Designing a QUANTITATIVE Research Study

Think of a Quantitative Study in your field.
In designing this quantitative research project, answer the following questions and give examples.

(a) Who would you study?

• Participants involved in 'generating' the data for analysis.
• This could be students and teachers in the school.
• The participants are identified through random sampling
  

In the case of my research study on "The impact of Web 2.0 technologies on students' ability to communicate their mathematical understanding", the students would be the ones we study.

(b) What permissions would you need?
Permissions from

• the organisation or institution
• the data collection site (e.g. if the organisation operates at different sites)
  
• the people involved (e.g. students, teachers),
  
• parents (in an event when the participants are below a legal age to sign the agreement to participate in the study)

In my project, I will need to seek permission from

• the school where the students under the study are (by writing to the Principal)
  
• the students - who will be involved in the study (control, experiment group)
• the parents - as the students are under the legal age to sign the agreement, the parents' permission need to be obtained
• the teachers of the participating classes

(c) What information would you collect?

• Information are data that would address to the research questions.
  
• There are 4 types:

1. Measure of Performance - e.g. scores from achievement tests
   
2. Measure of Attitude - e.g. a record of participants' feelings towards a topic (through unbias questioning)
   
3. Observation of Behaviour - observations of specific behaviour that are recorded in an instrument like the checklist
4. Factual Information - quantitative data that are available with the organisation, e.g. Exam entry scores of all Secondary 1 students
   

(d) What instruments would you use?

• Instruments are tools used to measure, observe or record quantitative data
• They have to be reliable and valid
• They come in 3 forms:

1. Self-developed instrument
2. Locate and Modify
3. Locate and use in entirety

Examples of instruments include:

• Behavioral checklist
• Achievement test
• Aptitude test
  
• Pre-Post test
  

(e) How would you administer the data collection?
Two aspects need to be addressed to when administering data collection:

• Standardisation: To standardise the data collection procedure in order to minimise the likelihood where data of individuals are uncomparable or unsuitable for analysis. For example, clear instructions on the dos and don'ts (e.g. no calculator is allowed in the pre-test) to a pre/post-test is written clearly on handout and invigilators were thoroughly briefed before they administer the test.
  
• Ethical Issues: The anonymity of the individuals are to be protected so that confidential information will not be shared with participants outside the research.
  

(f) How would you analyse the data?
There are 2 ways to analysis quantitative data:

• Descriptive Statistics that involves the description of
  

1. Measures of Central Tendency (e.g. Mean, Median, Mode)
2. Spread of the Scores (e.g. standard deviation)
3. Ranking of the Scores
   

• Inferential Statistics involves

1. Hypothesis testing
2. Confidence Level
3. Effect Size
   

(g) How would you report the results?

• Results can be reported in the following forms:

1. Tables
2. Figures (includes charts, diagrams)
3. Discussion of the statistical analysis

Report would

• summarise findings in general statement(s)
• explain why they occur
• conclude a studey to advance the limitations to the research
  
• highlight how future research can improve on the weaknesses of the study