Module 3 - Quantitative research Flashcards
Quantitative research
Confirmatory approach to research that answers research questions by collection of numerical data.
Purposes of Quantitative research
description
prediction
control
explanation
Ontology
inherent understanding of reality and truth, as perceived by the researcher
Epistemology of quantitative research
Knowledge is constructed through empirical confirmation of scientific method.
Researchers are objective, bias-free, value-free, distant.
Quantitative research questions
A question about the relationship that exists between two variables.
Forms of quantitative research questions
Descriptive
Predictive
Causal
Descriptive questions
What changes over time or over different situations?
How much? How often?
Identify the degree of relationship between two or more variables.
Predictive questions
Ask whether one or more variables can be used to predict some future outcome.
Causal questions
Compare different variations of some phenomenon to identify the cause.
Sampling
Process of creating a sample from a population.
Random sampling
All members of the population have an equal chance to be selected.
Non-random sampling
a criterion or factor influences the selection.
Population
Total group under study
Sample
Smaller group within the population
Data collection - quantitative
Tests are most common
Achievement, aptitude, affective, standardized
Scaled surveys
Numeric data
Research Methods - quantitative
Experimental
Non-experimental
Quantitative experimental research
Manipulate variables in a controlled environment.
Random sample and random assignment.
Quantitative Non-experimental research
Correlational (relationship between variables)
Predictive (examine prediction of future levels of a variable)
Causal-comparative (how different groups vary on a variable or variables)
Something will be non-random (sample or assignment)
Estimation
estimate the population’s characteristics based on the sample
Hypothesis testing
test specific hypothesis about population based on their sample data
Report creation
Title page Abstract Introduction Method Results Discussion References
Quantitative variable
varies in degree or amount of a phenomenon
Categorical variable
made up of different types or categories of a phenomenon
Independent variable
Variable which causes changes to occur
Dependent variable
Changes affected by another variable
Ex: amount of studying (IV) affects test scores (DV)
Mediating (intervening) variable
Comes in between other variables
Moderator variable
How relationship changes under different conditions
Extraneous variable
May compete with the IV in explaining an outcome
Random selection
Every member of a group has an equal chance of being chosen.
Random assignment
Participants randomly placed in control or experimental group.
Causal comparative research
Examines relationship between two or more categorical independent variables and one or more quantitative dependent variables
Correlational research
Study of the relationship between one or more quantitative independent variables and one or more quantitative variables.
Positive correlation
When scores on two variables tend to move in same direction
Negative correlation
when scores on two variables tend to move in opposite directions
