PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 (Quantitative)
Quantitative Research- through the use of computational procedures, is an objective, methodical
experiential investigation of recognizable phenomena. It is highlighted with numerical analysis of data
expecting that the result that can be generalized to some bigger population and describe a particular
observation having no biases.
THE CHARACTERISTIC OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
It is objective not subjective- precision and accuracy of measurement and analysis is the target of the
concepts. Furthermore, intuitions and guesses is not practice or used in developing conclusion or
solution to a problem.
Research questions are clearly defined – familiarity of the topic of the research have to be more focus so
that it will be clear to the readers and researchers have to be advance in what he is looking for.
Research questions have to be precise and clear for which objective answer are sought.
Research instrument is clearly structured- the instrument of the study is well-organized and plan, and
with different dimension and scales. It is structured research tools like questionnaires or checklist.
Numerical presentations of data- data is organized and presented in the form of numbers and statistics.
It is graphs and figures that consolidate large numbers of data to show trends, relationships, or
differences among variables.
Large sample size – The greater the sample size the more reliable data analysis. This is to avoid biases
in interpreting the result. It also requires normal population distribution curve. A minimum of 20% of the
population can be used as respondents of a research.
Replicated but not duplicate – Reliable quantitative studies can be replicated or but not duplicated to
verify or confirm the correctness of the result in another setting. Validity of the findings may eliminate the
possibility of spurious conclusions.
Data can be used to predict future outcomes or forecast – Through complex mathematical calculations
and with the aid of computers and formulated formulas scenarios can be predicting future results.
Data can be used to verify existing facts and develop new concepts – A research can validate an
existing fact. In some cases, research can be used to developed new ideas needed to make life more
comfortable.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
STRENGTHS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
1. Since it is objective and provides numerical data, it can’t be easily misinterpreted.
2. Statistical techniques were used to facilitates sophisticated analyses and allows you to
comprehend a huge amount of vital characteristics of data.
3. The data in quantitative research can be analyzed in a quick and easy way. With the use of
statistically valid random models, finding can be generalized to the population about which
information is necessary.
4. Replicable. This research can be replicated but with different areas of concern and location.
Dimension can be also an additive factor to improve the previous research.
5. By using questionnaire, checklist, test or standardized instrument the data can be gathered in a
quick and easy way.
WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
1. It requires a large number of respondents. The larger sample size, the more or better the
statistical findings are.
2. It is costly. Due to very large sample, the expenses will be greater in reaching out to these people
and in reproducing out to these people and in reproducing the questionnaires.
3. Elaboration on contextual is not factors that can help the result or to explain variations. In
quantitative or have sharing of thoughts for further information. It is a straightforward answer
unlike the qualitative.
4. If the made questionnaire was not done seriously and correctly the data will be invalid and
inaccurate.
5. Research must be watchful on respondents who are just guessing in answering the research
instruments as some of them may not reveal the real response due to ethical issues.
6. Research instrument preparation and validation may take time if no standardized tools are
available.
TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH NON-EXPERIMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
NON- EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
o Describe a situation or phenomenon.
o Relationships between two or more variables without any interference from the proponent.
o Researchers collect data without making changes or introducing treatments.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH – Describe the nature, characteristic and components of the population or a
phenomenon.
Manipulation of variables or search for cause and effect is not applicable.
Determine the frequency with which it occurs and to find general attributes of the presently existing
situation.
EXAMPLES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
How many hours senior high school students spent in playing online games?
How many malnourished students who failed in the achievement test?
How healthy is the food served during lunch time in the public school?
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH – A research design investigates relationships between two variables,
measures the degree of their relationship or association. Relationships that exist between or among the
variables.
EXAMPLE OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Sex and mathematical ability
Age and leadership style
Occupation and lifespan
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH TYPES:
1. Positive correlation – An increase in one variable leads to increase the other variable. A
decrease in one variable will also decrease in the other variable.
