Characteristics of Quantitative Research
Advantages of Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is commonly used in natural
sciences research problems because of the
following characteristics:
1. Large Sample Size - To obtain more meaningful
statistical result, the data must come from a large
sample size.
2. Objectivity - Data gathering and analysis of
results are done accurately, objectively, and are
unaffected by the researcher’s intuition and
personal guesses.
3. Concise Visual Presentation - Data is numerical
which makes presentation through graphs, charts,
and tables possible and with better conveyance and
interpretation.
4. Faster Data Analysis. The use of a statistical tools
gives way for a less time consuming data analysis.
5. Generalized Data. Data taken from a sample can
be applied to the population if sampling is done
accordingly, i.e., sufficient size and random samples
were taken.
6. Fast and Easy Data Collection. Depending on the
type of data needed, collection can be quick and
easy. Quantitative research uses standardized
research instruments that allow the researcher to
collect data from a large sample size efficiently. For
instance, a single survey form can be administered
simultaneously to collect various measurable
characteristics like age, gender, socio-economic
status, etc.
7. Reliable Data. Data is taken and analyzed
objectively from a sample as a representative of
the population, making it more credible and
reliable for policymaking and decision making.
8. High Replicability. The Quantitative method can
be repeated to verify findings enhancing its validity,
free from false or immature conclusions.
• 1. Very objective
• 2. Numerical and quantifiable data can
be used to predict outcomes. 3. Findings
are generalizable to the population
• 4. There is conclusive establishment of
cause and effect
• 5. Fast and easy data analysis using
statistical software
• 6. Fast and easy data gathering
• 7. Quantitative research can be
replicated or repeated
• 8. Validity and reliability can be
established
Disadvantages of Quantitative Research
its weaknesses:
1. It lacks the necessary data to explore a
problem or concept in depth
2. It does not provide comprehensive
explanation of human experiences
3. Some information cannot be described by
numerical data such as feelings, and beliefs
4. The research design is rigid and not very
flexible
5. The participants are limited to choose only
from the given responses
6. The respondents may tend to provide
inaccurate responses
7. A large sample size makes data collection
more costly
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Kinds of Quantitative Research
• Descriptive design is used to describe a
particular phenomenon by observing it
as it occurs in nature. There is no
experimental manipulation, and the
researcher does not start with a
hypothesis. The goal of descriptive
research is only to describe the person
or object of the study. An example of
descriptive research design is “the
determination of the different kinds of
physical activities and how often high
school students do it during the
quarantine period.”
• Descriptive Research. Anastas (1999)
explained that “this research answers
the questions 4W and H (What, Where,
When, Who, and How) except why.
These questions are which are linked to
the research questions” (Melegrito and
Mendoza 2016, 23). It does not answer
“why” because it does not seek to
explain why certain things happen. It is
only applied to describe what exists and
gather information on the current status
of a particular.
• Survey Research Bryman (2016)
explained that this research design is
intended to acquire information from
people. It aims to gather data
concerning the predominance,
distribution, and interrelations of the
variables within an identified group. It
aims to gather evidence of people’s
knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and
values on various issues and concerns.
• The correlational design identifies the
relationship between variables. Data is
collected by observation since it does
not consider the cause and effect, for
example, the relationship between the
amount of physical activity done and
student academic achievement.
• Correlational Research This research
design is based on pairs of measures or
scores of a single sample. It indicates
the strengths of the relationship
between two variables that embody the
characteristics or performances of a
group (Melegrito and Mendoza 2016,
24-25).
• Ex post facto design is used to
investigate a possible relationship
between previous events and present
conditions. The term “Ex post facto”
which means after the fact, looks at the
possible causes of an already occurring
phenomenon. Just like the first two,
there is no experimental manipulation
in this design. An example of this is
“How does the parent’s academic
achievement affect the children
obesity?”
• A quasi-experimental design is used to
establish the cause-and-effect
relationship of variables. Although it
resembles the experimental design, the
quasi-experimental has lesser validity
due to the absence of random selection
and assignment of subjects. Here, the
independent variable is identified but
not manipulated. The researcher does
not modify pre-existing groups of
subjects. The group exposed to
treatment (experimental) is compared
to the group unexposed to treatment
(control): example, the effects of
unemployment on attitude towards
following safety protocol in ECQ
