Unit 1: Nature of Quantitative Research

Lesson 1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Contents

Engage 1
Introduction 1
Objectives 2

Explore 2

Explain and Elaborate 4

Quantitative Research 4
Types of Quantitative Research 6

Extend 9
Activity 1 9
Activity 2 10

Evaluate 11

Wrap Up 14

Bibliography 15
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Engage

Introduction

Fig. 1. An apple falling from a tree

One of the many stories we have been told in science is that of Sir Isaac Newton’s moment
of realization of gravity. While Newton is resting under an apple tree, an apple fell on his
head. At that moment, he thought, “What forces act on the apple for it to fall?” It seems very
far-fetched that he immediately conjured the three laws of motion, but that moment
inspired him to ask more questions. At the age of 23, he developed his three laws of motion,
which later on became part of the classical laws of physics that describe how objects move.
In essence, he quantified nature. He described how large objects move using numbers and
equations. In this lesson, we are going to learn how we can use quantitative research in
understanding nature and use numbers in describing different phenomena.

1
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Describe the characteristics of quantitative research.
● Identify the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research.
● Discuss the different kinds of quantitative research.
● Evaluate topics that can be studied quantitatively.

DepEd Competency
Describe characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and kinds of quantitative research.
(CS_RS12-Ia-c-1)

Explore

15 minutes
Complete the following activity with a group of preferably 10 members. Your teacher will be
assigning the group to do either task A or task B.

Materials
● permanent marker
● manila paper

Instructions:
1. Task A: Describe your group in a narrative form or through the use of words. The
group is prohibited from using numbers or the equivalent numerical words. The
description that you are going to use should be true or representative of your group.
List down at least five descriptions. Example: All of our group members are beautiful.

2
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

2. Task B: Come up with a numerical description of your group based on the members'
common characteristics. The description that you are going to use should be true or
representative of your group. List down at least five descriptions. Example: Five out
of 10 in our group are boys.
3. Write your group’s answer on a manila paper.
4. Briefly present your answers to the class.
5. After the presentation of outputs, the class should answer the guide questions orally.

Guide Questions
1. Which group precisely described their members?

2. Why do you think that group (your answer in number 1) precisely described their
members?

3. What are the difficulties your group encountered in the activity?

4. If you are going to choose, what way of giving descriptions would you prefer, narrative or
numerical? Why?

3
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Explain and Elaborate

Quantitative Research
From its root word quantity, which means the “amount of” or “number of,” quantitative
research deals with numerals and how it can describe a phenomenon or infer a
relationship.

Quantitative research is the go-to approach for scientific inquiry because of its ability to test
hypotheses. The relationship of different factors that we see creates a clearer picture of
what is happening around us. These factors can also be called variables, which are the
basis for formulating and testing hypotheses. Variables are traits that numerically
describe or give meaning to an object, phenomenon, or group of people. These variables
vary or change from one thing to another. Examples of variables are the height of a chair,
the weight of a person, test scores of a student, or the speed of a car.

Remember
Variables are an important concept in research. They are the ones
that are usually identified, examined, described, or correlated with
answering a scientific inquiry.

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

Quantitative research deals with numbers, and the following is a list of characteristics of
quantitative research:
● Controllability. To understand a specific relationship or phenomenon, quantitative
research should be in an environment where all variables are identified and can be
controlled
● Generalizability. It is from larger sample sizes that the results are based on as a
representative of the population.

4
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

● Objectivity. The results of the data are observable and measurable using structured
instruments.
● Replicability. The research study should be replicable by other teams of researchers
that will eventually come up with similar outcomes.

Why is it important to familiarize yourself with the

characteristics of quantitative research?

