The Nature of Quantitative Research Essay - 1334 Words

The Nature of Quantitative Research Quantitative Research Defined: According to Huysamen (1997), descriptions of quantitative research typically discern a cycle of successive phases of hypothesis formulation, data collection, analysis and interpretation. Using a deductive approach, quantitative research seeks to establish facts, make predictions, and test hypotheses that have already been stated. A large part of the data analysis of quantitative research is statistical, striving to show that the world can be looked at in terms of one reality; this reality, when isolated in context, can be measured and understood, a perspective known as positivism (Gay Airasian, 1999). Quantitative researchers are those who find themselves†¦show more content†¦There are some features of quantitative research that are inherently necessary for this approach. A quantitative researcher must: state both the hypothesis studied and the research procedures that will be implemented prior to conducting the study, maintain control over contextual factors that might interfere with the data collected, use large enough samples of participants to provide statistically meaningful data, and employ data analyses that rely on statistical procedures. Source: Educational Research (Gay Airasian 1999) Without all of these characteristics in place, the results of a quantitative research study are likely to be inaccurate and unreliable. Quantitative Approaches: Due to the nature of quantitative research, certain types of research are more likely to be conducted using its methods rather than the methods involved in qualitative research. The following list contains the main types of approaches to quantitative research: 1. Descriptive or Survey Research- This type of research attempts to answer questions about the current status of the subject or topic of study. Usually, this type of research involves studying the preferences, attitudes, practices, concerns, or interests of some group of people (Gay Airasian, 1999). Two critical issues in descriptive design, both necessary for validity, are the ability to generalize from the sample (which must be large)Show MoreRelated Quantitative Research Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesQuantitative Research Quantitative research is based on statements such as anything that exists exists in a certain quantity and can be measured. While Thorndike’s statement from 1904 appears to be fairly innocent and direct, it staked an important philosophical position that has persisted in social science research throughout most to this century. (Custer, 1996, p. 3). In 1927, William F. Ogburn successfully lobbied to have Lord Kelvin’s motto: When you cannot measure, your knowledgeRead MoreResearch on How to Market a New Product788 Words   |  3 PagesMarketing Research The topic for this study would be marketing. 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Among the most widely used methodologies are quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method (Cozby Bates, 2012, Garza Landrum, 2015; Leedy Ormrod, 2013; Creswell, 2013; Gergen, 2015). Qualitative and quantitative research designs, for example, are types of research approaches that provide clear directions on how to carry out a research plan (Creswell, 2013). The quantitative re searchRead MoreQuantitative, Qualitative, And Mixed Methods1467 Words   |  6 PagesHypothetical Research Design In any sort of research, it is vital to have an excellent hypothetical platform. Such a platform forms the premise of the considerable number of phases of research. The three methods for examination include distinctive strategies. Thus, the speculative plans are distinctive for the three techniques. This paper looks to assess the particular hypothetical designs for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. The qualitative methods do not usually involve statistical