Quantitative research
Overview of quantitative research
Entire books are written about quantitative research methods, and whole courses are dedicated to studying various characteristics, elements and procedures used. This section is meant as a very brief overview of some of these elements for the purpose of beginning a conversation, thinking about ways to conduct your research, and interacting with colleagues about your perspectives. One way to examine research methods is by considering some of the assumptions behind them:
Assumptions underlying quantitative methods
Some general assumptions are characteristic of quantitative research:
- reality is objective, “out there,” and independent of the researcher;
- reality is something that can be studied objectively;
- researchers should remain distant and independent of what is being researched;
- research is value-free--the values of the researcher do not interfere with, or become part of, the research;
- research is based primarily on deductive forms of logic and theories;
- hypotheses are tested in a cause-effect manner;
- goal is to develop generalizations that contribute to theory;
- enables the researcher to predict, explain, and understand some phenomenon.
Three general types of quantitative methods
Experiments
True experiments are characterized by random assignment of subjects to experimental conditions with the use of experimental controls.
Quasi-Experiments
Quasi-experimental studies share almost all the features of experimental designs except that they involve non-randomized assignment of subjects to experimental conditions.
Surveys
Surveys include cross-sectional and longitudinal studies using questionnaires or interviews for data collection with the intent of estimating the characteristics of a large population of interest based on a smaller sample from that population.
Quantitative Research Design
The Sage Handbook of Quantitative Methodology for the Social Sciences
Kaplan, D. (2004). Sage Publications, Inc.
The 24 chapters by this UW Madison professor span a wide range of topics, reviewing historical context for the topic, describing current work with illustrative examples. Ample references are provided to pursue topics further.
Quantitative Research Design
Hopkins, W.G. (2000). Sportscience Vol. 4 No. 1 (Updated July, 2008)
This article reviews some basic elements of quantitative research design.
Determining Merit of Quantitative Studies
Quantitative Research Assessment Tool
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
This tool is designed to help users quickly evaluate the merit of quantitative research studies.
Challenges of Quantitative Research
In Market Research, Use Numbers with Caution
Anthony, S. (September, 2009), blog. Harvard Business Publishing website
While quantitative surveys can generate important learning, it is dangerous to assume there is any single “best” market research technique according to this blogger.
When Black + Lesbian + Woman Does Not Equal Black Lesbian Woman: The Methodological Challenges of Qualitative and Quantitative Intersectionality Research
Bowleg, L. (2008). Sex Roles, Vol. 59, Iss. 5-6, p. 312-325
The notion that social identities and social inequality based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, and sex/gender are intersectional rather than additive poses a variety of thorny methodological challenges. This paper examines how these challenges shape measurement, analysis, and inter-pretation.
Methodological Issues in Quantitative Research on Race and Ethnicity
Garcia, J., Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). University of Arizona
This course description outlines some of the issues with quantitative research on race and ethnicity.
