Quantitative research design is the standard experimental method of most scientific disciplines. These experiments are sometimes referred to as true science, and use traditional mathematical and statistical means to measure results conclusively. They are most commonly used by physical scientists, although social sciences, education and economics have been known to use this type of research. It is the opposite of qualitative research. Quantitative experiments all use a standard format, with a few minor inter-disciplinary differences, of generating a hypothesis to be proved or disproved. This hypothesis must be provable by mathematical and statistical means, and is the basis around which the whole experiment is designed. Randomization of any study groups is essential, and a control group should be included, wherever possible. A sound quantitative design should only manipulate one variable at a time, or statistical analysis becomes cumbersome and open to question. Ideally, the research should be constructed in a manner that allows others to repeat the experiment and obtain similar results.
Advantages
Quantitative research design is an excellent way of finalizing results and proving or disproving a hypothesis. The structure has not changed for centuries, so is standard across many scientific fields and disciplines. After statistical analysis of the results, a comprehensive answer is reached, and the results can be legitimately discussed and published. Quantitative experiments
Experimental design is a process by which a researcher takes a hypothesis, designs an experiment to test for the hypothesis, collects the data from the experiment, analyzes it and draws conclusions about the results. It is used to determine cause and effect and is used in all forms of science from physics and biology to psychology and sociology.
Instructions: This is a group activity that you will start in class and complete at home. For each of the following, note, whether the research design used is an experiment, a quasi-experiment, or a correlational approach and why. If a study is an experiment, identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. Please type your answers in complete sentences.
Quantitative research methods are objective as it uses measurements and analysis of statistical data to answer the study question. The researchers’ opinions do not affect the outcome of the study, ensuring that the study is unbiased. Another advantage is quantitative research uses numbers and statistics which is understood universally (Houser,2008).
Researchers or research teams who elect a quantitative study are going to determine the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable within a population (Babbie, E.R., 2010). There are two types of quantitative study designs: descriptive and experimental. A descriptive design typically measures the subject once and establishes the association between the independent and dependent variables (Mujis, D, 2010). An experimental design measures the subject before and after a treatment and establishes causality between the variables (Brians, C.L. et al, 2011).
In defining quantitative research the term can be dichotomized. Firstly, research refers to creative, systematic work with the intention to increase the knowledge of man and thereby devise new applications (OECD, 2002). In addition Gray (1997) stated that research should improve performance and that the results should be
Scientific method involves quantitative information. For example measuring changes in the body and analysing blood or urine samples. Body mass index is used to measure height and weight to distinguish whether an individual is a healthy weight.
8- Finally, this type of design combines both qualitative and quantitative data, creating more in-depth research (Ruspini 1999) 4.
20. Is the type of design used appropriate? This type of design is appropriate because non-experimental research looks at prediction and causality and does not use manipulation of variables. The researcher studies what naturally occurs.
A second design is quantitative research. This analysis engages mathematical models, theories, and hypothesis to examine cause and effect. It shows the relationship between data and observation through measurements. Control groups are used with
Quantitative and Qualitative are said to be systematic in different design. Both design have to follow a process system that involved defining a principle of research.
This non-experimental research uses descriptive statistical analysis, paired t-tests, and analysis of variance to examine the study variables.
Quantitative Research- a research based on experimental data, a survey that proves the actuality of the theory.
Quantitative research involves collecting data, which can be expressed numerically. The design is well structured with pre-determined outcomes. It frequently involves testing a hypothesis, which then can be analysed from the data deductively using statistical methods. Using numerical data is easier to analysis mathematical, so larger sample sizes can be utilised compared to qualitative research, therefore giving a better representative of the population; along with simplifying the process of making a generalisation. Another advantage is that studies can easily compare to similar findings (Kruger, 2003). The disadvantages are the results are limited and might not provide a proper understanding of the topic. Also, statistics and leading questions can be used to give a false representation of the data when summarising.
To conduct quantitative research, the first step is defining the problem, identifying the objectives and goals, and establishing research questions or hypothesis. It is followed by data collection and analysis with the application of various numerical and statistical approaches. Quantitative research is more factual in terms that we get concrete data with evidence to prove the results of our research.
True experimental and quasi-experimental research designs are the two most common forms of research design. While they both share similar elements, such as measuring participant results to test the hypothesis, there are also significant differences between true experimental and quasi-experimental research designs (The Regents of the University of Michigan, 2013 ).