Data & Methods- Characteristics, results, or investigate causal
Collection Methods, Steps in Analysis relationships.
• The researcher uses tools, such as
questionnaires or computer software, to
Data, definition
collect numerical data.
• These are specific information of facts
for each unit of study, collected for use in
analysis, generally towards a decision or When reporting the results of a study
as basis for a decision using quantitative methods, one
must….
• Quantitative Data – are measures of
values or counts in numeric form • Explain the data collected and their
statistical treatment as well as all relevant
• Qualitative Data – are types of
results in relation to the research problem
measures expressed in categories or
you are investigating. Interpretation of
numeric equivalence
results is not appropriate in this section.
• Report unanticipated events that
Characteristics of Quantitative Data occurred during your data collection.
Explain how the actual analysis differs
• Numeric from the planned analysis. Explain your
• Logical handling of missing data and why any
missing data does not undermine the
• Objective validity of your analysis.
• Detailed • Explain the techniques you used to
• In standard form/unit "clean" your data set.
• Choose a minimally sufficient statistical
procedure; provide a rationale for its use
Main characteristics of Quantitative and a reference for it. Specify any
Research computer programs used.
• The data collection uses structured • Describe the assumptions for each
research instruments. procedure and the steps you took to
• The results are based on larger sample ensure that they were not violated.
sizes representative of the population. • When using inferential statistics,
• The research study can usually be provide the descriptive statistics,
replicated. confidence intervals, and sample sizes
for each variable as well as the value of
• The researcher clearly defines the the test statistic, its direction, the degrees
research question to reach objective of freedom, and the significance level
answers. [report the actual p value].
• All aspects of the study are carefully • Avoid inferring causality, particularly in
designed before data is collected. nonrandomized designs or without
• Data are in the form of numbers and further experimentation.
statistics, often arranged in tables, • Use tables to provide exact values; use
charts, figures, or other non-textual figures to convey global effects. Keep
forms. figures small in size; include graphic
• Project can be used to generalize representations of confidence intervals
concepts more widely, predict future whenever possible.
• Always tell the reader what to look for in Role of Quantitative Methods in
tables and figures. Decision Making
Steps in Quantitative Research
• Declare the research problems/
• Establish the analytical framework
(match the concept and its theoretical
support)
• Formulate the hypothesis
• Determine the appropriate research
design.
• Provide the operational definition of
concepts used in the study or declared in
the analytical framework Steps in Decision Making
• Identify/Select the research
domain/sites
• Determine the respondents or sample
units of study
• Collect the Data
• Process the data
• Report on the results based on the
research problems.
Steps in the analysis of Quantitative
Data
Purpose of quantitative analysis in
• One data are collected, these are decision making
cleaned.
• To establish a verifiable set of numeric
• Data is stored/encoded into a trace;
spreadsheet.
• To utilize an accepted and appropriate
• Appropriate statistical processing is unit(s) of measure(s) for the variable(s)
done, using the statistical tools declared studied;
in the study.
• To provide standard tools of analysis;
• Statistical information resulting from the
• To provide relevant and comprehensive
data processing are summarized in
details on the context of the results of the
tables or graphical form.
study;
• Results are presented with
• To establish valid, verifiable and reliable
transparency and accountability.
results, hence also decisions