PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

- Requires non-numerical data which means

RESEARCH that the research uses words rather than
numbers to express the results, the inquiry
Research (the act of doing research)- is commonly or investigation about people’s thoughts,
associated with using the internet, particularly beliefs, feelings, views and lifestyles
Google or other search engines and websites, to find regarding the object of the study.
out information about a certain topic.
- Uses surveys, observations and interviews.
Using Google & other search engines found on the - Ask many questions that deals with what
internet is just one of the various means to gather and how
data in order to complete a study. Learning to be
proficient in using the internet to search facts about - Exploratory in research
a topic will definitely help you in your research.
- Analysis is set into themes.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
OTHER DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH

- Involves measurement of data. Thus, it

● A systematic search for truth.
presents research findings referring to the
● Through research, new and original number or frequency of something in
information, ideas about the world we live in, numerical forms (using percentages,
are obtained. fractions, numbers).

● Search for knowledge. - Questions are focused on what, how and

does.
● Defined as a scientific and systematic
search for information on a specific topic. - Either prove or disprove hypotheses.

● A careful and systematic study of inquiry in

some field of knowledge. MORE ABOUT QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

● An investigation of a certain phenomenon or

results of previous studies to find out their ● A systematic investigation of observable
present relevance. phenomena where the researcher gathers
quantitative or numerical data and subjects
them to statistical data.
Additionals:
● Main goals of quantitative research are to
● Research means an organized and test :
systematic way of finding answers to the - Hypotheses
questions. - Explore causal relationships
- Make predictions
● Without a question, research has NO - Generalize the findings within a
FOCUS, DRIVE OR PURPOSE. population

● Compared to qualitative research,

TWO KINDS OF RESEARCH quantitative research typically uses larger
samples (or sets of participants in the
- The two kinds of research are qualitative study) and primarily utilizes probability
and quantitative research. sampling.
- Probability Sampling is a type of
sampling that is highly randomized.
● Quantitative research has a lower level of
subjectivity and higher rate of
generalizability.
- Generalizability refers to the extent
to which the findings not only
represent the samples but also the
population at large.

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH

● The data are usually gathered using a more

structured instrument.

● The results are based on larger sample

sizes that are representative of the
population.

● The research study can usually be

replicated or repeated, given its high
reliability.

● The researcher has a clearly defined

research question to which objective
answers are sought.

● All aspects of the study are carefully

designed before the data is collected.

● Data are in the form of numbers and

statistics.

● The researcher uses tools such as

questionnaires or computer software, to
collect numerical data.
 PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 ● Errors in the Measurement or modeling or
LESSON 2: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH omission of data can easily lead to the
misinterpretation of the results.
STRENGTHS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ● It is also costly. Having a large study sample
requires researchers to spend more
● COLLECT RELIABLE AND ACCURATE resources.
DATA. It provides accurate, quantitative,
numerical data. ● Findings can be influenced by the
researcher’s perspective since most of the
● QUICK DATA COLLECTION. Having a data time, the participants are unknown to
collection using some quantitative methods him/her.
is relatively quick.

● WIDER SCOPE OF DATA ANALYSIS. It is KINDS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

useful for obtaining data which allows
quantitative predictions to be done. ● DESCRIPTIVE

● ELIMINATE BIAS.Quantitative research ● CORRELATIONAL

uses objectivity to reduce bias.
● CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE
● GENERALIZABLE. Research findings can
be generalized when the data are based on ● QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL
sufficient sized random samples.
● EXPERIMENTAL
● REPLICABLE. Standardized approaches
allow the study to be replicated in different DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
areas or over time with the formulation of
comparable findings. - It is concerned with describing the nature,
characteristics and components of the
population or a phenomenon. There is no
WEAKNESSES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
manipulation of variables or search for
cause and effect related to the
● It requires a large number of respondents. It
phenomenon.
is assumed that the larger the sample is, the
more statistically accurate findings are. - EXAMPLES:
● How many hours senior high school
● It cannot adequately provide in-depth
students spend in social media
information necessary for describing and
explaining a complex phenomenon since the ● The number of malnourished
results are usually based on the analysis of students who failed in the
numbers and not obtained from detailed achievement test
narratives.
● How healthy is the food served
● It also lacks the ability to provide a during recess in the public schools
comprehensive textual description of human
experiences.
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
● The responses of the participants are strictly
limited to what has been asked which may - It is the systematic investigation of the
not be extensive in some cases. nature of relationships or associations
between and among variables without
● Numerical data may be insufficient in necessarily investigating causal reasons
analyzing intangible factors, such as gender underlying them.
roles, socio-economic status and social
norms of a given population. - EXAMPLES:
 ● The relationship between ● Time-series quasi-experimental
intelligence and self-esteem research- giving them a series of
pre-tests and post-tests.
● The relationship between diet and
anxiety ● Single-subject
quasi-experimental research-
● The relationship between an controls treatment and condition
aptitude test and success in an applied to just one individual or a
algebra course group.

CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE RESEARCH EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

- Also known as ex post facto (after the fact) - It uses the scientific method to establish the
research. This kind of research derives from cause-effect relationship among a group of
observations and manifestations that variables that make up a study. An
already occurred in the past and now independent variable is manipulated to
compared to some dependent variables. It determine the effects on the dependent
discusses why and how this phenomenon variables.
occurs. (CAUSE & EFFECT
RELATIONSHIP). - For instance, a teacher would like to know if
a new teaching strategy is effective or not so
- EXAMPLE: she/he teaches one section using the new
● A researcher is interested in how strategy and teaches another section
weight influences stress-coping without the new strategy, then an
levels of adults. Here, the subjects achievement test was given to the two
would be separated into different sections.
groups ( underweight, normal
weight, overweight) and their - The manipulated independent variable is the
stress-coping levels measured. new teaching strategy which is being tested
if it has an effect on the dependent variable
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH which is the achievement of the students.

- The prefix “quasi” means “resembling”.

Thus, quasi-experimental research is IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
research that resembles experimental ACROSS FIELDS
research but is not true experimental
research. ● SOCIAL INQUIRY
- To better understand the behavior
- Although the independent variable is and social interactions among
manipulated, participants are not randomly individuals
assigned to conditions or orders of
conditions. (Cook and Campbell, 2015). ● ARTS
- To investigate methods or
- They are often conducted to evaluate the approaches that enhance one’s
effectiveness of a treatment- perhaps a type creativity
of psychotherapy of educational
intervention. ● INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY
- According to Mujis (2011), the following - To examine the trends and
are types of quasi experimental research: tendencies in the use of information
technology
● Matched comparison- choosing a
treatment group and another group
that has similarities with the
treatment group.
● SCIENCE
- To determine the effectiveness of a
newly developed medicine,
treatment or approach in addressing
health problems.

● AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

● SPORTS
- To understand the relationship
between one’s health and athletic
performance

● BUSINESS
- To assess approaches that will help
companies in their decision-making
practices