MODULE 3: NATURE AND INQUIRY

OF RESEARCH
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Describe the characteristics, strengths,
weaknesses, and kinds of quantitative research.
2. Illustrate the importance of quantitative
research across fields.
3. Differentiate the kinds of variables and their
uses.
MAJOR APPROACHES USED IN RESEARCH

 Qualitative approach aims to description of

characteristics, kind, and quality of a subject, while
interpreting and attempting to understand an event.
It is mostly done in social sciences studies.
Examples: The lived experiences of male convicts, the
emotions of people who suffered from the loss of a
loved one, and the perspective of a politician
regarding morality.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
 Quantitative approach tests hypotheses and makes
predictions through measured amounts, and
ultimately describes an event by using numerical
figures. Statistical analysis is therefore applied to
interpret the numbers obtained from the data.
Objectivity results is a guarantee.
Examples:

Advantages:

Advantages:
 Mixed method approach involves collection and
analysis of data using quantitative and qualitative
approaches to be able to address the disadvantages of
the two approaches and provide better understanding
of data. Using the quantitative method will
strengthen the results obtained from qualitative data.
Examples:

Advantages:

Disadvantages:
QUANTITATIVE APPROACH: AN OVERVIEW
 Main Characteristics of the Quantitative Approach
1. The data are usually gathered using more structured
research instruments.
2. The results are based on larger sample sizes that are
representative of the population.
3. The research study can usually be replicated or
repeated, given its high reliability.
4. The researcher has a clearly defined research question
to which objectivity answers are sought.
5. All aspects of the study are carefully
designed before data are collected.
6. Data are in the form of numbers and
statistics.
7. The project can be used to generalize
concepts more widely, predict future
results, or investigate causal relationships.
8. The researcher uses questionnaires or other
forms of research tools to collect numerical
data.
STRENGTHS OF THE QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
1. Quantitative approach involves a greater
number of subjects and enables a broader
study, as well as enhancing the generalization
of the results.
2. Study results are more objective and accurate.
Usually, to support a certain generalization by
using a summary of data, quantitative research
employs certain procedures on a few variables
to ensure the reliability of data.
3. Quantitative research, when the right
procedure is used, can be replicated, as well
as analyzed in comparison with other
similar works.
4. You can summarize vast sources of
information and make comparisons across
categories and over time.
5. Personal bias can be avoided by keeping a
“distance” from participating subjects and
employing facilitators unknown to them.
 LIMITATIONS OF THE QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
1. Quantitative data, while they can test a hypothesis,
may be limited in explaining their context. This is
because the explanation often focuses on numerical
results as basis.
2. The research is often conducted in an artificial setting,
where a certain level of control is exercised. Because
of this, the results may not necessarily reflect the real-
life situation presented in the problem. Additionally,
the use of research tools may only reflect the
researcher’s point of view instead of the subject’s.
TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
The following are the different types used when
quantitative approach is considered:
1. Descriptive research
a. Correlation research
b. Survey
2. Causal – comparative research
3. Experimental research
a. True experimental
b. Quasi - experimental
 DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
 Itinvolves the collection of data to either test
a hypothesis or describe the variables
mentioned in the study.
 Data, which are typically numeric, are
collected through surveys, interviews, or
observations.
 Most researches in science and technology,
engineering, and social sciences use this type
of quantitative approach.
CORRELATION RESEARCH
It attempts to determine the level of
relation between two or more
quantifiable variables.
The correlation between two
variables does not mean that one
variable causes the other, but it can be
used to predict their values.
CAUSAL – COMPARATIVE RESEARCH
 It attempts to establish cause-effect relationships
among the variables of the study.
 In this research, the independent variable usually
involves a demographic (e.g.,gender, race, social
status) in which the researcher has no control of.
 The researcher will test how the independent
variable will cause a significant effect on the
dependent variable, which is the outcome of the
study.
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
It is similar to causal-comparative
research, in that it also measures the
effect of the independent variable (cause)
to the dependent variable (effect);
however, the researcher can control the
independent variables in the study,
wherein the participants are randomly
assigned.