"Practical RPractical Research-2Quantitative Research

• Quantitative research is important across different fields
• Quantitative research

  Research that involves the use of numerical data and statistical analysis to understand concepts, opinions, and experiences
• Characteristics of quantitative research


  • Objective
  • Deductive
  • Focuses on numerical data
  • Seeks to establish causal relationships
  • Findings can be generalised to larger populations
• Strengths of quantitative research

  • Objectivity
  • Reliability
  • Generalisability
  • Precision
  • Hypothesis testing
• Weaknesses of quantitative research

  • Lacks depth
  • Ignores context
  • Difficulty in capturing complex phenomena
  • Potential for researcher bias
• Quantitative research is important in fields such as business, economics, psychology, sociology, and natural sciences
• Quantitative research allows for the testing of hypotheses and the establishment of causal relationships
• Quantitative research provides numerical data that can be used to make informed decisions and policies
• Quantitative research is essential for evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation
• Research


  A careful, detailed and systematic study of a specific problem, concern, or issue to establish facts
• Practical research


  Actual doing or using of something rather than theories and ideas, involving inquiry methods and immersion activities to achieve correct information
• The Scientific Method

  1. Ask a question

  2. Research - collect sources

  3. Hypothesis - an educated guess

  4. Experiment - design and perform to test hypothesis and variables

  5. Data/Analysis - record observations, analyze the data, prepare a graph or table

  6. Conclusion - accept or reject hypothesis, communicate results
• Questions that Delimits Research
• Types of Research

  • Qualitative - used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations
  • Quantitative - deals in numbers, logic, and an objective stance
• Characteristics of Quantitative Research

  • Objective - impartial, unbiased and neutral
  • Clearly defined questions (What, Which, how much)
  • Structured research instruments (surveys, questionnaires, software)
  • Numerical data and statistical treatment (unbiased results)
  • Large sample size (represents a population)
  • Replication (high reliability - stable and consistent)
  • Future outcomes (new concepts and further studies)
• Kinds of Quantitative Research

  • Causal-comparative research
  • Correlational research
  • Descriptive research
  • Evaluation research
  • Experimental research
  • Survey
• Strengths of Quantitative Research

  • Fast speed data collection (sampling methods)
  • Findings can be generalized (if sample is from a population)
  • Easy to analyze data (use of statistical data)
  • Consistent and reliable data (use of research manipulations - experiment, surveys etc)
  • Can be anonymous (for sensitive topic)
• Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

  • Requires a large number of respondents
  • Costly and expensive
  • Secondary data may be unavailable
  • Many info are difficult to answer (sensitive topic)
  • More structured research instruments
• Importance of Quantitative Research Across Fields

  • Business
  • Political science
  • Psychology
  • Medicine
  • Economics
  • Demographics
  • Education
• Discrete variable


  Variable that can only take on a certain number of values, countable with a complete range of specified values
• Continuous variable


  Variable that has an infinite number of possible values, obtained by measuring
• Independent variable


  Variable in research that causes a change, especially on other variables, can be controlled to monitor such changes
• Dependent variable


  Variable being tested and monitored, results from the independent variables
• Research Topic
• Research Problem


  A definite or clear expression [statement] about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or within existing practice that points to a need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation
• Characteristics of Research Problem
• Sources of Research Problems / Topics

  • Contemporary issues
  • Theory deductions
  • Funding agencies
  • Past researches and literature review
  • Casual observation
  • Related and relevant literature
  • Personal interest and experience
  • Replication of previous studies
  • Clarification of contradictory research results
  • Archive data
  • Interdisciplinary perspectives
• Research Title


  A specialised area of focus that falls both within the boundaries of a research (delineation) and the perimeter of a niche area, which directly relates to a particular discipline. The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of your study.
• Characteristics of a good Research Title
• When analysing markets, a range of assumptions are made about the rationality of economic agents involved in the transactions
• The Wealth of Nations was written

  1776
• Rational


  (in classical economic theory) economic agents are able to consider the outcome of their choices and recognise the net benefits of each one
• Consumers act rationally by

  Maximising their utility
• Producers act rationally by


  Selling goods/services in a way that maximises their profits
• Workers act rationally by


  Balancing welfare at work with consideration of both pay and benefits
• Governments act rationally by


  Placing the interests of the people they serve first in order to maximise their welfare
• Rationality in classical economic theory is a flawed assumption as people usually don't act rationally
• Demand curve shifting right

  Increases the equilibrium price and quantity
• Marginal utility

  The additional utility (satisfaction) gained from the consumption of an additional product
• If you add up marginal utility for each unit you get total utility