declared areas.
• Experimental design like quasi-
experimental is used to establish the
cause-and-effect relationship of two or
more variables. This design provides a
more conclusive result because it uses
random assignment of subjects and
experimental manipulations. For
example, a comparison of the effects of
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 various blended learning to the reading
comprehension of elementary pupils.
• (True) Experimental Research. In this
study, the researcher is authorized to
control the situation and manipulates
the Independent Variable (IV) to detect
its influence on the Dependent Variable
(DV). This design attempts to identify
the cause-and-effect relationships
between variables. In social science,
many IVs cannot be manipulated
(Bryman 2008). Hence, you must be
cautious with experimental design
because it is artificial and may not be
generalized well to the real world. It is
because artificial settings may alter the
behavior of the participants.
RESEARCH VARIABLE is a changing quality,
attribute or characteristic of a person, a group, an
educational system, or any topic that is of interest
in a study. Examples of research variables are
intelligence, social competence, bullying, stress
management, commitment, performance,
achievement, study habits, absenteeism, etc.
In parametric methods like student's t-test and
ANOVA test, significance level is calculated using
mean and standard deviation, and to calculate
standard deviation in each group, at least two
observations are required. If every group did not
have at least two observations, its alternative
nonparametric method to be selected works
through comparisons of the mean ranks of the
data.
Quantitative Research and Anthropology
Anthropology is the scientific study of humans,
their behavior and societies in the past.
Quantitative researches have given huge
contributions to the improvement of human life.
Anthropology is concerned with simultaneously
exploring of connections of human kinds amidst
their cultural differences, alternatives and identity.
In the contemporary academic, socio-cultural and
political climate, these connections have immense
symbolic implications. Because of quantitative
research, there are so many discoveries such as
human behavior in the society, racial conflicts and
human evolution. We are able to trace back the
sacrifices of our ancestors because of anthropology.
Anthropologists study the concept of culture and
its relationship to human life in different times and
places. They deal with other societies to gain
clearer perspectives to trace back the past to help
interpret the present and the future. They measure
the sizes of the fossils such as skulls, bones, shells
and exoskeletons.
Quantitative Research and Communication
Communication is the act of conveying meanings
from one entity or group to another through the
use of mutually understood signs, symbols, and
semiotic rules. Every communication involves at
least one sender, a message and a recipient. The
primary purpose of communication research is to
help people understand communication
phenomena and direct their communication
towards accomplishing individual and
organizational goals. The following figures (credit
to the owners) explain the importance of
quantitative research in the development of
communication.
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Quantitative Research and Medicine
Medicine is the science and practice of establishing
the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention
of disease. It encompasses a variety of health care
practices to maintain and restore health by the
prevention and treatment of illness. Medical
research aims to advance our knowledge to prevent
and cure health problems. It can provide important
information about disease trends and risk factors,
outcomes of treatment or public health
interventions. The importance of quantitative
research in medicine is shown by the following
figures (credit to the owners):
Quantitative Research and Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of the human
mind and behavior. It is a multifaceted discipline
which includes many sub-fields of study such as
human development, social behavior and cognitive
process. Quantitative psychologists study and
develop the methods and techniques used to
measure human behavior and other attributes.
Their work involves the statistical and
mathematical modelling of psychological processes
and analysis of psychological data. The following
figures (credit to the owners) illustrate the
importance of quantitative research in psychology.
Quantitative Research and Social Science
Social Science is the study of society and the
manner in which people behave and influence the
world around them. It tells them about the world
beyond their immediate experience, and can help
explain how their own society works. It provides
vital information for governments and
policymakers, local authorities and
non-governmental organizations. Social science
research is the activity of gathering, analyzing and
interpreting information for a variety of social,
economic, educational and political purposes. It is
the scientific study of human society and social
relationships. Social sciences include cultural or
social anthropology, sociology, social psychology,
political science, history, linguistics, archeology, and
economics. The importance of quantitative
research in social sciences is explained by the
