

Bahroz Hashim

Quantitative Research ProcessThe research process consists of a series of steps or stages that the researcher should progress through when planning and conducting research (Adams and Taylor 2014).

Researchers use the research process to determine how to move from an idea about a problem in practice to generating research findings that may contribute to improving that practice.

Research Question and Research Hypothesis

A research question is the question that the research project sets out to answer.

A hypothesis is not a question, but rather a statement about the relationship between two or more variables.

To be complete a hypothesis it must include three components:  

 The variables The population The relationship between the variables

Quantitative Research Process Steps1. Defining the Problem and Establishing Research

ObjectivesThe first step in the process is to identify a problem or

develop a research question.2. Exploring theory (i.e. reading books and scientific

articles) Now that the problem has been identified, the

researcher must learn more about the topic. To do this, the researcher must read and review the information related to the research problem. This step provides foundational knowledge about the problem area.

It also educates the researcher about what studies have been conducted in the past, how these studies were conducted, and the conclusions in the problem area. 

Quantitative Research Process Steps3. Sample Design and characteristics of the population (e.g.

age, the number of children, educational status, economic status).

The population is the group to be studied. The sample refers to specific people or events in the population from which data will be collected.

4. Designing Data Collection Instruments Sources of data may include people, literature, documents,

and findings (for example, from sources such as laboratory data).

Data may be collected from interviews, questionnaires, direct measurement, or examinations (such as physical or psychological tests).

Quantitative Research Process Steps5. Collecting Data and Preparing it for Analysis. Advanced digital or electronic instruments are used to

prepare, measure or gather data from the field.6. Data Analysis. The researcher now analyzes the data according to

the plan. Statistical procedures are used for the analysis, and provide answers to the research question.

7. Interpreting the Results and Writing the Final Research Report.

Finally he researcher writes a report about the findings of the research and explains the results of the study through publications and presentations.

The researcher also describes the conclusions of the study and suggests directions for further research.

Advantages and

Disadvantages of

Quantitative Approach

Laveen Jaff

The advantages of QuantitativeQuantitative research allows the researcher to

measure and analyze data , and that is why it used to test hypotheses in experiments.

In quantitative the researcher is more objective about the findings of the research.

The main disadvantage of quantitative research is the context of the study or experiment is ignored.

The disadvantages of quantitative Quantitative research does not study things

in a natural setting or discuss the meaning things have for different people as qualitative research does.

Another disadvantage is that a large sample of the population must be studied; the larger the sample of people researched, the more statistically accurate the results will be. So the study is expensive and time-consuming, and even the preliminary results are usually not available for a long period of time.

Key Differences Between Qualitative And Quantitative

Research

1-Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that develops understanding on human and social sciences, to find the way people think and feel. Quantitative research is a scientific and empirical research method that is used to generate numerical data, by employing statistical, logical and mathematical technique

2-The qualitative research follows a subjective approach as the researcher is intimately involved, whereas the approach of quantitative research is objective, as the researcher is uninvolved.

3- Qualitative research is exploratory. As opposed to quantitative research which is conclusive.

4- Verbal data are collected in qualitative research. Conversely, in quantitative research measurable data is gathered.

5 - Elements used in the analysis of qualitative research are words, pictures, and objects while that of quantitative research is numerical data.

6- Qualitative research is based on purposive sampling, where a small sample size is selected with a view to get a thorough understanding of the target concept. On the other hand, quantitative research relies on random sampling; wherein a large representative sample is chosen in order to extrapolate the results to the whole population.

7- Inquiry in qualitative research is a process-oriented, which is not in the case of quantitative research.

8- The hypothesis is generated in qualitative research by inductive reasoning. On the contrary, the hypothesis is tested by deductive research in quantitative reasoning.

9- Qualitative Research is conducted with the aim of exploring and discovering ideas used in the ongoing processes. As opposed to quantitative research the purpose is to examine cause and effect relationship between variables.

10- Lastly, the methods used in qualitative research are in-depth interviews, focus groups, etc. In contrast, the methods of conducting quantitative research are structured interviews and observations.

Principle’s of Quantitative Approach

Hazha Hiwa

Principle’s of Quantitative Approach

Objectivity is very important in quantitative research. Consequently, researchers take great care to avoid their own presence,

behavior or attitude affecting the results (e.g. by changing the situation being studied

or causing participants to behave differently).

They also critically examine their methods and conclusions for any possible bias.

Researchers go to great lengths to ensure that they are really measuring what they claim to be measuring. For example, if the study is about whether background music has a positive impact on restlessness in residents in a nursing home, the researchers must be clear about what kind of music to include, the volume of the music, what they mean by restlessness, how to measure restlessness and what is considered a positive impact. This must all be considered, prepared and controlled in advance.

The main emphasis of quantitative research is on deductive reasoning which tends to move from the general to the specific. This is sometimes referred to as a top down approach. The validity of conclusions is shown to be dependent on one or more premises (prior statements, findings or conditions) being valid.

Researchers rarely have access to all the members of a particular group (e.g. all people with dementia, or healthcare professionals). However, they are usually interested in being able to make inferences from their study about these larger groups. For this reason, it is important that the people involved in the study are a representative sample of the wider population/group.

The extent to which generalizations are possible depends to a certain extent on the number of people involved in the study, how they were selected and whether they are representative of the wider group. For example, generalizations about psychiatrists should be based on a study involving psychiatrists and not one based on psychology students.

What is P-value in quantitative approach When looking at results, the P value is important. P

stands for probability. It measures the likelihood that a particular finding or observed difference is due to chance. The P value is between 0 and 1. The closer the result is to 0, the less likely it is that the observed difference is due to chance. The closer the result is to 1, the greater the likelihood that the finding is due to chance.Statement Outcome of the test P – value No evidence to reject Fail to reject greater than 0.05

Some evidence to reject

Reject  between 0.01 and 0.05

Strong evidence to reject

Reject between 0.001 and 0.01

Very strong evidence to reject

Reject less than 0.001

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