CHARACTERISTICS,

STRENGTHS,ANDWEAKNESSES
OFQUANTITATIVERESEARCH
Note: Please refer to the prescribed textbook for the definition of some
terminologies on this topic, pp. 14-19.
 CHARACTERISTICSOF
QUANTITATIVERESEARCH
 Orientation Characteristics

Paradigm (assumption Positivism

about the world) &
Realism

Research Purpose Numerical Description

(rationale) Causal Explanation
Prediction

Ontology Nature of Social Reality

(nature of reality)

Epistemology Objectivist
(theory of knowledge)

(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)

 Orientation Characteristics

Methodology Experimental/Manipulative
(aims of specific
investigation)

Research Methods Empirical Examination

(techniques and tools) Measurement
Hypothesis Testing
Randomization
Research Protocol
Questionnaire

Scientific Method Deductive Approach/

(role of theory) Testing Theory

(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)

 PREOCCUPATIONSOF
QUANTITATIVERESEARCH
1.MEASUREMENT
▸ an important factor in qua ntitative
research, which is why re liability
and validity are embedded in its
methodology
istency
Reliability speaks of cons
of a measure of a concept.
sue of
Validity refers to the is
whe the r an indicato r t hat is
developed to measure a c oncept
really gauges that concept.

(J ob Bot, 2016)
(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)
1.MEASUREMENT
Ac c o rd i n g t o B r ym a n ( 2 0 0 8 ) ,
measurement is reliable if it contains
the following factors:

▸ Stability

▸ Internal Reliability

Inter-Observer Reality

(J ob Bot, 2016)
(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)
1.MEASUREMENT
Bryman (2008) also identified ways to
establish validity:

▸ Face Validity

▸ Concurrent Validity

▸ Predictive Validity

▸ Construct Validity

▸ Convergent Validity

(J ob Bot, 2016)
(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)
2.CAUSALITY
search focuses not
▸ Quantitative reenomenon but also
only on the ph hy things happen
on explaining w
in certain ways.
Variables:
Basic Types of
ent Variables
‣ Depend
dent Variables
‣ Indepen

(Everyday Health, n.d.)

(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)
3.GENERALIZATION
▸ This area of concern reveals itself
in social survey research, in the
attention that is often given to the
question how one can create a
representative sample.

Po p u l a t i o n r e f e r s t o t h e
members of a defined group.

S a m p l e is a p a rt o f t h e
population.

(Financial Tribune, 2017)

(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)
4.REPLICATION
▸ the ability to repeat an important
c o mpo ne nt o f an activity b ut
some time s me e t difficultie s to
sustain the settings referred to an
original study

(Insight, 2018)
(Melegrito & Mendoza, 2016)
STRENGTHSOFQUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
 It can be replicated or repeated in
S
other contexts.
T
Itprovides findings
R that are generalizable to
a large population.
E
It can establish casuality more
N
conclusively.
G
It can make predictions
T based on numerical,
quantifiable data.
H
Data analysis using statistical
S software is faster. (Barrot, 2017)
 WEAKNESSESOF
QUANTITATIVERESEARCH
W It adequat provide in-
cann ely depth
E ot
It lacks the ability
informa to provide afor
necessary comprehensive
A textualdescriptionofhumanexperiences.
tion describing
K explaini and complex
Numerical data may be insufficient in analyzing
ng a phenomenon.
intangible factors, such as gender roles, socio-
N economic status, and social norms of a given

E Ithasless flexibilityintermsofstudydesign.
S Responses of participants are strictly limited to
whathas beenasked. Theseresponses maynot
S beextensive insomecases.
Self-reported data may not be very accurate as respondents
E may have the tendency to underestimate or overestimate their
skillsandbehaviourduringself-assessmenttasks.
(Barrot, 2017)