following figures (credit to the owners):
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Research Title
The title and the abstract are the most important
parts of a research paper and should be pleasant to
read. The “title” should be descriptive, direct,
accurate, appropriate, interesting, concise, precise,
unique, and should not be misleading.
BOTS Background of the Study
The background of your study will provide context
to the information discussed throughout the
research paper. Background information may
include both important and relevant studies. This is
particularly important if a study either supports or
refutes your thesis.
How should one write the background of a research
paper?
The length and detail presented in the background
varies for different research papers, depending on
the complexity and novelty of the research topic. At
times, a simple background suffices, even if the
study is complex.
Before writing and adding details in the
background, take a note of these additional points:
● Start with a strong beginning: Begin the
background by defining the research topic
and then identify the target audience.
● Cover key components: Explain all theories,
concepts, terms, and ideas that may feel
unfamiliar to the target audience
thoroughly.
● Take note of important prerequisites: Go
through the relevant literature in detail.
Take notes while reading and cite the
sources.
● Maintain a balance: Make sure that the
background is focused on important details,
but also appeals to a broader audience.
● Include historical data: Current issues
largely originate from historical events or
findings. If the research borrows
information from a historical context, add
relevant data in the background.
● Explain novelty: If the research study or
methodology is unique or novel, provide an
explanation that helps to understand the
research better.
● Increase engagement: To make the
background engaging, build a story around
the central theme of the research
Avoid these mistakes while writing the background:
● Ambiguity: Don’t be ambiguous. While
writing, assume that the reader does not
understand any intricate detail about your
research.
● Unrelated themes: Steer clear from topics
that are not related to the key aspects of
your research topic.
● Poor organization: Do not place information
without a structure. Make sure that the
background reads in a chronological manner
and organize the sub-sections so that it
flows well.
Research Questions
A research question is an inquiry about a topic that
can be answered through research. It is the initial
step in a research project, and it will guide and
focus the research. The research question will help
the researcher form a hypothesis, or proposed idea
that can be tested.
In a study, the primary research question should be
clearly stated at the end of the introduction of the
grant proposal, and it usually specifies the
population to be studied, the intervention to be
implemented and other circumstantial factors.
Scope and Delimitation
They help to narrow down the study and make it
more manageable and relevant to the research
goal. All scientific research has boundaries,
whether or not the authors clearly explain them.
Your study's scope and delimitations are the
sections where you define the broader parameters
and boundaries of your research.
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What is the scope in a research paper?
Simply put, the scope is the domain of your
research. It describes the extent to which the
research question will be explored in your study.
Articulating your study's scope early on helps you
make your research question focused and realistic.
It also helps decide what data you need to collect
(and, therefore, what data collection tools you
need to design). Getting this right is vital for both
academic articles and funding applications.
What are delimitations in a research paper?
Delimitations are those factors or aspects of the
research area that you'll exclude from your
research. The scope and delimitations of the study
are intimately linked.
Essentially, delimitations form a more detailed and
narrowed-down formulation of the scope in terms
of exclusion. The delimitations explain what was
(intentionally) not considered within the given
piece of research.
Scope and delimitations examples
Use the following examples provided by our expert
PhD editors as a reference when coming up with
your own scope and delimitations.
Scope example
Your research question is, “What is the impact of
bullying on the mental health of adolescents?” This
topic, on its own, doesn't say much about what's
being investigated.
The scope, for example, could encompass:
● Variables: “bullying” (dependent
variable), “mental health”
(independent variable), and ways of
defining or measuring them
● Bullying type: Both face-to-face and
cyberbullying
● Target population: Adolescents aged
12–17
● Geographical coverage: France or
only one specific town in France
Delimitations example
Look back at the previous example.
Exploring the adverse effects of bullying on
adolescents' mental health is a preliminary
delimitation. This one was chosen from among
many possible research questions (e.g., the impact
of bullying on suicide rates, or children or adults).
Delimiting factors could include:
● Research design: Mixed-methods
research, including thematic analysis
of semi-structured interviews and
statistical analysis of a survey
● Timeframe: Data collection to run
for 3 months
