Which is true of quantitative research? (Select all that apply.)
a. It addresses human responses by measuring or counting them.
b. It presents information by clustering it or counting it.
c. It yields a data set that can be analyzed by statistics.
d. It operates systematically.
e. It states or implies a research question.
f. It operates in a concrete realm.
g. It can always be generalized.
ANS: A, B, C, D, E, F
The quantitative approach to scientific inquiry emerged from a branch of philosophy called logical positivism, which operates on strict rules of logic, truth, laws, axioms, and predictions. Quantitative research requires the use of structured interviews, questionnaires, or observations, scales, or physiological measures that generate numerical data. Statistical analyses are conducted to reduce and organize data, describe variables, examine relationships, and determine differences among groups. Control, instruments, and statistical analyses are used to ensure that the research findings accurately reflect reality so that the study findings can be generalized. Generalization involves the application of trends or general tendencies (which are identified by studying a sample) to the population from which the research sample was drawn. Researchers must be cautious in making generalizations, because a sound generalization requires the support of many studies with a variety of samples.
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