QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Hypothesizing, counting, and reporting

Quantitative Research

Numbers-based – Quantitative research refers to the manipulation of numbers to make claims, provide evidence, describe phenomena, determine relationships, or determine causation.

Deductive – usually tests a hypothesis based on previous research. Numbers are important to determine when a hypothesis has been confirmed or not. You are looking FOR something.

Generalizable – through statistical or mathematical modeling, can make predictions about future events.

Quantitative research

Quantitative research often starts with an expectation about what you are going to find and then tests that expectation.

Follows a scientific method:1. Define the question 2. Gather information and resources 3. Form hypothesis4. Design experiment 5. Perform experiment and collect data 6. Analyze data 7. Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a

starting point for new hypotheses 8. Publish results

Research Plan

As we follow this scientific method, recognize that it really is just a research plan, but in a more focused manner. You would still benefit much from working out the following BEFORE you conduct your study Research Question Method Plan Timeline

Define the Question

Defining the question, often called your research questionresearch question, determines the scope of what you are able to research. A good research question should be (FINER): Feasible – is it a realistic question to ask? Interesting – will we learn something from it? Novel – have very few people done it? Ethical – does it respect the participants? Relevant – will we be able to do something

with the findings?

Hulley S, Cummings S. (Eds ) Designing Clinical Research. Willimas & Wilkins: Baltimore, 1988

Defining the Question

To create a Quantitative Research Question Define your participants Define your issue Define the variables of that issue Ask a question of the participants, issue, and

variable

Do DU students have part-time jobs that they enjoy?

Are college major and character class in World of Warcraft players correlated?

Gather Information and Resources Interpretative (library) Research is useful in

helping you define your expectation (hypothesis). You want to find what has come before in the topic or related topics. You will rarely find your exact study (if you do, then your research question isn’t novel). You are looking for elements, pieces of your topic that have come before. “Previous studies have determined that people tend to

spend more time in coffee shops in the afternoon than the morning. Other studies have also found that people spend more time in a diner in the afternoon. Based on these previous studies, we conclude that people spend more time in juice shops in the afternoon as well.”

Gather Information and Resources Your experiences as well as those

experiences of your friends can also be useful in helping you gather information and resources. “I have spent many hours at the computers in

the library and I have noticed that many students do far more than research at those computers. I have noticed people watching youtube videos, using facebook, and even gaming.”

Form Hypothesis

What is your best guess as to the outcome of your Research Question

The hypothesis is based on your Research Question, but it is not phrased as a question – it is phrased as your best guess as to the outcome of that question DU students do not enjoy their part-time work College major and character class in World of Warcraft are not

related. You might create sub-hypotheses to account for other

variables that you might consider relevant (e.g. gender, class-standing). You tag these on to the end of your initial hypothesis. Seniors tend to enjoy their part-time work more than first-year students

enjoy their work. Female players tend to pick primarily caster classes whereas male

students tend to pick non-caster classes.

Design Experiment

Determine what best would address the research question you are asking. In quantitative studies, a survey works the best because you can control responses.

Determine triangulation questions or observations for two reasons: You don’t want it to be obvious what you are asking Other variables may be affecting the outcome.

Refer to the handout Conducting Surveys when coming up with your Survey Questions

It’s a good idea to playtest your survey with one or more people so that they can give you feedback about what questions might be confusing.

Design Experiment

Likert-type scale (1-5) will allow you to “quantify” human beliefs, attitudes, and experiences. Likert-type scales are used often in social science, descriptive studies. Usually ask positive questions, and then follow with whether the

person agrees or disagrees. Usually scaled so that higher numbers are positive/agreement, lower

numbers negative/disagreement

“A good writing class should consist of lectures on grammar” 1-strongly disagree, 2-disagree, 3-agree, 4-strongly agree

“How satisfied are you with University of Denver’s dorms”1-very unsatisfied, 2-unsatisfied, 3-satisfied, 4-very satisfied

Design Experiment

Planning your survey, your hypothesis, your plan is vital BEFORE you conduct your survey because you only get one shot at the survey.

The Final Four

Perform Experiment – remember to be professional, take notes (you never know what might effect your results), and ethical.

Analyze Data – Keep track of your data, put it in a spreadsheet, and work the numbers. We will be talking a bit about statistics here, but really, all you will be expected to do is descriptive analysis

Interpret Data and Draw Conclusions Publish Results (see IMRAD PowerPoint)

Ideas and Controversy

Quantitative Research

Quantitative Research

Experimental – testing whether a “thing” (independent variable) applied to a subject/group has an effect (dependant variable) Two equal groups, one control, one experimental Pre-test, post-test

Quasi-experimental – testing whether a “thing” applied to a subject/group has an effect but without being able to Actively apply the “thing” Control for other variables

Descriptive – testing whether an effect is apparent or not Correlation – testing whether two or more sets of already

determined data are related or not; testing whether two or more sets of data can provide new data.

Quantitative Controversy

Some scholars believe that human experience, attitudes and beliefs cannot be quantified. A person’s “feelings” can change from day to day with little

conscious thought of the fact Some scholars believe that quantitative research is

trusted more than it should be Bridges still collapse, spaceships still get lost, new cars still

break down Some scholars believe that quantitative research

misses important nuances Statistically speaking, your SAT has already predicted what

your GPA is going to be. Will you only ever be 3.8 smart?