the nature of quantitative research

Question 1

main features of quantitative research

Answer 1

measurement, causality, generalization, and replication.

Question 2

quantitative research

Answer 2

1. theory -> drives the research
2. preference for the natural science approach+positivism
3. social phenomena and their meanings have an existence that is independent of social actors.

Question 3

quantitative research

Answer 3

epistemological position+ontological position

Question 4

main methods of data collection associated with quantitative research

Answer 4

questionnaires and surveys, evaluation of documents and texts, evaluation of data already collected by others, systematically observing and recording behavior.

Question 5

multi-method research

Answer 5

studies using more than one method.

Question 6

Big Data

Answer 6

new possibilities for secondary data analysis

Question 7

the process of quantitative research

Answer 7

1. theory
2. formulate a research question/questions
3. hypothesis
4. research design
5. devise measures of concepts
6. select research site(s)
7. select research subject/respondents
8. administer research instruments/collect data
9. process data
10. analyse date
11. findings/conclusions
12. write up findings/conclusions

Question 8

operationalization

Answer 8

devising measures of the concepts we want to study

Question 9

hypothesis

Answer 9

informed speculation.
based on knowledge of the existing research literature.
null or alternative hypothesis.

Question 10

coding of the information

Answer 10

transforming it into numbers to enable the quantitative analysis of the data

Question 11

concept

Answer 11

the building blocks of theory and the points around which social research is conducted.

Question 12

three main reasons for the focus on measurement in quantitative research

Answer 12

1. measurement allows us to identify fine differences between people’s characteristics
2. measurement gives us a consistent device for identifying such differences
3. measurement provides the basis for a more precise estimation of the degree of relationship between concepts

Question 13

how do we measure?

Answer 13

1. devising indicators (they represent the concepts): we may use a question, we may record individuals’ behavior using a structured observation schedule, we may use official statistics, or we may examine media content using content analysis.
2. using multiple-indicator measures: use a number of indicators that tap into a certain concept (most famous: likert scale)

Question 14

why use mutiple-indicator measure

Answer 14

a single inicator may incorrectly classify individuals, a single question may be too general or too limited in scope, or multiple question questions allow researchers to make much finer distinctions

Question 15

likert scale

Answer 15

a multiple-indicator or mutiple-item measure of a set of attitudes relating to a particular area, used to measure intensity of feelings.

Question 16

dimensions of concepts

Answer 16

the researcher seeks to develop a measure of a concept, the different aspects or components of that concept should be considered. the dimensions are identified with reference to the theory and research associated with it.

Question 17

reliability

Answer 17

the consistency of measures

its about the stability of measurement over a variety of conditions in which the same results should be obtained

Question 18

internal reliability

Answer 18

applies to mutiple-indicator measures

we need to make sure that all our indicators are related to each other.

Question 19

inter-rater reliability

Answer 19

the consistency of observations and ways of recording data across the people who are involved , in studies where there is more than one

Question 20

measurement validity

Answer 20

whether a measurement of a concept really measures that concept

Question 21

face validity

Answer 21

that the measure apparently reflects the content of the concept explored.

Question 22

concurrent validity of the measure

Answer 22

existing at the same time, or overlapping

Question 23

criterion validity

Answer 23

cases that are known to differ and that is relevant to the concept in question

Question 24

predictive validity

Answer 24

the researcher uses a future crterion measure, rather than a current one as in the case for concurrent validity.

Question 25

construct validity

Answer 25

an approach that evaluates a measure by how well the measure conforms to theoretical expectations. the researcher is encouraged to deduce hypotheses from a theory that is relevant to the concept.

Question 26

convergent validity

Answer 26

comparing a measure to other measures of the same concept that have been developed through different methods.

Question 27

four criticisms of quantitative approaches to research

Answer 27

researchers treat people and social institutions in the same way as the world of nature, the measurement process involves an artificial sense of precision and accuracy, the reliance on instruments and procedures limits the connection between research and everyday life, and the analysis of relationships between variables creates a static view of social life as if it were independent of people’s lives.

Question 28

the feminist critique

Answer 28

feminist social researchers gravitated towards qualitative research , showing a preference for methods such as semi-structured interviewing, ethonography-informed unstructured interviewing, and focus groups.

Question 29

example of gaps between ideal type and actual research practice

Answer 29

reverse operationism, reliability and validity testing and sampling.

Question 30

reverse operationism

Answer 30

concepts are speicified and that measures and indicators are then devised for them.

Question 31

reliability and validity testing

Answer 31

researchers do not report all the recommended practices and all the reliability and validity testing costs money and time to be evaluated.

Question 32

sampling

Answer 32

much research isnt based on random or probability sampling but instead on non-probability sampling because it is difficult to do random sampling, a lot of time and money involved.