Characteristics of Quantitative Research No One Told You Yet

Characteristics of Quantitative Research No One Told You Yet

 The first thing that every student has to decide before starting research is the design of a study. Basically, researches are of two types: quantitative and qualitative. It is a popular choice that collects and interprets data in numerical form. However, the qualitative research methods comprise several techniques and tools to interpret data in textual and non-numerical forms. No doubt, both of these methods are essential to present concrete assertions and have their own. Importance in unveiling the hidden facts about the world based on a number of distinguishing characteristics. This article will specifically discuss the definition, importance and characteristics of quantitative research in detail. Let us start our discussion:

What are quantitative researches?

It emphasises statistical, mathematical, and objective measurement of numerical data collected. Through polls, surveys, close-ended questionnaires, and experimental manipulation of independent variables to monitor its impact on the dependent variables. Such researches are preferable as it focuses on collecting numerical data from a large population. The sake of generalisation of outcome to ensure reliability. Furthermore, it is important to note that quantitative research is something more than typical. Quantification of social life aspects; however, ontological and epistemological approaches are also important features that distinguish it from qualitative research. Mostly, quantitative research starts from the selection of theory. Hypothesis formation, passes by many intermediate stages, namely, research design, operationalising concepts, selecting a research site, selecting respondents, recording information, and data processing or analysis and ultimately ends by findings and conclusion. Most of students consider it difficult and hence hire the best dissertation writing services UK.

Characteristics of quantitative research:

Knowing the characteristics of quantitative research, a student can make an informed decision about whether the pre-defined set of aims and objectives can be achieved by the it’s method or an alternative approach must be applied to get off the mark. Some of the most distinguishing characteristics of quantitative research are as follows:

Objective:

 Objectivity is one of the most sought-after characteristics of quantitative research.It helps researchers in seeking accurate measurements to analyse a concept. This method of research not only relies on intuition and guesses as it gathers the data before seeking a solution to a problem under study.   

Large sample size:  

It prefers the normal population distribution curves to arrive at a more reliable and accurate data analysis. To achieve the aim, the quantitative methods require a large population or sample size to take almost all variables into account. Furthermore, random sampling helps quantitative researchers avoid bias in data interpretation.

Prior studies:

The result and analysis performed using the quantitative method of research can also verify the findings of previous studies. Thus, several researchers and scholars use such methods to analyse the outcome of prior studies to formulate their own research hypotheses. Besides, the results of quantitative research are more accurate and reliable than qualitative research; thus, the former is known to deduce more logical conclusions.

Structured tools:

Quantitative researches methods use a list of structural instruments such as closed-ended questionnaires, surveys, and polls to collect numerical data. These structural instruments are standardised tools that guide data collection and help the quantitative researchers to get in-depth information about the audience’s preferences, thus, ensuring accuracy, validity, and reliability in data. Moreover, quantitative research best utilises structural or standardised tools to measure data on various measurable characteristics of a population such as age, number of children, changes over time and many more.  

Result Generalisation:

Among characteristics of quantitative research, the generalisation of outcomes is an important feature that leads to more penetration of a research’s outcome in the community. A generalisation of results is rooted in the ability of quantitative studies to gather data from a large sample or population size.    

Numerical data collection:

The audience and society are more likely to trust facts and figures as compared to intuitions and guesses; moreover, the end results of the quantitative research are always numerical value. Additionally, the data or end results in the form of digits are easier to understand as compared to the long statements. Hence, this characteristic of quantitative research to end up on numerical data facilitates both researchers and the audience to understand the results shortly.

Replication:

Replication is important, so other researchers can cross-check the validity of research before making it. A part of a research proposal. In this regard, quantitative researches have no parallel as they allow researchers. To verify findings in another setting to reduce the possibility of spurious conclusion.

Future Outcomes:

Quantitative researchers believe in the ‘what’s next approach’. With the aid of complex mathematical formulas, statistically derived expressions, and tools and techniques, quantitative research helps in solving the if-then scenarios to predict future outcomes. Plus, these researches work on proofs instead of discovery.  

5. Importance of quantitative research:

Quantitative researches are important in research due various reasons. Some of these reasons include it offers a relatively simple data collection procedure; it provides an opportunity to avoid bias at maximum, proposes a wide array of statistical data analysis methods, and ensures accuracy and validity in data. Quantitative research is carried out with the participants who are best representative of the general population with greater ease. The close-ended questionnaires and other methods offer changes to eliminate chances of biased representation of results, if any. The statistical tools devised by quantitative research methods. That are effective enough to solve almost all kinds of scientific mysteries with great precision. Furthermore, the numerical nature of the research outcome leads to the honest accomplishment of research without raising any potential discrepancies.   

Final thoughts:

All in all, the quantitative method offers a pre-defined set of stages to accomplish research with greater precision. Thecharacteristics of quantitative research, such as eliminating bias in data. Results interpretation, more generalisability of results, ability to replicate easily, employing standard. Structural tools of data collection, quantifying data in numerical form, and making future predictions make it. A trustworthy method that anyone trust blindly. Apart from all these characteristics, for achieving research objectives, students must also take help from standardised quantitative research guides.