Research Analysis: Quantitative Methods

• Research analysis encompasses techniques and methodologies used to examine and interpret data for insights and conclusions.
• It systematically investigates a topic, issue, or problem to discover or validate knowledge.

Quantitative Analysis

• This is a systematic approach to understanding phenomena through numerical data collection and analysis.
• It utilizes objective measurements alongside statistical, mathematical, or computational methods.
• It is used to quantify variables and test hypotheses.
• Involves data collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation.

Data Collection

• Methods include surveys, experiments, and secondary data analysis.
• Surveys gather responses from individuals via questionnaires or interviews as data.
• Experiments manipulate variables to observe effects on other variables.
• Secondary data analysis uses existing data collected for different purposes.

Data Processing

• Data cleaning corrects errors or inconsistencies.
• Data transformation converts data formats.
• Data reduction summarizes or selects subsets of data.

Data Analysis

• Descriptive statistics summarize dataset features like mean, median, and standard deviation.
• Inferential statistics draw population conclusions from sample data using hypothesis testing and confidence intervals.
• Regression analysis models relationships between independent and dependent variables.

Interpretation

• Statistical significance measures the probability of results occurring by chance.
• Effect size measures the impact of an independent variable on a dependent variable.
• Study limitations are factors that might have influenced the results.

Qualitative Analysis

• Qualitative analysis understands phenomena through non-numerical data collection and analysis.
• It focuses on the meaning of experiences, ideas, and concepts.
• It explores complex issues and develops new theories.
• Data collection, analysis, and interpretation are typically involved.

Data Collection

• Interviews collect data through open-ended questions.
• Focus groups collect data through guided discussions with a group.
• Ethnography involves observation and interaction within a natural setting.
• Document analysis examines written or visual materials.

Data Analysis

• Data reduction selects relevant data subsets.
• Data display organizes data visually, like in tables or charts.
• Conclusion drawing involves interpreting the data.

Interpretation

• Credibility is the trustworthiness of findings.
• Transferability is the applicability of findings to other contexts.
• Dependability is the consistency of findings.
• Confirmability is the extent to which data supports the findings.

Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

• Quantitative analysis focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis; qualitative analysis focuses on non-numerical data and interpretive analysis.
• Quantitative analysis measures relationships between variables; qualitative analysis interprets experiences.
• Hypotheses are often tested and findings are generalized using quantitative analysis, while qualitative analysis explores issues and develops theories.
• Surveys, experiments, and secondary data are used for quantitative data collection, while qualitative data collection uses interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and document analysis.
• Data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing are techniques in qualitative data analysis, while descriptive, inferential statistics, and regression analysis are techniques in quantitative data analysis.
• Objectivity is emphasized in quantitative analysis, while subjectivity is emphasized in qualitative analysis.
• Depending on scope, quantitative analysis can be faster and cheaper than qualitative.
• Qualitative analysis can be more in-depth compared to quantitative analysis.
• The choice between quantitative and qualitative analysis depends on the research question, the nature of the phenomenon under investigation, and the resources available.
• A mixed-methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative analysis can provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the research topic.