PR2

• Quantitative research, according to Aliaga and Gunderson, (2000), is "explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics)." This type of research utilizes numbers and statistical analysis. It is ideal in studying phenomenon which must contend with the problems of measurement.
• A phenomenon is a peculiar incident that can happen anywhere, with any discipline or in any organization. Examples are increase in sales, change in turn-over rates, change in drop-out rates, decrease in the number of failing students in Mathematics, shift in the percentage of dengue patients, rise in the rate of youth drug addiction, and decrease in juvenile crime rates in the rural areas.
• Quantitative research is the traditional, positivist scientific method which refers to a general set of orderly, disciplined procedures to acquire information. It utilizes deductive reasoning to generate predictions that are tested in the real world. It is systematic since the researcher progresses logically through a series of steps and according to a pre-specified plan of action.
• Education

  -Quantitative research can be used in measuring the level of performance of students as well as the teachers. It can also be used to assess the effectiveness of the methods used, the different programs conducted, and the satisfaction of all stakeholders in the educational sector including students, faculty, parents, administrators, the community, the government, and non- governmental organizations. Through this research method, the interests of these groups can be advanced or enhanced by implementing quantifiable best practices.
• Business

  -Quantitative research is a very valuable tool in business when it is used intelligently. It can improve the overall marketing strategy; help the company make informed decisions on how to move forward with a particular product or service; and even solicit consumers' opinions for productivity. This type of research is largely utilized in product development and to create favorable marketing campaigns. Data that are often used in this type of research are market size, demographics, and user-preferences.
• Medical and Health Allied Services

  -Since health practitioners are concerned with human life' the discharge of their duties is very critical. Thus, healthcare procedures, routines, and Other systems must be based on the result of scientific investigation. The statistics on the rate of recovery the number of patients with illnesses and sicknesses, the efficacy of medicines and drugs, among others, when analyzed, can become rich sources of information and a basis of good practices in medical treatment and intervention.
• Science and Technology

  -The noted Observation for a phenomenon, the rate of processing of certain devices, and the time consumed for any procedure are factors to be considered. The data collected will lead to a more responsible and accountable operation of the different components of technology. During experiments on new devices, inventions, discoveries, and innovations, the recorded data are very vital for any test of efficiency.
• A variable is any factor or property that a researcher measures, controls, and/or manipulates. It is also the changing quantity or measure of any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. It is also a logical set of attributes, characteristics, numbers, or quantities that can be measured or counted. It is also called a data item.
• Numeric variables

  -These are variables with values that describe a measurable numerical quantity and answer the questions "how many" or "how much." These values are considered as quantitative data.
• Continuous variables

  -These variables can assume any value between a certain set of real numbers. The values depend on the scale used. Continuous variables are also called interval variables. Some examples are time, age, temperature, height, and weight.
• Interval variables

  -The intervals between values in a set of interval data are consistent and meaningful, but it does not involve a true zero point.
• Ratio variables -There is a true zero point (an absolute value of zero)
• Discrete variables

  -These variables can only assume any whole value within the limits of the given variables. Some examples are the number of registered cars, number of business locations, number of children in the family, population of students, and total number of faculty members.
• Categorical variables

  -These are variables with values that describe a quality or characteristic of a data unit like "what type" or "which category."
• Ordinal variables

  -These variables can take a value which can be logically ordered or ranked.

  Some examples are academic grades such as A, B, C; clothing size such as X, L, M, S; and measures of attitudes like strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
• Nominal variables

  -These are variables whose values cannot be organized in a logical sequence.

  Some examples are business types, eye colors, kinds of religion, various languages, and types of learners.
• 3 Experimental variables

  • independent variables

  • dependent variables

  • extraneous variables
• Independent variables

  -These variables are usually manipulated in an experiment. Thus, it is also called manipulated or explanatory variable.
• Dependent variables

  -These variables are usually affected by the manipulation of the independent variables. They are also called response or predicted variable.
• Extraneous variables

  -These variables are also called mediating or intervening variables. These variables are already existing during the conduct of an experiment and could influence the result of the study. They are known as covariate variables.
• According to April (2014), there are four kinds of quantitative research for students and researchers.

  These kinds are the Survey Research, Correlational Research, Causal-comparative Research, and the Experimental Research.
• Survey/Descriptive Research

  -It uses interviews, questionnaires, and sampling polls to get a sense of behavior with intense precision. It allows researchers to judge behavior and then present the findings in an accurate way. This is usually expressed in a frequently count or a percentage. survey research can be conducted around one group specifically or used to compare several groups. When conducting survey research, it is important that the people questioned are sampled at random. This allows for more accurate findings across a greater spectrum respondents.
• Correlational Research

  -It tests for the association between two variables. Performing correlational research is done to establish what the effect of one on the other might be and how that affects the relationship. Correlational research is conducted in order to explain a noticed occurrence. In correlational research the survey is conducted on a minimum of two groups.
• Causal-Comparative/Quasi-experiment Research

  -It looks to uncover a cause and effect relationship. This research is not conducted between the two groups. Rather than look solely for a statistical relationship between two variables it tries to identify, specifically, how the different groups are affected by the same circumstance. Causal-comparative research involves 'comparison.'
• Experimental Research

  -Though questions may be posed in the other forms of research, experimental research is guided specifically by a hypothesis. Sometimes experimental research can have several hypotheses. A hypothesis is a statement to be proven or disproved. Once that statement is made experiments will be conducted to find out whether the statement is true or not.
• The important elements in the statement of the general problem are:

  1. Main tasks
  2. Main or major variables
  3. Participants: subjects or respondents
  4. The specific setting
  5. Coverage date of the conduct of study
  6. For developmental research, the intended outputs such as an intervention program, module, policies, among others.
• Non-researchable questions

  -are questions of value. These are questions that are answerable by yes or no
• Researchable questions

  -are questions of value, opinions, or policy raised to gather data.

  Formulating clear and significant questions prepares the researcher for subsequent decision- making over research design, data collection, and data analysis. The basic form of a research question involves the use of question words such as who, what, where, when, why, and how.
• Factor-isolating Questions

  -("What is this?") They are sometimes called factor naming questions. They isolate, categorize, describe, or name factors and situations.
• Factor-Relating Questions

  -(What is happening here?"). Their goal is to determine the relationship among factors that have been identified. These are usually questions for a non-experimental type of research.
• Situation-relating questions

  -(What will happen it...?") These questions usually yield hypotheses testing or experimental study designs in which the researcher manipulates the variables to see what will happen.
• Situation-producing questions

  -("How can I make it happen?"). These questions establish explicit goals for actions, develop plans or prescriptions to achieve goals, and specify the conditions under which these goals will be accomplished.