Nature of Inquiry and Research

Lesson 1
NATURE OF
INQUIRY AND
RESEARCH
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Research method is classified into
two main types: quantitative and
qualitative.
Qualitative research generally
concerned with understanding
phenomenon relating to or involving
quality or kind.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative research uses
scientifically collected and
statistically analyzed data to
investigate observable
phenomena. It is based on the
measurement or quantity.
It uses a scientific method in
designing and collecting numerical
data. Once data is collected, it will
undergo statistical analysis like
Pearson’s r, t-test and Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA) for analysis
among others.
Numerical data are generally easier
to collect than descriptions or phrases
used in qualitative research. Some
data are not directly countable and
thus require conversion from non-
numerical information into numerical
information.
Characteristics of Quantitative
Research
1. Large Sample Size. To obtain more
meaningful statistical result, the data must
come from a large sample size.
2. Objectivity. Data gathering and analysis
of results are done accurately, objectively,
and are unaffected by the researcher’s
intuition and personal guesses.
3. Concise Visual Presentation. Data is
numerical which makes presentation
through graphs, charts, and tables
possible and with better conveyance
and interpretation.
4. Faster Data Analysis. The use of a
statistical tools gives way for a less
time-consuming data analysis.
5. Generalized Data. Data taken from a
sample can be applied to the population if
sampling is done accordingly, i.e., sufficient
size and random samples were taken.
6. Fast and Easy Data Collection. Depending
on the type of data needed, collection can be
quick and easy. Quantitative research uses
standardized research instruments that allow
the researcher to collect data from a large
sample size efficiently.
7. Reliable Data. Data is taken and
analyzed objectively from a sample as a
representative of the population, making it
more credible and reliable for
policymaking and decision making.
8. High Replicability. The Quantitative
method can be repeated to verify findings
enhancing its validity, free from false or
immature conclusions.
Advantages of Quantitative Research
1. Very objective
2. Numerical and quantifiable data can
be used to predict outcomes.
3. Findings are generalizable to the
population.
4. There is conclusive establishment of
cause and effect
5. Fast and easy data analysis
using statistical software.
6. Fast and easy data gathering
7. Quantitative research can be
replicated or repeated.
8. Validity and reliability can be
established
Disadvantages of Quantitative Research
1. It lacks the necessary data to
explore a problem or concept in depth.
2. It does not provide comprehensive
explanation of human experiences.
3. Some information cannot be
described by numerical data such as
feelings, and beliefs.
5. The participants are limited to
choose only from the given
responses.
6. The respondents may tend to
provide inaccurate responses.
7. A large sample size makes data
collection more costly.
Kinds of Quantitative Research
1. Descriptive design is used to
describe a phenomenon by observing
it as it occurs in nature. There is no
experimental manipulation, and the
researcher does not start with a
hypothesis. Its goal is to describe the
person or object of the study.
An example of descriptive research
design is:
the determination of the different

kinds of physical activities and how
often high school students do it during
the quarantine period
2. Correlational design identifies the
relationship between variables. Data is
collected by observation since it does
not consider the cause and effect, for
example,
the relationship between the

amount of physical activity done and
student academic achievement.
3. Ex post facto design is used to
investigate a possible relationship
between previous events and present
conditions. It looks at the causes of an
already occurring phenomenon.
How does the parent’s academic

achievement affect the children
obesity?
4. A quasi-experimental design is used to
establish the cause-and-effect relationship
of variables. The quasi-experimental has
lesser validity due to the absence of
random selection and assignment of
subjects. The independent variable is
identified but not manipulated. The
researcher does not modify pre-existing
groups of subjects.
The group exposed to treatment
(experimental) is compared to the
group unexposed to treatment
(control):
Enhancing reading comprehension

and language proficiency skills of
students through Project READ
5. Experimental design is used to establish the
cause-and-effect relationship of two or more
variables. This design provides a more
conclusive result because it uses random
assignment of subjects and experimental
manipulations.
A comparison of the effects of various

blended learning to the reading
comprehension of elementary pupils.
Importance of Quantitative Research Across Fields
VARIABLE
A variable is anything that has
a quantity or quality that varies.
Generally, variables can be
classified as:
1. Dependent variable
2. Independent variable
An independent variable is a
variable that represents a quantity
that is being manipulated in an
experiment. A dependent
variable represents a quantity
whose value depends on how the
independent variable is
manipulated.
In an experimental quantitative
design, the independent variable
is pre-defined and manipulated by
the researcher while the
dependent variable is observed
and measured.
An extraneous variable is any
variable that you're not
investigating that can potentially
affect the dependent variable of
your research study.
When the researcher fails to
control the extraneous variable
that it caused considerable effect
to the outcome, the extraneous
variable becomes a confounding
variable.
The variables can also be classified
according to their nature.
1. Quantitative variables, also
called numerical variables, are the
type of variables used in
quantitative research because
they are numeric and can be
measured.
A. Discreet variable
B. Continuous variable
A. Discrete variables are countable
whole numbers. It does not take negative
values or values between fixed points. For
example: number of students in a class,
group size and frequency.
B. Continuous variables take fractional
(non-whole number) values that can either
be a positive or a negative. Example:
height, temperature.
Quantitative data have two levels of
measurement, namely:
A. Intervals are quantitative variables
where the differences between
consecutive values are meaningful, but
the numbers are arbitrary. Examples of
interval data are temperature number
of years and IQ score.
B. Ratio type of data is similar to
interval. The only difference is the
presence of a true zero value. The
zero point in this scale indicates the
absence of the quantity being
measured. Examples are age, weight,
and distance.
2. Qualitative Variables also
referred to as categorical variables
are not expressed in numbers but
are descriptions or categories. It
can be further divided into
dichotomous, nominal or ordinal.
A. Dichotomous variable consists of only
two distinct values, for example, a
response to a question either be a yes or
no.
B. Nominal variable defines groups of
subjects. In here, you may have more than two
categories of equivalent magnitude. For
example, a basketball player’s number is used
to distinguish him from other players. Other
examples are blood type and hair color.
C. Ordinal variable denotes that a
variable is ranked in a certain order.
For example, a survey questionnaire
may have a numerical rating like 1, 2,
3, 4, 5 ranked accordingly (5=highest,
1=lowest) or categorical rating like
strongly agree, agree, neutral,
disagree and strongly disagree.

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Lesson 1

the determination of the different

the relationship between the

How does the parent’s academic

Enhancing reading comprehension

A comparison of the effects of various

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