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In the name of Allah Kareem, Most Beneficent, Most Gracious, the Most Merciful !. RESEARCH METHOD. LECTURE: 3. Quantitative Research
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In the name of Allah Kareem,Most Beneficent, Most Gracious, the Most Merciful !
RESEARCH METHOD LECTURE: 3
Quantitative Research • Quantitative research is "a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are utilised to obtain information about the world" (Burns and Grove cited by Cormack 1991). Quantitative research is inclined to be deductive. In other words it tests theory. • General aims of quantitative research • To generalize • To be objective • To test theories or hypotheses SUPERIOR GROUP OF COLLEGES
1. Theory 2. Hypothesis 3. Research Design 4. Devise measures of concepts 5. Select research site(s) 6. Select research subjects / Respondents 7. Administer research instruments / collect data 8. Process data 9. Analysis and interpretations 10. Findings / Conclusions 11. Write up findings /conclusions Quantitative Research Process
Concepts and their Measurement • Concept: • Concepts are the generalized ideas about objects, attributes, occurrence or process that has been given a name for identification, be it physical or non physical. Concepts are the building blocks of theory. • Examples • Achievement motivation, Structure, agency, technology, leadership, followers, TQM, functional subcultures, knowledge, managerial identity, motivation, Morale, productivity, etc
Variable Anything that may have varied (different) numerical or categorical values is called variables Example: Gender is a variable: it can take two values male or female. Family income is also a variable as it can take values form zero to billions of rupees.
Construct Variable A construct is a hypothetical mechanism that helps explain and predict behavior in a theory. Example: A bright boy does poor work in college because he has low motivation. Now the question is what motivation is. How we can measure whether it is low or high. Such variables are called Construct, Hypothetical or In-tangibles variables.
Operationalization Operationalization is the process of defining a concept so that it becomes measurable variable, which is achieved by looking at behavioral dimensions and categorizing them into observable and measurable elements. When ever the variables in the research study are hypothetical or construct, you must use operational definition to define and measure the variables.
Motivation Highly Motivated Moderately Motivated Less Motivated Gender Male Female Temperature 97 C 98 C 99 C Time 10 seconds Means 10 seconds more than 0 o o o
Response formats for scales Binary Response formats • My job is usually interesting enough to keep me from getting bored • agree • disagree Numerical Response formats My job is usually interesting enough to keep me for getting bored 5 4 3 2 1 Verbal formats May job is usually interesting enough to keep me from getting bored Strongly agree__ agree__ undecided__ disagree___ strongly disagree__ Bipolar numerical formats I love my job 5 4 3 2 1I hate my job Frequency formats • My job is usually interesting enough to keep me from getting bored • All of the time ____ • often _____ • fairly often ____ • occasionally ___ • none of the time ____
Face Validity (Validity where measure apparently reflects the content of the concept in question) Predictive (Researcher employs the criterion whereby a new scale predicts a future event) Validity (Are we Measuring the Right thing) Concurrent (Researcher employs the criterion whereby a new scale measures a current event) Convergent (A test has convergent validity if it has a high correlation with another test that measures the same construct)
Test-retest reliability Parallel-form reliability Reliability (Accuracy in Measurement) Inter-iterm consistency reliability Split- half reliability
SAMPLING • Important terms in Sampling • Population - basically, the universe of units from which the sample is to be selected. The term ‘units’ is employed because it is not necessarily people who are being sampled. The researcher may want to sample from a universe of nations, cities, regions, firms, etc. thus, ‘population’ has a much broader meaning than the everyday use of the term, whereby it tends to be associated with a nation’s entire population. • Sample – the segment of the population that is selected for the investigation. It is a subset of the population. The method of selection may be based on a probability or a non-probability approach (see below). • Sampling frame – the listing of all the units in the population from which the sample will be selected. • Representative Sample – a sample that reflects the population • Sampling error – the difference between a sample and the population from which it is selected, even though a probability sample has been selected. • Sampling is the process of selecting segment of the population for investigation
Sampling Sampling Technique Probability Non-Probability Simple random sample Convenience sampling Snowball sampling Stratified random sample Quota sampling Systematic sample
Survey Structured Observation Structured Interview Questionnaire Self administered questionnaires Participant Observation Non -Participant Observation On-line questionnaires Telephone Interviews Face to face interview Postal questionnaires QUANTITATIVE METHODS • Surveys • Survey is a quantitative research strategy that involves the structured collection of data from a pre-determined sample. It involves following methods • Questionnaire • Structured interview • Structured Observation
QUESTIONNAIRES “Questionnaire is pre-formulated written set of questions to which respondents record their answers”. Questionnaires can be: • On-line questionnaires • Postal questionnaires • Self administered questionnaire
Variety of factors influence questionnaire The choice of questionnaire will be influenced by a variety of factors related to your • Research question (s) • Research objective • Characteristics of respondents • Size of sample • Dimensions of the concept to be measured • And availability of required resources.
Principle of wording Content and Purpose of question Wording & language Types and form of questionnaire Sequencing Classification Data or personal information Categorizing Coding Questionnaire Principles Of Measurement Scales and Scaling Appearance of questionnaire Reliability & Validity Length of questionnaire General “Getup” Introduction to respondents Introduction for completion
DESIGNING A QUESTIONNAIRE Designing a questionnaire is based on following principles 1- Principle of wording • The nature of the variable will determine what kind and number of questions will be asked i.e ranking, rating or dichotomous • The wording should be simple, easy and appropriate • Closed ended questions will be usedwith the intention to have ease, and enhanced comparability. iv. Add both positively as well as negatively worded questions v. Always avoid double barreled, ambiguous, recall dependent, leading or loaded questions vi. The sequence of questions in the questionnaire should be from general to specific, and easy to more difficult. It is also called funnel approach.
2- Principle of Measurement: • Interval and Ratio scales should be used in preference to nominal or ordinal scales • The measure must be assessed through tests of validity and reliability 3- General Getup: As a whole the questionnaire should cover the following aspects i- The questionnaire should start with a good Introduction followed by well organized questions with instructions and guidance and sequence. Only relevant personal information should be demanded that is not sensitive, at last and ended with a courteous note.
Structured Interviewing Structured interviewing is the process of administering an interview schedule by an interviewer. The aim is for all interviewees to be given exactly the same context of questioning. In this way the interviewers are supposed to read questions exactly. Structured Observations “It is a purposeful, systematic and selective way of watching and listening to an interaction or phenomenon as it takes place”. Observation is suitable when Researcher is more interested in the behavior rather in the perceptions of individuals, When the subjects are so involved in the interaction that they are unable to provide objective information about it.
Types of Observations • There are two types of observation: • Participants observation • Non-participants observation Participant Observation: It is when a researcher participates in the activities of the group being observed in the same manner as its members, with or without their knowing that they are being observed Non-participant Observation: Is when a researcher do not get involved in the activities of the group but remains a passive observer, watching and listening to its activities and drawing conclusions from this. E.g. observing through cameras
Mystery Shopping Mystery shopping is a popular technique used in consumer research that involves sending people (mystery shoppers) into a shop to buy products with the intention to evaluate the effectiveness of retail staff. After the interaction, the shoppers typically fill out rating sheet detailing the nature of the interaction and service they receive. It’s a type of field stimulation.
THANK YOU SUPERIOR GROUP OF COLLEGES 30