Quantitative Research Design.ppt
- 1. Quantitative Research Design Prepared by Sarah Sinks Imam Wahyudi
- 2. Quantitative Research Systematic scientific investigation of data and their relationships.
- 3. Overview of Quantitative research • The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and hypotheses pertaining to natural phenomena. • Measuring is key in quantitative research because it shows the relationship between data and observation.
- 4. THE RESEARCH PROCESS • 1. Selection of topic • • 2. Reviewing the literature • • 3. Development of theoretical and conceptual frameworks • • 4. Clarification of research question/hypothesis • • 5. Research design • • 6. Data collection • • 7. Data analysis • • 8. Drawing conclusions
- 5. STAGE 1 SELECTION OF TOPIC 1.A crucial stage, as an inappropriate topic or question will often lead to irretrievable difficulties later in the research. 2.It is unlikely that you will develop a final question and set of objectives at this stage of the research process, and stages 2 and 3 are important in developing and assessing your question more fully.
- 6. STAGE 2 REVIEWING THE LITERATURE • A literature review essentially consists of critically reading, evaluating and organising existing literature on the topic to assess the state of knowledge in the area. • During this stage you should aim to become an ‘expert’ in your field of research.
- 7. STAGE 3 DEVELOPMENT OF THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS • As you read the literature, you should be continually developing and refining your theoretical and conceptual frameworks. • Your theoretical framework refers to the underlying theoretical approach that you adopt to underpin your study. • The conceptual framework defines and organises the concepts important within your study.
- 8. STAGE 4 CLARIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH QUESTION Initial research questions are chosen, investigated and often rejected for a number of reasons, for example: • The question lacks sufficient focus. • The conceptual framework has identified problems in either defining and/or measuring the appropriate concepts. • There are too many moderating or intervening variables. • The project is unfeasible in terms of complexity, access, facilities or resources.
- 9. STAGE 5 RESEARCH DESIGN • What data do I need to collect to answer this question? • What is the best way to collect this data? • What overall research design should I use? For example, a cross-sectional, experimental or longitudinal design? • Will I need to collect primary or secondary data? • What methods, for example interviews, questionnaire surveys and so on, will be best to collect the primary data?
- 10. STAGE 6 DATA COLLECTION You have to consider • which methodology to choose, and • which methods to utilise. •Who should participate in the research? •How will I gain access to them? •What are the exact procedures that I should adopt in my data collection to ensure reliability and validity? •Are there any ethical issues associated with the research?
- 11. STAGE 7 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS 1. The data you collect in stage 6 needs to be analysed to provide answers to your research question. 2. In your discussion of the results, reference should also be made back to the literature reviewed in stage 2, for example How do the findings add to this literature? Do they support the literature? If not, what are the possible reasons why?
- 12. STAGE 8 DRAWING CONCLUSIONS • Conclusions should relate back to the focused research question. • You can evaluate how successful you have been in achieving your research objectives, and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the research. • You may also want to make recommendations for further research.
- 14. 1. Experimental Research Approach Intervention research that explaining whether an intervention influences an outcome for one group as opposed to another group. This is called between subject approach 2. Correlational approach Associating or relating variables in a predictable pattern for one group of individuals 3. Survey Approach Describing trends for the population of people
- 15. Survey Research Approach 1. Cross sectional survey Observational surveys conducted in situations where the researcher intends to collect data from a sample of the target population at a given point in time. Disadvantage of cross-sectional surveys is that the cause-effect relationship of variables cannot be established as it usually evaluates variables at a particular time and not across a continuous time frame.
- 16. Survey Research Approach 2. Longitudinal survey Unlike cross-sectional surveys, surveys are conducted across various time durations to observe a change in respondent behavior and thought- processes. When there are research subjects that need to be thoroughly inspected before concluding, they rely on longitudinal surveys. It is usually used in medicine and applied sciences
- 17. Correlational Research Approach • To find if the data has an observable relationship that can be further specified in terms of magnitude and/or an increase or decrease.
- 18. Characteristics of Correlational Research • Correlation indicates the strength and direction of a linear relationship between variables.
- 19. Correlation and Significance • Is there a relationship between two variables/data? • What is the direction of the relationship? • What is the magnitude? • These relationships may show any tendency for the variables to vary consistently. • Pearson’s product moment coefficient correlation: -1.0 to +1.0
- 20. Ex Post Facto ‘from what is done afterwards’
- 21. What is Ex Post Facto • Studies that investigate possible cause and effect relationships by observing an existing condition or state of affairs and searching back in time for plausible causal factors.
- 22. Characteristics of Ex Post Facto • Researcher takes the effect/dependent variable and examines it retrospectively • Establishes causes, relationships or associations and their meanings. • Researcher has little to or no control over independent variables. • Flexible by nature.
- 23. When to use this? • You can use this when: 1. more powerful experimental designs are not possible; 2.when you are unable to select, control and manipulate the factors necessary to study cause and effect relationships directly, or when control variables except a single independent variable may be unrealistic and artificial.
- 24. Ex post facto advantages and disadvantages Advantages • Show a correlation where more rigorous experimentation is not possible • Exploratory tool • Useful to avoid articiality in the research. • Shows cause and effect relationships Disadvantages • Lack of control for independent variable and randomizing subjects. • Never certain if causative factor has been included or identified • Relationship between two factors does not establish cause and effect. • May be regarded as too flexible.
- 25. Experimental Research • Research in which the investigator deliberately controls and manipulates the independent variable to observe the effect of that change on another the dependent variable.
- 26. How and when to use Experimental Research • Most commonly used in physical sciences and educational research • You vary the independent variable and look for the effect it has on the dependent variable.
- 27. How and When to use Quasi- experimental research • Used when you have control over the “when and the whom of measurement”, but lack control over the “when and to whom of exposure.” • Common in management accounting research.
- 28. How and when to use Single Case research • Process of continuous assessment of some aspect of human behavior over a period of time. • Involves “intervention effects”, that are replicated in the same subject(s) over time. • Used in many fields including psychology, nursing studies, education and social work.
- 29. Useful Terms • Correlation- Indicates the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two random variables. • Ex post facto- from the Latin for "from something done afterward" • Quasi- the prefix 'quasi' denotes methods that are "almost" or "socially approximate" • Variable- a measurable factor, characteristic, or attribute of an individual or a system
- 30. References • Research Methods in Education 5th Edition, Louis Cohen, Lawrence, Manion and Keith Morrison 2004, New York • Creswell, J.W. Research Design. 2009