For instructional purposes only • SY 2020-2021 3

Lesson 1.1: What Is Quantitative

Research?

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you (student) should be able to:
1. Differentiate qualitative from quantitative research.
2. Explain the importance of quantitative research.
3. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research.

Materials and Equipment Needed

1. Laptop or Cellphone (if available)
2. Ballpen and Bond paper (A4)
3. Internet (if available)
4. Lecture notebook (I am requiring my students to have their own notes)

Learning Activities (Activating Prior Knowledge)

Before you start learning our lesson, please do this activity first.

Starting the letters of your first name, I want you to give words that would
describe your experiences in studying research subjects in the previous grade
levels. Experiences may include your perceptions, understanding, learnings
about research.

Example: H E L M A R
H – Hard
E – Engaging
and so on…

Learning Probe (Analysis)

Based on the words or descriptions you gave in the previous activity; I want you
to identify three words and explain the reason behind them. Explain why did
you give such a word/description to your experience in doing research.

And lastly, please answer this question. How to do research?

Learning Time (Acquire New Knowledge)

Now that you have given your explanation about research, I want you to refresh
and frame up your mind of why we need to study research? I want you to ask
this to yourself, why should I study research? Why are they important?

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 4 Practical Research II: Quantitative Research

I hope that you will have the excitement to learn and explore more about
research by pondering with these questions.

Let’s start with defining quantitative research.

Quantitative Research

It is used to examine the relationship between variables, quantify the problems

by generating numerical data, and explain the phenomenon by gathering
numerical data or data that can be analyzed using statistical tools.

Quantitative data collection methods include different forms of surveys such

as online surveys, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, longitudinal
studies, data mining using meta-analysis, online polls, and systematic
observations. Quantitative approaches are used to answer what, when, and
who questions and are not well suited to how and why questions.

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

Quantitative research involves rese in which the data concerned can be

analyzed in terms of numbers. In Practical Research 1, you learned the
characteristics of qualitative research. Below is the table that will explain the
different characteristics of quantitative research and qualitative research.

Table 1. Characteristics of Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

Purpose
Explain, and gain insight and Explain, predict, and/ or control
understanding of, phenomena phenomena through focused
through intensive collection of collection of numerical data.
narrative data.

Approach to Inquiry
Inductive, subjective, holistic, and Deductive, objective focused, and
process oriented outcome oriented.
Hypothesis
Tentative, evolving, and based on Specific, testable, and stated pro to
particular study; thematic analysis a particular study.
may be done.
Theoretical-Conceptual Framework
Can use conceptual framework to Provides an explicit explanation why
explain structure of study; theories the problem under study exists by
are only part of the literature. showing how the variables are
Theoretical frameworks are not related to each other; extensive use
necessary. In Grounded Theory of variables.
design, theory will evolve after
interpreting the results.
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Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
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 For instructional purposes only • SY 2020-2021 5

Review of Literature
Should be comprehensive to provide Extensive, does significantly affect
scholarly basis of the study; does particular study.
significantly affect outcome of the
study. In rapid appraisal or action
research designs, RRL minimized.
Sampling
Purposive: Intent to select “small”, Mostly random but not all the time;
not necessarily representative, Intent to select “large”
sample in order to acquire in-depth representative sample in order to
understanding. The use of chaining, generalize results to population.
referral, accidental non-probability
or snowballing sampling technique
is proper to identify respondents. A
saturation sample signals the limit
of the sampling size.
Measurement
Non standardized, narrative ongoing Standardized, numerical, at the end
Data Collection Strategies
Examples include key informants’ Non-participant observation;
interviews; focused group structured or semi-structured,
discussions; document analysis; formal interviews, administration of
archival research; participant and tests and questionnaires.
non-participant observation;
unstructured, informal interviews.
Data Analysis
Raw data are words, but can use as Raw data are numbers; performed at
numbers as secondary data, end of study, involves statistics.
essentially ongoing, involves
synthesis.
Data Interpretations and Conclusion
Generally, it cannot provide Conclusions and generalizations
conclusion since there is no formulated at end of study, stated
generalization (except in Grounded with predetermined degree of
Theory designs); there are only certain.
findings or concluding remarks. If
forced, conclusions are only
tentative and reviewed on an
ongoing basic; generalizations are
speculative and nonexistent.

Mixed methods combining quantitative and qualitative research designs are

also becoming popular. This again depends on the research objectives and
research questions. The choice of methods depends on the topic or the
problem for research. Whether it is quantitative or qualitative- or mixed- will
depend on the nature of the research.
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 6 Practical Research II: Quantitative Research

Quantitative research is useful when carrying out a large-scale need

assessment or baseline survey. It is independent of the researcher, and one
should get similar results no matter who carries out the research. It can also
be used to measure trends.

Cohen (1980) stated that quantitative research is defined as social research

that employs empirical methods and empirical statements. He states that an
empirical statement is defined as a descriptive statement about what “is” the
case in the “real world” rather than what “ought” to be the case.

The following are the importance of quantitative research:

1. It is more objective and reliable.
2. Quantitative research will test theories and hypotheses.
3. It can use statistics to generalize a finding.
4. Quantitative research is less detailed than qualitative research.
5. The researcher’s subjectivity is less recognized.

Strengths of Quantitative Research

Quantitative research provides data that can be expressed in numbers and

usually gathered by survey questionnaires from large numbers of respondents
randomly selected for inclusion.

The data can be tabulated and interpreted using descriptive statistics like the
mean, median, and standard deviation, but can also include inferential
statistics like t-tests, ANOVAs, or multiple regression correlations (MRC). The
following are the advantages of quantitative research:

1. Relatively easy to analyze because it provides numerical data that can

be easily interpreted.
2. The findings of the study can be generalized to the population about
which information is required.
3. The data gathered can be very consistent, precise, and reliable.
4. Clear documentation can be provided regarding the content and
application of the survey instruments so that other researchers can
assess the validity of the findings.
5. Quantitative studies can be replicated. Standardized approaches
permit the study to be replicated in different areas or over time with
comparable findings.
6. The effects of extraneous variables can be controlled.

Weakness of Quantitative Research

Not all research problems or questions can be answered by quantitative

methodology. There are natural limitations. The use of quantitative research is
weak, where it is inappropriate or improper.

Quantitative research involves planned and structured questionnaires or

checklists. It leads to limited outcomes because the questionnaires contain

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Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. SHS-019-IM
 For instructional purposes only • SY 2020-2021 7

close-ended questions. The following are the limitations of quantitative

research:

1. Improper representation of the target population might hinder the

research for achieving its desired purpose and objectives.
2. Related secondary data are sometimes unavailable, and accessing
available data is difficult to obtain through structured data collection
instruments.
3. Lack of resources for data collection. Self- reported information
obtained from questionnaires may be inaccurate or incomplete.
4. Difficult to understand the context of a phenomenon. Some
researchers find difficulty in data analysis.
5. Inability to control the environment.
6. Studies are expensive and time-consuming, and even the preliminary
results are usually not available for a long period of time.
7. Errors in the hypotheses tested may yield misimpressions of program
quality or influential factors.

Page 7 of 60
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.SHS-019-IM