UNIFIED REVIEWER IN QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
I. Foundations of Research
Research – Systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to
establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Quantitative Research – Numerical representation and manipulation of
observations to describe and explain phenomena using mathematical and
statistical methods.
Qualitative Research – Research using non-numerical data (e.g., interviews,
case studies) to explore depth, meaning, and context.
Pure (Basic) Research – Conducted to gain knowledge without immediate
application.
Applied Research – Aimed at solving real-world problems or applying knowledge
to practical issues.
II. Types and Designs of Research
Descriptive Research – Describes characteristics or conditions of a population or
phenomenon without examining cause-effect.
Correlational Research – Examines the relationship between two or more
variables without manipulation.
Experimental Research – Involves manipulating variables under controlled
conditions to establish cause-and-effect.
Causal-Comparative Research – Compares groups to determine causes of
existing differences without manipulation.
Survey Research – Collects data using questionnaires/interviews to measure
attitudes, behaviors, or characteristics.
III. Variables and Problem Formulation
Variable – A characteristic or trait of a unit that can vary (e.g., age, gender,
achievement).
Research Unit – People or objects from which data are collected (e.g., students,
schools).
Independent Variable (IV) – The factor manipulated to observe its effect.
Dependent Variable (DV) – The factor affected by changes in the independent
variable.
Discrete Variable – Takes fixed, distinct values (e.g., religion, number of children).
Continuous Variable – Can take any value within a range (e.g., age, height, BMI).
Categorical Variable – Represents categories (e.g., religion, gender).
Mediating/Intervening Variable – Explains the mechanism between IV and DV
(e.g., motivation).
Quantitative Variables – Measurable variables such as age, GPA, income,
anxiety level.
Statement of the Problem – Introduces the problem; formulated as general and
specific research questions.
IV. Literature Review
Literature Review – Structured summary and critical analysis of published
research relevant to a topic.
Importance – Establishes context, identifies gaps, avoids duplication, and
justifies the study.
Steps in Literature Review – Searching, Screening, Organizing, Analyzing &
Synthesizing, Writing.
Types of Reviews – Narrative/Traditional, Systematic, Integrative, Scoping,
Metaanalysis, Bibliometric.
High-Quality Source Criteria – Relevance, peer-review, credibility, recent
publication.
Common Mistakes – Over-reliance on summaries, outdated sources, lack of
structure.
Strategies for Improvement – Critical evaluation, systematic search, clear linkage
to research problem.
V. Research Paradigms and Worldviews
Realism (Positivism) – Assumes reality is objective and measurable.
Subjectivism – Assumes reality is constructed by human perception.
Post-Positivism – Acknowledges subjectivity; reality can only be approximated.
Experiential Realism – Perception influences measurement but is limited by
human schemas.
Pragmatism – Uses methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed) depending on the
research question.
Paradigm – A model or pattern (e.g., IPO, IV–DV).
VI. Hypotheses, Assumptions, and Statistics
Hypothesis – A tentative explanation or prediction that can be tested.
Null Hypothesis (H₀) – States no significant relationship between variables.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁) – Predicts a significant relationship between
variables.
Assumptions – Unconscious beliefs based on available information.
Descriptive Statistics – Summarizes and describes data (e.g., mean, frequency).
Inferential Statistics – Explains, predicts, or generalizes findings from sample to
population.
Mixed Methods Research – Combines quantitative and qualitative approaches
for both breadth and depth.
VII. Research Paper Components
Chapter 1 – The Problem – First chapter introducing the issue.
Scope and Delimitation – Defines study boundaries (participants, location,
limitations).
Arrangement of Beneficiaries – From most significant to least significant entities.
Framework – Structure or system supporting the study.
Concept – Abstract idea about a phenomenon.
Theory – Conceptual invention used to explain, predict, or understand
phenomena.
VIII. Citations and Sources
APA In-text Citation (single author) – (Aquino, 2025).
APA In-text (book, one author) – (Cruz, 2020, p. 32).
MLA – Modern Language Association, another citation style.
Works Cited (MLA) – Alphabetized list of resources used.
Purpose of Citation – To give credit, inform readers, and document sources.
Correct Source Hierarchy – Academic journals → Scholarly books → Theses →
Documents → Magazines → Newspapers → Encyclopedia.
