QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative Research

Quantitative Research

Quantitative Research

As a first step, it is necessary to define these two methods of research and examine their goals. Quantitative research can be defined as a process of inquiry examining an identified a problem that is based on testing a theory measured by numbers and analyzed with statistical techniques. Thus, quantitative research involves the analysis of numerical data. A more technical definition is provided by Brady and Collier (2004), who define mainstream quantitative methods as “an approach to methodology strongly oriented toward regression analysis, econometric refinements on regression, and the search for statistical alternatives to regression models in contexts where specific regression assumptions are not met”.

The econometric refinements and statistical alternatives referred to by the authors are beyond the scope of this chapter but include logic and probit models, time-series analysis, and a variety of techniques to circumvent problems that can occur in regression analysis, such as hetero skedasticity and autocorrelation. Essentially, quantitative methods have played a major role in improving on commonly used research tools within the structure of regression models that are frequently used in the field of political science.

Sampling Rationale and technique

There are two methods for sampling populations: nonrandom sampling or judgmental and random sampling (incorporating randomness as a resource in the selection process). When the latter meets the condition that all elements of the population have some chance of being selected in the sample, if the probability for each individual of the population is known in advance, called probability sampling. A sample selected by random sampling, trial may be based on the experience of someone with the population. Sometimes a trial sample is used as a guide or attempt to decide how to sample a random sample.

Probability sampling Part of this type of sampling all those methods which can calculate the ...