● Population size: 100 survey
participants; 15 interviewees
● Recruitment of participants: Quota
sampling (aiming for specific
portions of men, women, ethnic
minority students etc.)
Example of the differences
To clarify these differences, go back to the
limitations of the earlier example.
Limitations could comprise:
● Sample size: Not large enough to
provide generalizable conclusions.
● Sampling approach: Non-probability
sampling has increased bias risk. For
instance, the researchers might not
manage to capture the experiences
of ethnic minority students.
● Methodological pitfalls: Research
participants from an urban area
(Paris) are likely to be more
advantaged than students in rural
areas. A study exploring the latter's
experiences will probably yield very
different findings.
SOP Statement of the Problem
Writing a problem statement early in the research
process helps to guide the research design and
methodology, and ensures that the research is
focused on addressing the specific problem at
hand. It also helps to ensure that the research is
relevant and addresses a gap in current knowledge
or understanding.
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Theoretical Framework
How to write a theoretical framework
To create your own theoretical framework, you can
follow these three steps:
● Identifying your key concepts
● Evaluating and explaining relevant theories
● Showing how your research fits into existing
research
Conceptual Framework
The Purpose of a Conceptual Framework in
Research
The purpose of a conceptual framework in research
is to provide a clear and concise understanding of
the key concepts, variables, relationships, and
assumptions that underlie a research study.
Specifically, a conceptual framework serves several
purposes:
Helps to clarify research questions: A
well-developed conceptual framework helps to
define the research problem and the specific
research questions that the study seeks to answer.
Provides a theoretical basis for the study: The
conceptual framework provides a theoretical
foundation for the study, drawing on existing
theories and concepts to guide the research
process.
Guides data collection and analysis: The
conceptual framework helps to identify the
relevant variables and relationships that need to be
studied, and guides the collection and analysis of
data.
Ensures research validity and reliability: The
conceptual framework helps to ensure that the
study is focused, relevant, and valid, and that the
data collected is reliable.
Helps to make conclusions and recommendations:
The conceptual framework provides a basis for
making conclusions and recommendations based
on the collected data, contributing to the existing
body of knowledge in the field.
The Importance of a Conceptual Framework in
Research
Provide a basis for research design: The
conceptual framework provides a blueprint for the
research study, outlining the key concepts,
variables, and relationships between them. This
helps researchers to design a study that is logical,
structured, and focused.
Guide data collection and analysis: The conceptual
framework helps to identify the variables and
relationships that will be examined in the study.
This helps researchers to collect and analyze data
that is relevant to the research question and
hypothesis.
Ensure validity and reliability: A well-developed
conceptual framework helps to ensure that the
research is valid and reliable. It ensures that the
research is measuring what it intends to measure
and that the results are consistent over time.
Facilitate communication: The conceptual
framework provides a common language and
understanding for researchers, facilitating
communication and collaboration among team
members.
Identify gaps in existing knowledge: The
conceptual framework helps to identify gaps in
existing knowledge and to develop new insights
and theories.
A well-developed conceptual framework is crucial
to the success of a research study. It provides a
clear and logical structure for the study, helps to
ensure validity and reliability, and facilitates
communication and collaboration among
researchers.
Hypothesis
Null and alternative hypotheses are used in
statistical hypothesis testing. The null hypothesis of
a test always predicts no effect or no relationship
between variables, while the alternative hypothesis
states your research prediction of an effect or
relationship.
What is difference between null hypothesis and
alternative hypothesis?
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A null hypothesis is a statement in which there is
no relation between the two variables. An
alternative hypothesis is a statement in which there
is some statistical relationship between the two
variables.

What is null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis

with examples?

Null Hypothesis: H0: There is no relationship

between height and shoe size. Alternative
Hypothesis: Ha: There is a positive relationship
between height and shoe size. Null Hypothesis: H0:
Experience on the job has no impact on the quality
of a brick mason's work.

How do you explain alternative hypothesis?

An alternative hypothesis is an opposing theory to

the null hypothesis. For example, if the null
hypothesis predicts something to be true, the
alternative hypothesis predicts it to be false. The
alternative hypothesis often is the statement you
test when attempting to disprove the null
hypothesis.

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