RESEARCH METHODS 02

INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE
METHODS

BY PAMELA ACHENG O KAZIBWE

 OUTLINE OF COURSE

1. Meaning and purpose of scientific research

2. Research ethics
3. Qualitative methods and techniques
4. Quantitative methods
5. Research proposal and final report writing
 OBJECTIVES OF LECTURE

1. Define research
2. Why we research
3. The principles of research
4. Introduction to quantitative research methods
5. Data types
6. Measurement
7. Validity and Reliability
Introducing Research
 Why Research?
A pre-requisite to be awarded your degree.

BUT WHY?

• Construction industry evolving

• Looking at ways to improve processes, methods and materials
To achieve this, RESEARCH is necessary;
• Explain what has happened.
• Investigate to establish status of an issue.
• Systematically investigate to increase knowledge on an area.
 What is Research?

Simply SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE


Investigation into a phenomena. But is every investigation
research? (Who drank my milk?)

Objective and systematic search for relevant information
on a particular topic or area. It aims to find answers to
questions by implementing scientific procedures
 What is Research?

Systematic process acceptable by industry

What may be considered as research in Engineering, may
not be research in Medical field (there are some set
standards and procedures).

We question reliability and validity.

Ethical standards (Medical), Numbers (Engineers).
 What is Research?
It involves:
 Selecting Questions to be answered
 Rigorous and well-defined scientific processes so as to;

 gather data and

 analyse data for;
 problem-solving and knowledge advancement.
 Purpose of Research?
Main purpose: is to discover answers to questions through the
application of scientific procedures
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights
into it (studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or
formulative research studies);
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,
situation or a group (studies with this object in view are known as
descriptive research studies);
 Purpose of Research
• To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with
which it is associated with something else (studies with this object
in view are known as diagnostic research studies);
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such
studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).
 Importance of Research
In the absence of research, people lean to;
 Authority
 Tradition
 Common sense.
 Media distortion.
 Personal experience.
 Importance of Research
Is the climate changing?

Authority Weather records show rains in February to April but they’ve also reported
changes
Tradition In Uganda, Farmers in Lira plant in February to April so that should be
the wet season but they’ve started changing their planting times
Common sense If it rains from Feb – Mar and Sep-Nov of every year and it hasn’t
changed so we aren’t experiencing climate change
Media distortion Former US President (Donald Trump claimed that the climate is not
changing)
Personal experience You experienced the rains in the wet seasons so the climate is not
changing
 Break-out rooms
Who does the laundry in most homes?
 Authority
 Tradition
 Common sense.
 Media distortion.
 Personal experience.
 Importance of Research
Who does the laundry in most homes?

Authority Females are taught to clean and mend clothes.

Tradition Culturally women are home carers and men are providers

Common sense Men are not concerned about clothing and cleanliness

Media distortion OMO adverts only show women washing

Personal You were raised knowing that women do laundry

experience
 Types of Research
1. Descriptive vs Analytical
Descriptive research looks at describing the state of affairs as they exist
at present. It includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds
(frequency of shopping, preference of people regarding internet bundle)
Analytical research the researcher has to use facts or information already
available, and analyse these to make a critical evaluation of the materials.
 Types of Research
2. Applied vs Fundamental
Applied Research aims at finding a solution for an immediate
problem facing a society or an industry/ business ( factors to improve
workers productivity on construction sites).

Fundamental Research mainly concerned with generalisations and

with the formulation of a theory (gathering knowledge for
knowledge sake) – Characteristics of construction workers.
 Types of Research
3. Quantitative vs Qualitative Research
Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or
amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of
quantity (amount of time a doctor takes to tend a patient, amount of time taken to construct the
foundation).

Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative

phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind
(investigating the reasons for human behaviour, why people do certain things)
 Types of Research
4. Conceptual vs Empirical Research
Conceptual research is related to some abstract idea(s) or
theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new
concepts or to reinterpret existing ones (chronic exposure to sunlight can lead to
precancerous skin lesions in women under the age of 40).

Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often

without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based research,
coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by
observation or experiment (empirical study on causes of project delays).
 Research approaches
• From the different types of research we can see two research
approaches:
• Qualitative approaches - concerned with subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions
and behaviour

• Quantitative approaches - involves the generation of data in quantitative form which

can be subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis in a formal and rigid fashion

• Inferential (infer characteristics or relationships of population)

• Experimental (some variables are manipulated to observe their effect on other variables)
• Simulation approaches (involves the construction of an artificial environment within
which relevant information and data can be generated)
 Research methods vs methodology
Research methods:
techniques or methods used to conduct the research. Some times
distinctions are made between techniques and methods.

Method: Techniques:
Investigating
the factors Survey Identification of professional background of
affecting questionnaire respondents
construction
worker’s Interviewer uses detailed schedule of open
productivity Interview
and closed ended questions
 Research methods vs methodology
Research methodology
Encompasses all aspects of the research design and
steps followed to achieve the research
 Research design
Ask questions like;

What is the study about?

Why is the study being made?
Where will the study be carried out?
What type of data is required?
Where can the required data be found?
What periods of time will the study include?
What will be the sample design?
What techniques of data collection will be used?
How will the data be analysed?
In what style will the report be prepared?
 Research Development
Identify a problem and purpose

Define research questions

Review prior literature

Construct hypothesis
Qualitative methods
Choose research
methods
Quantitative methods
Test hypothesis

Draw conclusions Mixed methods