The businessdictionary.com website
defines quantitative research as “the use of sampling techniques (such as
consumer surveys) whose findings may be expressed numerically, and are
amendable to mathematical manipulation enabling the research to estimate future
events or quantities” (Businessdictionary.com
website, n.d.). It is based
on the concept that “social phenomena can be quantified, measured and expressed
numerically” (Mamia, n.d.). There are
various types of quantitative research such as survey, correlational,
causal-comparative and experimental (Sukamolson, n.d.). Quantitative research is considered social
research that uses empirical methods (Sukamolson, n.d.). In social research patterns and regularities
are analyzed and theories are created and hypothesis are developed (Mamia,
n.d.).
One of the standard characteristics
of quantitative research is the perspective of reality which is objective and singular
meaning that the researcher is independent from that being researched (Sukamolson,
n.d.). The style is formal with an
impersonal voice and the process is static and deductive. Quantitative research, unlike qualitative
research, answers to questions about why things are the way they are and tries
to break it down into measurable units that are then observed (Mamia, n.d.). This type of research also aims at closed
questions, those types that you would answer yes or no or that are narrowly
defined (Engelby, 2012).
Engelby (2012) explains how
quantitative research can be used to measure numbers or specifications such as
measuring people’s actions or measuring people’s opinions by using closed
questions. We can measure things within
social structures that may not be directly observable (Mamia, n.d.). The downside of quantitative research is the
inflexibility in regards to capturing reality.
Reality is simplified and compressed and therefore provides a very
static perspective (Mamia, n.d.).
When beginning the research we first
need to identify the problem statement, the purpose statement and the research
question. The problem statement for
quantitative research should be concise and specific and should explain the
need for this type of research such as data collection, and the purpose
statement should outline the variables in the research and “define the
population of the study” (Jenkins,
2009). The research question should
include a hypothesis and it should address the query posed by the researcher
(Jenkins, 2009). Once we understand the
problem and purpose, we began the collection of data process. With quantitative research there are several
methods of obtaining data such as surveys, interviews, systematic observation,
text analysis, and statistical data (Mamia, n.d.). Data must be collected ethically without any
harmful processes to the participants and by respecting their anonymity.
Some of the major benefits of
quantitative research are the ability to summarize large amounts of information. For example, the researcher is able to
gain more detailed and rich information such as complete and written
descriptions or evidence. Quantitative methods also have greater
accuracy and eliminate biases (Sukamolson,
n.d.).
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References
Engelby, D. (2012.). Quantitative
and Qualitative Research Methods [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved May 15,
2013 from
http://www.slideshare.net/engelby/media-quantitative-and-qualitative-research-2012.
Mamio, T. (n.d.). Quantitative
Research Methods [PowerPoint slides].
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