· Introduction Quantitative research methodology uses a deductive reasoning process (Erford, 2015, p. 5). It is based on philosophical assumptions that are very different from those that support qualitative research. Quantitative studies fall under what is broadly described as a positivist perspective. Epistemologically, knowledge is something that is believed to be objective and measurable, and the nature of reality (that is, ontology) is such that there is one fixed, observable, and definable reality. Quantitative approaches to research emphasize the objectivity of the researcher, and because a goal is to uncover the one true reality, values (axiological assumptions) and the subjective nature of experience are not likely to be examined. Quantitative Research Designs Quantitative research can be categorized in different ways. Brief descriptions of some designs appear below. The chosen research design is determined by the nature of the inquiry, that is, what the researcher wants to learn by conducting the study. Counseling Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods thoroughly describes several major reseach. Experimental Research Experimental research, one of the quantitative designs, involves random selection and random assignment of subjects to two or more groups over which the researcher has control. This is what distinguishes experimental studies from the other designs. Experimental studies in counseling are not that common, because many research questions do not lend themselves to random selection and assignment for ethical reasons. Experimental studies compare the effect of one or more independent variables on one or more dependent variables. Independent variables fall into two broad categories. One type of independent variable involves measuring some characteristic inherent in the study's participants, such as their age, gender, IQ, personality traits, income, or education level. These demographic or blocking variables are not something which the researcher can manipulate, though the researcher can statistically control for them. The treatment or experimental conditions that the researcher sets up is the other type of independent variable, which is unique to experimental designs. The element of control is what permits researchers to conclude that one variable has caused a change in another variable. Quasi-Experimental Research Quasi-experimental research designs come in many different forms. Like experimental research, the researcher aims to compare the effect of the independent variable under their control on the dependent variable. However, the researcher does not or cannot randomly assign individual participants to treatment and control groups, so cause-and-effect relationships cannot be as strongly inferred from the results. Pre-existing conditions of one group in comparison to the other may confound the findings. An example might be a study to examine the potential effects of a new curriculum aimed at reducin.

1. ·
Introduction
Quantitative research methodology uses a deductive reasoning
process (Erford, 2015, p. 5). It is based on philosophical
assumptions that are very different from those that support
qualitative research. Quantitative studies fall under what is
broadly described as a positivist perspective. Epistemologically,
knowledge is something that is believed to be objective and
measurable, and the nature of reality (that is, ontology) is such
that there is one fixed, observable, and definable reality.
Quantitative approaches to research emphasize the objectivity
of the researcher, and because a goal is to uncover the one true
reality, values (axiological assumptions) and the subjective
nature of experience are not likely to be examined.
Quantitative Research Designs
Quantitative research can be categorized in different ways.
Brief descriptions of some designs appear below. The chosen
research design is determined by the nature of the inquiry, that
is, what the researcher wants to learn by conducting the study.
Counseling Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed
Methods
thoroughly describes several major reseach.
Experimental Research
Experimental research, one of the quantitative designs, involves
random selection and random assignment of subjects to two or
more groups over which the researcher has control. This is what
distinguishes experimental studies from the other designs.
Experimental studies in counseling are not that common,

2. because many research questions do not lend themselves to
random selection and assignment for ethical reasons.
Experimental studies compare the effect of one or more
independent variables on one or more dependent variables.
Independent variables fall into two broad categories. One type
of independent variable involves measuring some characteristic
inherent in the study's participants, such as their age, gender,
IQ, personality traits, income, or education level. These
demographic or blocking variables are not something which the
researcher can manipulate, though the researcher can
statistically control for them. The treatment or experimental
conditions that the researcher sets up is the other type of
independent variable, which is unique to experimental designs.
The element of control is what permits researchers to conclude
that one variable has caused a change in another variable.
Quasi-Experimental Research
Quasi-experimental research designs come in many different
forms. Like experimental research, the researcher aims to
compare the effect of the independent variable under their
control on the dependent variable. However, the researcher does
not or cannot randomly assign individual participants to
treatment and control groups, so cause-and-effect relationships
cannot be as strongly inferred from the results. Pre-existing
conditions of one group in comparison to the other may
confound the findings. An example might be a study to examine
the potential effects of a new curriculum aimed at reducing
bullying in a school district. You provide the training to the
fourth through sixth grades in one school but not in another,
assuming a large school district in which there are two or more
middle schools. You could randomly select which school
receives the curriculum (treatment group) and which does not
(control group), but you cannot assign individuals to either
group. With quasi-experimental studies, it is particularly
important for the researcher to carefully consider the threats to

3. validity in the interpretation of the results.
Factorial Designs
Quantitative studies which have the large sample sizes required
to maintain sufficient statistical power may be used to examine
the interactive effects of more than one independent variable.
For instance, one might examine whether or not people with
different personality types, as measured on the Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator, respond differently to different types of
counseling treatments, while also examining whether or not men
and women respond in the same ways to various treatments.
When previous research suggests that there may be differential
effects on people due to some demographic factor, then one
would need to adopt a factorial design to control for these
differential effects. Otherwise, the validity of the study could
be limited.
Descriptive Designs
Descriptive studies attempt to improve understanding of a
phenomenon, either by describing it in succinct quantitative
terms or by describing its underlying factors. The goal is not to
establish a cause-and-effect relationship, but to use statistics
(such as descriptive statistics, correlation, or multiple
regression) or data reduction procedures (such as cluster
analysis, factor analysis, and multidimensional scaling) to
better understand a phenomenon or relationship. Causation
cannot be inferred when descriptive designs are used.
Meta-Analysis
Meta-analysis is a statistical procedure which is also considered
a non-experimental design (Erford, 2015, p. 139) for
determining the degree to which a number of studies examining
the same phenomena are in agreement. It takes the standard

4. literature review to another level where statistics are applied in
determining an overall effect size. In essence, meta-analysis
combines several studies and analyzes them as though they were
one big study.
Reference
Erford, B. T. (2015).
Research and evaluation in counseling
(2nd ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage.
Objectives
To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be
expected to:
1.
Summarize the methodological structure of quantitative studies.
Assignment
Quantitative Research Articles Summary
After studying the introduction to this unit and completing the
study activities, briefly compare the uses of the research
designs employed in the studies. What is each research design
used to determine (for example, relationships between variables,
differences among groups)? For one of the quantitative studies,
summarize how the
quantitative studies, summarize how the sampling, data
collection, and data analysis procedures worked together to

5. address the hypothesis. The post should be written in your own
words, not direct quotes from the article. Incorporate material
from the course text in a meaningful way.
The suggested length for this post is 400–500 words.