Strengths of Quantitative Research

The factual quality of quantitative research and its generalizability to a population becomes
the basis of its strengths. Queiros, Faria, and Almeida (2017), who are researchers from
Portugal, published a paper evaluating the strengths and limitations of qualitative and
quantitative research approaches. In this subsection, we are going to list down and briefly
describe each of the strengths of quantitative research.
● Analysis of data is assisted with statistical methods. These are mathematical
tools in which numbers can be processed to become more meaningful. Simple
statistical measures such as determining the mean, median, and mode of a data set
can also assist researchers in reducing the bulk of data to make it easier to
understand. Analysis using statistics also provides unbiased results.
● Large-scale research can be undertaken. Due to many data collection methods
that can be employed in quantitative research that are relatively easy to administer, a
research with a large number of samples is possible. This also allows researchers to
make a more comprehensive and generalizable conclusion for the entire population.
● Data can be presented in graphical or tabular form. Other than statistical
analysis, researchers can analyze data using graphical or tabular representations.
Numerical data summarized in tabular or graphical form aid researchers in making
sense of them better.

5
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

The following list describes the weaknesses of quantitative research:
● A large sample size requires a lot of time and effort. The goal to generalize the
results of quantitative studies requires a larger sample size which can be an issue for
many researchers. This requirement increases the cost of research, and its time
frame becomes longer.
● Statistical analysis of data requires an expert to perform. Poor knowledge or
inadequate skills in statistics might negatively affect the outcome of a study.
● Quantifying and reducing observations to just pieces of numerical values
makes it too simplistic. Numerical values can only answer the questions of what
and it is often difficult to use these values in answering the whys and the hows of the
phenomena.

Why is it necessary to understand the strengths

and weaknesses of quantitative research?

Types of Quantitative Research

Quantitative research can generally be categorized into two: experimental and
non-experimental types. These two types are used by researchers depending on the topic
and the nature of the problem that is being investigated.

Descriptive Research
Descriptive quantitative research is an example of a nonexperimental research design. The
focus of this research design is to describe factors, variables, or phenomena that occur
in nature.

For example, you want to identify the factors that contribute to the spoilage of food. We
know that there might be a thousand reasons why food spoils, but the best way to narrow it
down is to survey people that know about food spoilage. From there, one can analyze the
data by using descriptive statistics by calculating the mean, median, or mode. From the
result of that survey conducted, for example, you observed that the frequency for

6
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

temperature as a factor is the highest. It means that almost all of your research
respondents say that temperature is a factor in food spoilage.

Comparative Research
This is another example of a nonexperimental research design. The primary objective of
comparative research (also called causal-comparative research) is to compare two variables
in order to identify whether there exists a causative relationship between them. This
kind of research usually involves two or more groups and one independent variable.

For example, you want to know if participating in a school’s summer program is the cause of
students' increased class participation. You identified two groups of students who enrolled
in the summer program and those who did not. Then, you collected data about their
individual class participation. After analyzing the data gathered, you concluded that the
summer program helped the student in participating more in class.

Tip
In order to identify which research design best suits your inquiry,
determine your purpose first in doing the research.

Correlational Research
This is another example of a nonexperimental research design. Its primary objective is to
compare two variables then identify the relationship between them.

For example, you want to know if there is a relationship between the length of sleep and
student productivity. You can collect data for the length of sleep by asking students about
their bedtime and waking up time. For student productivity, let's say the number of activities
being finished every day defines student productivity. After gathering your data and
subjecting it to statistical analysis, you found out that the closer the length of sleep to eight
hours, the higher the number of activities being done by a student. Through this, you can
now identify that there exists a direct relationship between the length of sleep and student
productivity.

7
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Quasi-experimental Research
Quasi-experimental research mirrors experimental research, but it is not true experimental
research where a causal relationship can be determined with the use of dependent and
independent variables. Quasi-experiments differ because the random selection of
samples is not possible due to innate or ethical reasons.

For example, you want to know the effect of height on milk brand preference. True
experiments would have to randomly assign participants to groups where they would be
subjected to taste tests in order to know which brand they prefer. However, because height
is an innate characteristic of a person, participants cannot be randomly assigned to groups.
Instead, you have to group participants based on their height.

True Experimental Research

The primary objective of a true experimental research design is to identify a cause-effect
relationship between the variables where the samples are randomized.

