Looks at Quantative Research and Methods

1. The Quantitative ResearchThe Quantitative Research
Process:Process:
Techniques for ResearchTechniques for Research
Dr Fiona M Beals

2. Lecture AimsLecture Aims
Review key research methods brought to
quantitative research by experimental
designs
Outline the role of the quantitative
researcher
Introduce and look at methods of:
– Testing
– Surveys
– Observation and Interviewing

3. The SettingThe Setting
 Experimental research vs
Quasi-Experimental Research
 The need for empirical data
 Sampling is key (stratified
random or purposive)
 Key words are reliability and
validity (internal and external)
 Significance is important
 Eliminate bias
 Remember variables

4. TestingTesting

5. Why Test?Why Test?
Established tests tend to have measures of
reliability and validity
Testing before and after an intervention can
show evidence of change (and the direction
of change)
Tests for significance can occur (ANOVA,
Chi Square)

6. What to testWhat to test
 Psychometric variables
 Biological/Physiological
changes
 Educational Changes (IQ etc)

7. How?How?
Don’t create your own
test instead find
established tests which
have measures of
reliability and validity

8. Survey ResearchSurvey Research

9. Survey ResearchSurvey Research
 Types
– Cross-sectional surveys (inc. Census)
– Longitudinal surveys (trend, cohort, panel)
 How/What
– Text/Document Surveys (primary and secondary
sources)
– Questionnaires inc open/closed items, branching and
clear layout

10. Traps in Questionnaire DesignTraps in Questionnaire Design
 Ambiguity – unclear questions
 Assumptions
– Multiple responses when really only one is wanted
– Memory stretching
– Knowledge demands
 Double questions
 Leading questions
 Presuming questions
 Hypothetical questions
 Overlapping categories

11. Getting it rightGetting it right
 Remember most people don’t want to write or
type
 So quick ticks and clicks work
 Follow the KISS principle
 Use likerts for measuring variability in responses
 Connect the question to the response
 NEVER ask two questions in one!!!
 Keep the survey to under seven minutes
 PILOT, PILOT, PILOT

12. Observation and InterviewingObservation and Interviewing

13. Observation and InterviewingObservation and Interviewing
Observation can have an important function
in quantitative designs but tends to focus on
descriptive elements
Interviewing needs
to be structured
Both observation
and interviewing should only be used for
triangulation of data and results

14. The role of statisticsThe role of statistics

15. Know the basicsKnow the basics
 Nominal
– =/ ≠
– Dichotomous (Gender)/Non-dichotomous (nationality)
– Mode
– Qualitative
 Ordinal (rank order without degree of difference)
– =/ ≠, </>
– Dichotomous (truth, beauty, health)
– Non-dichotomous (opinion)
– Median (psychological tests do tend to break this rule)
– Qualitative
 Interval (degrees of difference but without ratios)
– =/ ≠, </>, +/-
– Date, Latitude, Temperature
– Arithmetic mean (average using sum – what usually happens)
– Quantitative with an arbitrary point of origin (0)
 Ratio
– =/ ≠, </>, +/-, ×/÷
– Age, mass, length, duration, energy etc.
– Geometric mean (average using product and the nth root)
– Quantitative with a unique and non-arbitrary zero

16. Know a little moreKnow a little more
 Correct use of percentages
 Data sets need to be over 30
 Basic tests for significance
– Chi square
– T test
– ANOVA
 Read research critically!!!
– Read for bias
– Read for incorrect use of statistics
– Read so you don’t make the same mistakes