List and briefly the describe the seven characteristics of quantitative research.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

1. Deep roots in positivism
a. Description which might include discussion of: scientific method; verification through observation; objective reality that can be known concretely; through precise measurement and structured analysis, research can lead to a full understanding of reality; “Top-down ” approach: practitioner-scholars develop hypotheses on the bases of theory and then test these hypotheses using data
2. Deductive analysis is central
a. Description which might include discussion of: deductive analysis, which is type of analysis that occurs when a practitioner-scholar works from a series of premises to formulate a broader understanding or conclusion; construct analyses based on a series of hypotheses that are typically derived from existing theories; practitioner-scholars should think critically about the theories that inform their hypotheses and constructs that they query
3. Numerical data is typically used
a. Description which might include discussion of: exclusive reliance on numeric data is a unique aspect of quantitative research; data retrieved from a variety of sources (e.g., student achievement tests, surveys, school information systems)
4. Quantitative research is not synonymous with statistics
a. Description which might include discussion of quantitative researchers using statistics as tools to make sense of data; expect statistics to be used in a quantitative research study
5. Generalizability
a. Description which might include discussion of: definition of generalizability, which is the assumption that data from a sample represent the larger population from which the sample is drawn; results represent the broader population; requires all individuals have an equal chance to be included in the study; definition of random assignment, which refers to the process of assigning participants in a way that ensures each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to a group
6. Objectivity in the research process
a. Description which might include discussion of objectivity, which is concept that has been linked to the assumption that a truth or reality exists outside of the research process or the practitioner-scholar; uncovering independent truth or reality without contaminating it with his or her biases; increasingly critiqued or rejected by educational researchers; quantitative researchers assume that biases of researchers can be minimized and researcher’s role is detached or distanced from the study; gives them confidence that their data accurately reflect the reality of those who were studied
7. Strong concern for freedom from bias and measurement error
a. Description which might include discussion of: numerous steps are taken to reduce potential bias and error; both undermine the practitioner-scholar’s assurance that what they are observing is an accurate/true reflection of the world; both undercut the positivist orientation; definition of bias which is a concept that refers to a practitioner-scholar’s or a study’s tendency to ignore, overlook, or incorrectly interpret data collected in a study; definition of measurement error which is “the difference between an individual’s true score on a test and the scores that the individual actually obtains on it [the test] when administered over a variety of conditions” (Gall, Gall, & Borg, 2007, p.644)