Characteristics, Strengths,

Weaknesses, Kinds of
Quantitative Research
 • Quantitative research designs use
numbers in stating generalizations about a
given problem or inquiry in contrast to
qualitative research that hardly uses
statistical treatment in stating
generalizations.

INTRODUCTION • These numbers are the results of

objective scales of measurements of the
units of analysis called variables.
• Research findings are subjected to
statistical treatment to determine
significant relationships or differences
between variables, the results of which are
the bases for generalization about
phenomena.
 • Methods or procedures of data gathering
include items like age, gender, educational
status, among others, that call for
measurable characteristics of the
Characteristics population.
of Quantitative • Standardized instruments guide data
Research collection, thus, ensuring the accuracy,
reliability and validity of data.

• Figures, tables or graphs showcase

summarized data collected in order to show
trends, relationships or differences among
variables. In sum, the charts and tables
allow you to see the evidence collected.
 Characteristics of Quantitative Research

A large population yields more

Quantitative methods can be
reliable data, but principles of
repeated to verify findings in
random sampling must be
another setting, thus,
strictly followed to prevent
reinforcing validity of findings.
researcher's bias.

Just like qualitative research,

Quantitative research puts
quantitative research has its
emphasis on proof, rather than
own set of strengths, as well
discovery.
as weaknesses.
Strengths of Quantitative
Research
1. Quantitative research design is the most
reliable and valid way of concluding results,
giving way to a new hypothesis or to
disproving it.

2. Because of a bigger number of the sample of

a population, the results or generalizations are
more reliable and valid.

3. Quantitative experiments filter out external

factors, if properly designed, and so the
results gained can be seen, as real and
unbiased. Quantitative experiments are useful
for testing the results gained by a series of
qualitative experiments, leading to a final
answer, and a narrowing down of possible
directions to follow.
Weaknesses of Quantitative
Research
1. Quantitative research can be costly, difficult and
time-consuming- difficult because most researchers
are non-mathematicians.

2. Quantitative studies require extensive statistical

treatment, requiring stringent standards, more so
with confirmation of results. When ambiguities in
some findings surface, retesting and refinement of
the design call for another investment in time and
resources to polish the results.

3. Quantitative methods also tend to turn out only

proved or unproven results, leaving little room for
uncertainty, or grey areas. For the social sciences,
education, anthropology and psychology, human
nature is a lot more complex than just a simple yes
or no response.
Kinds of Quantitative
Research Designs
Research design refers to the overall strategy that you
choose in order to integrate the different components of
the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby ensuring
you will effectively address the research problem.
Furthermore, a research design constitutes the blueprint
for the selection, measurement and analysis of data. The
research problem determines the research design you
should use.
Quantitative methods emphasize objective
measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or
numerical analysis of data collected through polls,
questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-
existing statistical data using computational techniques.
Experimental research design

- This design allows the researcher to

control the situation. In doing so, it
allows the researcher to answer the
question, "What causes something to
occur?"
- This kind of research also allows the
researcher to identify cause and
effect relationships between variables
and to distinguish placebo effects
from treatment effects.
- Further, this research design supports
the ability to limit alternative
explanations and to infer direct causal
relationships in the study; the
approach provides the highest level
of evidence for single studies.
Pre-experimental types of research
apply to experimental designs with the
least internal validity. One type of pre-
experiment, the single group, pre-test-
post-test design, measures the group
two times, before and after the
intervention.

Instead of comparing the pretest with the

posttest within one group, the posttest of
the treated groups is compared with that
of an untreated group. Measuring the
effect as the difference between groups
marks this as between-subjects design.

Assuming both groups experienced the

same time-related influences, the
comparison group feature should protect
this design from the rival explanations
that threaten the within-subject design.
Quasi- experimental design
differs from true experimental
design by the absence of
random assignment of
subjects to different
conditions. What quasi-
experiments have in common
with true experiments is that
some subjects receive an
intervention and provide data
likely to reflect its impact.
Non-experimental Research Design
In this kind of design, the researcher
observes the phenomena as they occur
naturally and no external variables are
introduced.
In this research design, the variables are not
deliberately manipulated nor is the setting
controlled. Researchers collect data without
making changes or introducing treatments.

The Descriptive research design's main

purpose is to observe, describe and
document aspects of a situation as it
naturally occurs and sometimes to serve
as a starting point for hypothesis
generation or theory development.
Types of Descriptive Research Designs
1. Survey - a research design used when the researcher intends to provide a
quantitative or numeric description of trends, attitudes or opinions of a population by
studying a sample of that population (Creswell, 2003). For example, universities
regularly float surveys to determine customer satisfaction, that is, the students'
attitudes toward or opinions regarding student services like the canteen, clinic,
security, the guidance and counseling services, and the like .

2. Correlational - Correlational Research has three types:

 Bivariate correlational studies- obtain scores from two variables for each subject,
then use them to calculate a correlation coefficient. The term bivariate implies that the
two variables are correlated (variables are selected because they are believed to be
related).Examples: Children of wealthier (variable #1), better educated (variable #2)
parents earn higher salaries as adults.
 Prediction studies-use correlation co-efficient to show how one variable (the
predictor variable) predicts another (the criterion variable).
Examples: Which high school applicants should be admitted to college?
 Multiple Regression Prediction Studies- suppose the high school GPA is not the
sole predictor of college GPA, what might be other good predictors? All of these
variables can contribute to the over-all prediction in an equation that adds together the
predictive power of each identified variable.
3.Ex-Post Facto Research Design - These are non-experimental
designs that are used to investigate causal relationships. They
examine whether one or more pre- existing conditions could
possibly have caused subsequent differences in groups of
subjects. Researchers attempt to discover whether differences
between groups have results in an observed difference in the
independent variables.
(www.genesep.edu/esham/educ.604/research.pdf).
Examples: What is the effect of home schooling on the social skills
of adolescents?
4. Comparative design - involves comparing and contrasting two
or more samples of study subjects on one or more variables, often
at a single point of time. Specifically, this design is used to
compare two distinct 'groups on the basis of selected attributes
such as knowledge level, perceptions, and attitudes, physical or
psychological symptoms. For example, a comparative study on the
health problems among rural and urban older people from district
Mehsana, Gujarat.
5. Evaluative Research - seeks to assess or judge in some way
providing information about something other than might be
gleaned in mere observation or investigation of relationships.
For example, where a test of children in school is used to assess
the effectiveness of teaching or the deployment of a curriculum.
Evaluation research is conducted to elicit useful feedback from a
variety of respondents from various fields to aid in decision
making or policy formulation.
There are various types of evaluation depending on the purpose
of the study. Formative and summative evaluation types are
most commonly used in research.
• Formative evaluation is used to determine the quality of
implementation of a project, the efficiency and effectiveness
of a program, assessment of organizational processes like
procedures, policies, guidelines, human resource development
and the like.