One of the earliest experiments that we have done is when we are trying to understand
plant needs. For us to find out if sunlight affects the growth of plants, we are asked by our
teacher to create three different set-ups: set A is to grow a seed that will receive ample
amount of sunlight, set B is a seed that will be placed where sunlight is limited, and set C is a
seed that will be placed completely in the dark. All of them will be planted in the same type
of soil and will be given equal amounts of water. After several days, we discovered that set A
grew perfectly, set B grew, but it leaned toward the source of light, while set C did not grow
at all.

8
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Review
● Independent variable is the variable that is manipulated.
● Dependent variable is the variable that is ‘dependent’ on the
independent variable and this is the value being measured.

In this experimental research design, a causal relationship can be determined between the
dependent variable, which is the growth of the plant, and the independent variables, which
are the amount of soil, type of soil, and amount of water.

In more complex experimental research, a large sample size is required so that results can
be generalized to an entire population. This is done by the process of sampling where
respondents for a study are randomly selected from a population.

Extend

Activity 1
Using the resources of your school, list down five examples of quantitative research and
explain why you consider them as such. Base your answers on the qualities of quantitative
research.

Quantitative Research Title Explanation

1.

2.

3.

9
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

4.

5.

Guide
Just by reading a research paper’s abstract, you can get an understanding of the
nature of the study’s objectives. A conclusion that attempts to generalize a
phenomenon or a relationship can immediately point us to quantitative research.
Another clue that we can observe is the presence of different statistical values, such as
the ρ-value or the greek letter rho that indicates a correlation, or descriptive
statistics’ mean, median, or mode. If the variable is discrete, then it can be quantified.

Activity 2
From the previous activity, use the titles that you have searched and identify what type of
quantitative research each of them is and why you think it is that specific type. Write down
your answers in the table below.

Quantitative Research Type of Quantitative Explanation

Title Research

1.

2.

3.

10
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

4.

5.

Guide
The presence of the word effect is indicative that the research study aims to
understand a cause and effect relationship that is attributed to comparative,
experimental, or quasi-experimental research. The word relationship or correlation
gives us a clue that the research study is either a comparative or a correlational study.

Evaluate

A. Write your answers in the space provided.

1. How do the characteristics of quantitative research differ from those of qualitative

research?

11
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

2. How can quantitative research generalize an entire population?

3. How do the strengths of quantitative research complement the weaknesses of

qualitative research?

B. Identify the best type of quantitative research suitable in

each situation. Write and explain your answers in the space
provided.

1. Janine would like to know whether social entrepreneurship is a cost-effective marketing

strategy.

12
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

2. Robbie wants to assess the reading skills of street children and identify the possible
programs that could help improve their skills.

3. Paula would like to determine the impact of drinking carbonated drinks on the
hyperactivity of children in the morning and at night.

13
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Wrap Up
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● Quantitative research is an approach in scientific inquiry that utilizes numbers

to describe, understand relationships, and decipher phenomena in nature.
● The characteristics of quantitative research are controllability, generalizability,
objectivity, and replicability.
● Quantitative research has its strengths in understanding the nature of the
universe, but it cannot stand alone in painting a clear picture of the world.
● The types of quantitative research are descriptive research, comparative
research, correlational research, true experimental research, and
quasi-experimental research.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

14
Unit 1.1: Qualities of Quantitative Research

Bibliography

Cohen, Louis, Lawrence Manion, and Keith Morrison. Research Methods in Education 6th
Ed. London: Routledge, 2007.

Franses, Philip Hans, and Richard Paap. Quantitative Models in Marketing Research.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Gillespie, Claire. “How Did Isaac Newton Discover the Laws of Motion?” Sciencing, March 2,
2019. https://sciencing.com/did-newton-discover-laws-motion-5349637.html.

Querios, Andre, Daniel Faria, and Fernando Almeida. “Strengths and Limitations of
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods.” European Journal of Education Studies
3, no. 9 (2017): 369–87. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.887089.

Roni, Mat. Conducting Quantitative Research in Education. Singapore: Springer, 2020.

Trinidad, Jose Eos. Researching Philippine Realities: a Guide to Qualitative, Quantitative, and
Humanities Research. Quezon City: BlueBooks, 2018.

VanderStoep, Scott W., and Deirdre D. Johnston. Research Methods for Everyday Life:
Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2009.

15