QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHOD
4.2 Quantitative Research Methods
Uses deductive method of knowledge acquisition
Intends to falsifies an existing theory Tries to generate generalizable knowledge
Accepts objectivity of knowledge Uses a standard measurement instruments The researcher is independent in the process of
knowledge construction Quantifies the phenomena in terms of numbers Intends with prediction and controlling
Example - User involvement in system development Success
Participation
Conflict Conflict
resolution
Influence
Conceptual Framework of User Involvement
Type of quantitative research The purposes of research can be categorized
as: Descriptive (fact finding) Explorative (looking for patterns) Analytical (explaining why or how) Predictive (forecasting the likelihood of
particular events)
Descriptive It started during the Roman Empire Took census to know the number of people
under its empire Used for taxation purposes Seeks to accurately describe current or
past phenomena - to answer such questions as:a) What type of open source software
frequently used in Ethiopia?b) What type of computers mostly imported in
Ethiopiac) What are the main software tools used by
end users?
Explorative Seeks to understand psychological and
sociological phenomena in an effort to find behavioral patterns: a) How do users use the new software
system?b) Why would users use the software in this
way contrary to original purpose. For example use of Internet for news rather work related matters
c) What are the antecedent factors for software project success?
Analytical Seeking to explain the reasons behind a particular occurrence by discovering causal relationships. Once causal relationships have been discovered, the search then shifts to factors that can be changed (variables) in order to influence the chain of causality. Typical questions are:
a) Do user involvement in software development and users IT skills increase software success?
b) Does Hardware performance have an influence on software failure?
Predictive Seeks to forecast the likelihood of particular
phenomena occurring in given circumstances. a) Does internet bandwidth predict growth online
business services ?b) Can the new software system increases the
organization’s efficiency?c) To what extent does new software predict
growth of the organization profit? This compares independent (IV) and
dependent variable (DV). We can predict DV by measuring IV
Experimental Research Design
Used to identify cause and effect relationship
Three types Pre-experimental design Quasi experimental True experimental
Pre-experimental design A treatment is given for a group at
different time and then it is investigated if the treatment brings the change or not
It is relatively weak design as compared the other two
Observe Observation
Apply treatment
Quasi experimental The sample are grouped into two groups Randomization is not considered Treatment is given for one group and the
group or controlled group will not receive the treatment
Measures undertaken on both group to check weather the treatment brings change or not
Quasi …
G1
G2 X
O
O
True experimental The sample are randomly grouped into two Treatment is given one group and the
other group will not receive the treatment Measures will be taken to see the Impact
of the treatment group
True …
G1
G2 X
O
ORand
omiza
tion
Method of Data Collection Structured Interview questions for Face to
face or Telephone Questionnaire Online questionnaire (there are free sites) Computer simulation Computer log files – Data like
Attempts made by Hackers attempts made to break passwords
Face to face interview Interviews are fairly structured The researcher asks standard set of
questions and nothing more Interview is formal and emotionally neutral The relationship terminated when the
interview is completed It has a distinct advantage of establishing
rapport with potential participants and gain cooperation Yields highest response rate But time and expense is unaffordable if
interviewees are found in different regions and population is large
Telephone Interview
Are less time consuming and less expensive
Can access all participants who has a telephone
Response rate is not as high as face to face interview
But higher than the mailed questionnaire Sample is biased as it ignores people
without telephone Both has the advantage to clarify
ambiguous answers and when appropriate, seek follow up information
Not feasible for large size of population
Guideline for Quantitative interview
Interview should be carefully planned and precisely worded to yield the required data
As you write the questions consider how you can quantify the response, and modify the questions accordingly
Consider asking questions that will elicit qualitative information as well
Restrict each question to a single idea Save controversial questions for the
latter part of the interview
Interview Guide
Select representative sample (interviewees) of the population
Find suitable location to undertake interview
Get written permission Establish and maintain rapport before
interview Focus on the actual rather than the
abstract and hypothetical Don’t put words in people’s mouths Keep your reaction to your self Seek clarifying questions when necessary Remember that you are not necessarily
getting the facts
Questionnaire Survey Can be sent to large number of people,
including those who live thousands of miles away
Researcher does not have contact with the respondents
Helps respondent to freely express their idea than they would be in personal interviews, especially on sensitive and controversial issue
Draw back of questionnaire Majority of people don’t return Returned responses may not be a true
representative of the originally selected samples
Rely on self report
Questionnaires design
Questionnaires make use of lists and rating scales Behaviors and attitudes are complex and cannot
be easily evaluated and quantified Check list is a list of behaviors, characteristics or
other entities that a researcher is investigating Either the researcher or participants simply
check(s) items from the list What are features of user friendly software
1. Graphical interface2. Clear navigation direction3. Immediate feedback4. Other specify ____________
Questionnaire … A rating scale is more useful when
a behavior, attitude, or other phenomena of interest needs to be evaluated on a continuum scale
It is designed with the following scales 1. “inadequate” to “excellent”, 2. “never” to “always” or 3. “strongly disapprove” to “strongly
approve”
Guideline for Questionnaire
1. Keep it short• What do I do with the information?• Is it absolutely essential to have this
information to solve part of the research problem
2. Use simple, clear, unambiguous language3. Check for unwarranted assumptions implicit in
your questions How many cigarette do you smoke each day?
Good to add a choice 25 ___ 25-16 ____ 15-5 ___ <5 ____ None ____
4. Word your questions in ways that don’t give clues about preferred or more desirable responses
What strategies have you used to try to quit smoking?
Leads him to list strategies he did not try
Guide line … Check consistency – that leads to give
contradictory answer for two questions Determine in advance how you will code the
response Keep the respondents task simple Provide clear instructions Make the questionnaire attractive and
professional looking Conduct a pilot test
Give for half a dozen friends to see they have difficulty understanding any items
Scrutinize the almost final product carefully to make sure it address your needs
Sampling
In descriptive study, the researcher wants to determine the nature of how things are
Describe one or more characteristics of a fairly large population – e.g 3 million
When population is large, select a subset or a sample of the population
Makes conclusion from the sample about the population
Sample must be true representative of the population Refers to the external validity of a research
study
Quantitative Data Analysis Two types1. Descriptive statistics
Used to describe the phenomena with frequency, mean, median, mode
2. Inferential statistics• This statistics is used to infer about the
population from the sample data• T-test to compare means of two groups• Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
• When groups more than two
Analysis • Linear Regression (when the correlation
follows the same pattern)
• Logistic Regression (when there is linear correlation)
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