Ex: Family income and daily allowance
2. Negative Correlation – if there is an increase in one variable, the second variable will show a
decrease and vice versa.
Ex: Age of a car and price of the car.
3. No Correlation – a change in one variable may not necessarily see a difference in the other
variable.
Ex: Number of spent in studying and height of the students.
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
o This kind of research is centrally concerned with constructing research that is high in casual
(internal) validity.
o Scientific approach
o Researchers collect data with making changes or introducing treatments.
TRUE EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH – to test the true cause and effect relationships of variables
involve in the study, according to Prieto et al., it offers the highest internal validity of all the designs.
Randomly formed groups.
Manipulation of the treatment and
Comparison among groups.
ONE GROUP POSTTEST ONLY DESIGN- a single group of individuals is measured on same
dependent variable after an intervention has taken place.
EX: single group intervention posttest
TWO GROUPS POSTTEST ONLY DESIGN
EX: Experimental
Control group
Group
No
intervention
Intervention
posttest
PRETEST- POSTTEST DESIGN
EX: Eperimental Control
Group Group
Pretest Pretest
No
Intervention
Intervention
Posttest Posttest
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH – This kind of research is almost the same as that of True
Experimental Design. The only difference is the absence of random assignment of subjects to other
conditions.
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES
Dependent variable depends on other variables or factors. It is something that is influenced and
affected.
Independent variables affect the dependent variable. It is something you have control over, one which
you can choose and manipulate. However, in some cases, you may not be able to manipulate the
independent variable.
Example: The researchers want to determine the effect of use of social media in the academic
performance of students in Mathematics.
Independent variable: Used of social media.
Dependent variable: Academic Performance.
CONTROL VARIABLES – special type of independent that are measured in a study because they
potentially influence the dependent variable.
CONFOUNDING VARIABLES – those that are not actually measured or observed in a study.
VARIABLES
o A variable is the heart or central concept in research.
o It is primarily measurable characteristics that changes in value.
o It may be different from characteristic to another characteristic, one group to another group, one
person to another person or even with the same person over time.
o A variable can be anything that may assume different numerical or categorical values.
(Variable is unit of analysis)
MEASUREMENT SCALES
Nominal Variables Categorical – values can be words.
Ordinal Variables
Interval Variables Values can be a number or numerical.
Ratio Variables
NOMINAL - nominal variables represent categories that cannot be ordered in any particular way. It is
only a matter of distinguishing by name.
Characteristics: they can also take quantitative values. However, these quantitative values do not have
numeric properties. That is arithmetic operations cannot be performed on them.
For example: Marital status, religion political orientation strand eye color business type brand of Covid-
19 vaccines, Favorite TV station.
ORDINAL VARIABLES- This involves data that arranged in some order, but differences between data.
It has two or more categories which can be ranked.
Characteristics:
it is an extension of nominal data.
It has no standardized interval scale.
It establishes a relative rank.
It measures qualitative traits.
The median and mode can be analyzed.
It has a rank or order.
For Examples:
Ranking Contest
Champion
First Runner Up
Second Runner up
INTERVAL VARIABLES- It provides information about order and provides an interval. It also determines
meaningful amounts of differences between the data.
Characteristics: It is one of the 2 types of quantitative variables. It takes numeric values and may be
classified as a continuous variable type.
Arithmetic operations can be performed on interval variables. However, these operations are restricted
to only addition and subtraction.
The interval variables are an extension of the ordinal variable. In other words, we could say interval
variables are built upon ordinary variables.
The intervals on the scale are equal in an interval. The scale is equidistant.
The variables are measured using an interval scale, which not only shows the order but also shows the
exact difference in the value.
It has no zero value.
Example: Temperature
30 C
20c
10c
0c
-10c
RATIO VARIABLES- ratio variables have the properties of interval variables and has a clear definition of
zero, indication that there is none of that variable and allows all arithmetic operation.
Example:
Age, Score on exam, Height, Weight, Distance, Number of siblings.