{"id":172,"date":"2013-05-06T10:01:47","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T10:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.survio.com\/?p=172"},"modified":"2021-10-04T10:55:13","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T10:55:13","slug":"what-is-quantitative-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/quantitative-research-1-introduction","title":{"rendered":"Quantitative Research 1 &#8211; Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Welcome to our series on quantitative (empirical) research. We wrote it for everyone interested in surveys, both online and offline. Its different part will acquaint you with the general framework for quantitative research. It starts with a simplified description, continues on through research problems, and ends up at the topic of picking a sample.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>This is a nine-part series with three smaller blocks inside it. The articles in it were originally released weekly. Its introductory articles are followed by a block covering the topic of how to compose questionnaires correctly and easily. The last block, meanwhile, focuses on a special area of quantitative research: <\/b><strong>\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.survio.com\/en\">online surveys<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<h3><b>What Is Quantitative Research?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quantitative research is a method for data collection and for scientific and non-scientific research. Its goal is to describe the area being researched. Research should be done using multiple methods, but quantitative research tends to be used the most often, because it is <strong>simple and undemanding<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can think of the <strong>quantitative method<\/strong> as data collection that is focused on large numbers of respondents. These respondents most often answer questions through questionnaires, which are then processed and statistically evaluated.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3><b>Research Methods<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>Quantitative<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> studies are often also linked with <\/span><b>qualitative<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> research. To choose a research method well, every researcher should consider these questions (we cover the topic of formulating questions elsewhere):<\/span><\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What am I researching?<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is my target group?<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much can I spend?<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do I want to achieve?<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is my viewpoint?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following table shows the <strong>difference<\/strong> between <strong>quantitative and qualitative<\/strong> data collection:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Quantitative Data Collection<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Qualitative Data Collection*<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The survey sample has a large number of respondents<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The survey sample has a small number of respondents<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mainly performed using<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.survio.com\/en\/online-surveys\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">questionnaire surveys<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mainly performed using personal interviews<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explores problems around the edges<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explores problems in detail<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small time demands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large time demands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deduction* from results<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Induction* from results<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statistical data processing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-statistical data processing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><b>Research Process Schematic<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The picture below expresses the typical research process\u2014from an unsatisfactory state to the formulation of conclusions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-187\" title=\"quantitative-research-process\" src=\"\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/research-process.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"490\" height=\"451\" \/><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n<ol>\n \t<li><b>Unsatisfactory state<\/b>\u2014you have a problem that you want to solve, but you don\u2019t know exactly how.<\/li>\n \t<li><b>Formulating hypotheses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014proposing a prerequisite for the unsatisfactory state and a method for solving the problem.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Selecting a research method<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014the targeted selection of a research method, based on the predefined hypotheses and research questions.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Data collection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014the process of acquiring answers from respondents using the selected data collection method.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Data analysis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014processing the data obtained from the data collection process.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Implementing conclusions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014transferring new knowledge from the whole research process into the unsatisfactory state for the \u201cproject.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>Advantages of Quantitative Research<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-191\" title=\"1367856506_button_ok\" src=\"\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/1367856506_button_ok.png\" alt=\"quantitative research advantages\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" \/><\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you choose this method (a<\/span> <a title=\"Make your quantitative survey easily\" href=\"\/\/www.survio.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">quantitative research questionnaire<\/a>)<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it will bring you large numbers of responses from your clients, customers, and users, and the other user groups that you or your organization is focusing on. <strong>Based on the statistical processing of quantitatively acquired data, you can use your new knowledge for effective decision-making, precise planning, communication with customers, etc.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This method is also notable in that it is quick, inexpensive, and manageable for individuals, especially if an online data collection questionnaire is used.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Disadvantages of Quantitative Research<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-192\" title=\"1367856509_edit_remove\" src=\"\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/1367856509_edit_remove.png\" alt=\"quantitative research disadvantages\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" \/><\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results from quantitative research can be too general. They are not always able to describe a problem in detail.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The researcher can overlook important properties of the sample surveyed, due to focusing on a specific problem and possibly not taking into account its wider context.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>In a separate piece, we focus on the formulation of of the research problem and the steps connected with it that are important for successfully handling the whole research process.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>If you have any questions, suggestions, or remarks (on this series or otherwise), please don\u2019t hesitate to contact us via<\/b><strong> <a title=\"Survio Official Facebook Page\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theSurvio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a>, <a title=\"Follow Survio on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/theSurvio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter<\/a>, <a title=\"Survio Official G+ Page\" href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114927814960731012065\/posts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">G+<\/a> or\u00a0<a title=\"Contact us\" href=\"https:\/\/www.survio.com\/en\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">e-mail<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div class=\"block block-keywords\">\n<h2>Glossary<\/h2>\n<ul>\n \t<li><b>Qualitative data collection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014a method that studies a small sample group to gain valuable and detailed information, primarily through long interviews and personal contact<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Deduction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014arriving at a certain conclusion from a large amount of data obtained from a large number of people (progressing from a general conclusion to an individual one)\n<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example: Most customers are dissatisfied with the location of the shopping center = the shopping center\u2019s location is poorly chosen.<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Induction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014arriving at a general conclusion based on a small amount of data acquired from a small number of people (progressing from an individual conclusion to a general one)\n<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example: All 10 students studied like to visit the caf\u00e9 = Students like to visit the caf\u00e9 \/ Students like coffee<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Hypothesis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014the prerequisite for research (it can be confirmed or denied)<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Respondent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014a research participant who responds to questions<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><b>Statistical processing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014processing data obtained from questionnaires, which is visualized in an easy-to-read manner (most often it is processed into the form of graphs and tables)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\">Welcome to our series on quantitative (empirical) research. We wrote it for everyone interested in surveys, both online and offline. Its different part will acquaint you with the general framework for quantitative research. It starts&hellip;<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4092,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[79],"class_list":["post-172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-create-a-survey","tag-quantitative-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3850,"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172\/revisions\/3850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-en.survio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}