A500.7.3.RB – Quantitative Research Reflection
McLeod, Saul (2008) described quantitative research as:
…a research that gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categories,
or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement. This type of data can be used to construct graphs
and tables of raw data. Experiments typically yield quantitative data, as they
are concerned with measuring things.
However, other research methods, such as observations and questionnaires
can produce both quantitative and qualitative information. For example, a rating scale or closed questions on a
questionnaire would generate quantitative data as these produce either numerical
data or data that can be put into categories (e.g. “yes”, “no” answers). Whereas open-ended questions would generate
qualitative information as they are a descriptive
response. Experimental methods limit the possible ways in which a
research participant can react to and express appropriate social behavior. Findings are therefore
likely to be context-bound and simply a reflection of the assumptions which the
researcher brings to the investigation.
Collecting quantitative
data has many avenues such as interview by telephone
or in person, surveys that are self-administered via the
internet and testing in central locations.
Whatever the researcher’s research methodology of choice is, a quantitative
research design should contain a) conservative choices of the best research methodology
since one methodology does not apply to all.
Budget, security issues and timeline has to be however taken into
consideration; b) focus in sample design in order to administer accurate with
the data collection; c) an intelligent and well-composed questionnaire that
consist of a clear understanding of the objective of the research and a clear flow
and logic of questionnaires where participants are not questioned about their situation
instead, they are given appropriate questions to respond to; and d) statistical
analysis that answers to the researcher’s inquiry.
Chukwuba, K. (2015) launched a
study regarding turnover rates of the hotel industries, approximately losing 3.4
billion dollars for about 5 years. It
was discovered that the reason behind revenue loss and high rate of turnover were caused by the insufficiency of data to
chronicle the hotel professionals’ interconnection between gender, education,
job satisfaction and transformational leadership. The hospitality industry in America has been
facing significant challenges in their hiring practices and retaining skilled
hotel employees.
In his study that was focused on
transformational leadership, Chukwuba, K. (2015) utilized a quantitative
methodology with a survey design on the effects of transformational leadership
on job satisfaction for hotel industry
professionals because transformational leadership affords the opportunity to
describe the relationships among quantitative variables. The aim of the quantitative research was to investigate and explain the nature of
the relationship between two variables in the world. For Chukwuba’s (2015) study, transformational
leadership and job satisfaction variables were involved. Correlational research studies go beyond
describing what exists and concern systematically investigating relationships
between two or more variables of interest.
Quasi-experimental research design would have been inappropriate for the
study because it did not involve the manipulation of independent variables, and
lacked one or both the essential properties of randomization and control group
(Chukwuba, K., 2015).
According to Sukamolson, S. (n.d.), there are six main types
of research questions that quantitative research is particularly suited to find
an answer to 1) when we want to a quantitative
answer; 2) numeral change can likewise only accurately be studied utilizing
quantitative methods; 3) quantitative research is useful for conducting audience
segmentation by dividing the population into groups whose members are similar
to each other and distinct from other groups; 4) quantitative research is
useful to quantify opinions, attitudes and behaviors to find out how the whole
population feels about certain issue; 5) quantitative research is suitable to
explain some phenomena, and 6) quantitative
research is especially suited for testing hypothesis.
Overall, the foundation
of a quantitative design is its scientific method. It utilizes deductive reasoning where we a) create
a hypothesis, b) during the investigation
in resolving the problem, we collect data,
and c) we use the collected data from our investigation for analysis in order
to arrive at a conclusion or prove that
our hypothesis is true or false. Taking
a realistic method, we have to determine the type of questions that can be best
answered by using quantitative approach. Researchers take a realistic method and utilize
quantitative approach whenever they want to experiment on a hypothesis.
References:
Chukwuba, Kenneth (2015). Quantitative Model Studying
Effects of Transformational
Leadership on Job Satisfaction. . Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/1749766218?pq-origsite=summon&http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?COPT=REJTPUcyODcrM2IwZiZJTlQ9MCZWRVI9Mg==&clientId=17916
McLeod, Saul A. (2008). Qualitative Quantitative.
Retrieved from
Sukamolson, Suphat (n.d.). Fundamentals of
quantitative research. Retrieved from
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