QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROBLEM

• Quantitative research problem


  Characterised by precision, specificity, or stability, and geared toward a possible result
• Qualitative research problem


  Expansive, widespread, and developing, and focused more on processes rather than on outcomes
• Qualitative research problem is considered not researchable by some as it is more inclined to explaining or describing people’s views, values, attitudes, opinions, and other subjective traits
• Quantitative research problem is researchable
• Sources of Quantitative Research Problem


  • Agencies of the government or Non-government institutions
  • Own experience or genuine interest in something
  • Previous research findings
  • Present political social or economic issues in society
  • Review of related literature
• Several reasons prod you to define or finalize a research problem or a research topic
• Thinking of a research problem or a topic to research on is a beginning act in research
• Another initial research act is asking a set of specific questions or identifying sub-problems about your research problem
• Research Questions


  Specific or sub questions that specify the scope and the method of collecting and analyzing data, giving you the right direction in your research
• Research Questions


  Questions to give further definitions or explanations of the research problem by stressing the fact that they elicit answers to clarify or solve the research problem, which is the main problem of the research
• 1. Interrogative statement: What percentage of Manila private universities consider the use of grammar textbooks as the most effective way to help college students attain communicative competence?
  2. Declarative statement: The main objective of this study is to find out the percentage of Manila private universities considering the use of grammar text books as the most effective way to help college students attain communicative competence.
• Interrogative statements examples:

  1. What is an English grammar textbook?
  2. What is communicative competence?
  3. What components of the grammar textbook work for communicative competence development?
  4. How many Manila private universities require the use of grammar textbooks?
  5. How many Manila private universities use grammar textbooks as references only?
  6. To what extent do Manila private universities find grammar textbooks effective in helping college students attain communicative competence?
• Interrogative sentences are sentences that ask a question, typically to request information.
• This study aims at finding answers to the following specific objectives
• Quantitative research problem

  • Researchable
  • Clearly and concisely stated (preferably within 12 words if using APA style)
  • Focuses on a general understanding of the research topic
  • Mirrors the importance of carrying out the research
  • States the variables and their relationships
• Formulating a quantitative research problem


  1. Formulate a researchable research problem

  2. State the research problem clearly, concisely, and possibly within 12 words if using APA style

  3. Have the research problem focus on a general understanding of the research topic

  4. Construct a research problem that mirrors the importance of carrying out the research

  5. Let the quantitative research problem state the variables and their relationships with one another

  6. Construct an introductory statement to present the research problem
• Quantitative research questions


  • Not in the form of yes-or-no questions, but in informative questions
  • Can be expressed in an interrogative or declarative manner, with the former being more effective
• Research questions or sub-problems are to be stated, not the main research problem
• Types of Quantitative Research Questions

  A quantitative research problem can generate a set of research questions or sub-problems that fall under any of these types of research questions:

  1. Descriptive research questions – ask questions on the kind, qualifications, and categories of the subjects or participants.
  2. Relation questions – are questions about the nature and manner of connection between or among variables.
  3. Causal questions – reasons behind the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable is the focus of these types of research questions
• Deductive Approach


  Your questions begin from "hunches or predictions" or expectations about the outcome of your research. Ask questions centering on a theory or concept, discover the accuracy of the theory, ponder on variables to represent the extent of the application of the theory, and make up your mind on which variable to study through observation, interview, or experimentation. Explaining the meaning of a variable based on its involvement or role in the research process, particularly, in the measurement, manipulation, or control of the concept application is giving such term its operational definition.
• Inductive Approach


  Deductive approach goes from bigger ideas such as theories or concepts to smaller ideas; conversely, inductive approach starts from smaller and simpler ideas to bigger or more complex ones. Inductively formulated research questions focus on description of things to prove an idea or a system. Central to this approach are specific details to prove the validity of a certain theory or concept.
• 'Inductive approach starts from smaller and simpler ideas to bigger or more complex ones.'