Editing Quantitative research (section)

{{Short description|All procedures for the numerical representation of empirical facts}}
{{for|applications in social science|Quantitative social research}}
{{Research}}

'''Quantitative research''' is a research strategy that focuses on quantifying the collection and analysis of data.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Bryman, Alan |title=Social research methods |date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-958805-3 |edition=4th |location=Oxford |oclc=751832004}}</ref> It is formed from a [[Deductive reasoning|deductive]] approach where emphasis is placed on the testing of theory, shaped by [[Empiricism|empiricist]] and [[Positivism|positivist]] philosophies.<ref name=":0" />

Associated with the [[natural science|natural]], [[Applied science|applied]], [[Formal science|formal]], and [[social science]]s this research strategy promotes the [[Objectivity (philosophy)|objective]] [[empirical research|empirical investigation]] of observable [[phenomenon|phenomena]] to test and understand relationships. This is done through a range of quantifying methods and techniques, reflecting on its broad utilization as a research strategy across differing [[academic discipline]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Babbie, Earl R. |title=The practice of social research |date=2010 |publisher=Wadsworth Cengage |isbn=978-0-495-59841-1 |edition=12th |location=Belmont, Calif |oclc=317075477}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Muijs, Daniel |title=Doing quantitative research in education with SPSS |date=29 December 2010 |isbn=978-1-84920-323-4 |edition=2nd |location=Los Angeles |oclc=656776067}}</ref><ref name="Given 2008">{{cite book|last=Given|first=Lisa M.|title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods|publisher=[[SAGE Publications]]|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4129-4163-1|location=Los Angeles}}</ref>

There are several situations where quantitative research may not be the most appropriate or effective method to use:

1. When exploring in-depth or complex topics.

2. When studying subjective experiences and personal opinions.

3. When conducting exploratory research.

4. When studying sensitive or controversial topics

The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ [[mathematical model]]s, [[scientific theory|theories]], and [[hypothesis|hypotheses]] pertaining to phenomena. The process of [[measurement]] is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between [[empirical]] [[observation]] and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.

Quantitative data is any data that is in numerical form such as statistics, percentages, etc.<ref name="Given 2008"/> The researcher analyses the data with the help of [[descriptive statistics|statistics]] and hopes the numbers will yield an [[Bias (statistics)|unbiased]] result that can be generalized to some larger population. [[Qualitative research]], on the other hand, inquires deeply into specific experiences, with the intention of describing and exploring meaning through text, narrative, or visual-based data, by developing themes exclusive to that set of participants.<ref>{{cite book |title=Becoming Qualitative Researchers: An Introduction |last=Corrine |first=Glesne |date=2011 |publisher=[[Pearson plc|Pearson]] |isbn=978-0137047970 |edition=4th |location=Boston |oclc=464594493}}</ref>

Quantitative research is widely used in [[psychology]], [[economics]], [[demography]], [[sociology]], [[marketing]], community health, health & human development, gender studies, and [[political science]]; and less frequently in [[anthropology]] and [[history]]. Research in mathematical sciences, such as [[physics]], is also "quantitative" by definition, though this use of the term differs in context. In the social sciences, the term relates to empirical methods originating in both philosophical [[positivism]] and the [[history of statistics]], in contrast with [[qualitative research]] methods.

Qualitative research produces information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only hypotheses. Quantitative methods can be used to verify which of such hypotheses are true. A comprehensive analysis of 1274 articles published in the top two American sociology journals between 1935 and 2005 found that roughly two-thirds of these articles used quantitative [[Methodology|method]].<ref name="Hunter">{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/s12108-008-9042-1 |title=Collaborative Research in Sociology: Trends and Contributing Factors |year=2008 |last1=Hunter |first1=Laura |last2=Leahey |first2=Erin |journal=The American Sociologist |volume=39 |issue=4 |pages=290–306}}</ref>