Describe specific quantitative methods and tools that could be used within your discipline to gather data. Include your rationale.
Quantitative research is used to test theories by examining the relationships between variables that can be measured and analyzed using statistical procedures. Quantitative methods aim to measure using numbers to create a mathematical description living no room for ambiguity (Creswell, 2002). Quantitative research is useful in science, mathematics, business, and other sectors that require interpretation of specific data. Quantitative research is useful in business because organizations can get objective and conclusive answers. According to Zyphur & Pierides (2017), quantitative research is classified into two: descriptive and exploratory based on the objectives of the study. The four types of quantitative research are survey, experimental, causal-comparative and correlational studies. However, the quantitative methods and tools that are applicable in business are questionnaires, interviews, observation, and records. The four methods are used to acquire primary data about products, services, customers, competitors among other variables that affect a business.
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2. Evaluate their effectiveness concerning certain areas within your discipline.
Survey (questionnaires) is a standard quantitative method used to ask questions through techniques such as online polls, questionnaires through social media and emails, and traditional surveys. Organizations often use a survey method to understand what customers think about their products and services, customer complaints, and how well the product is performing in the market. Surveys enable quantitative researchers to ask multiple questions from a pool of customers and analyze data to produce numerical results. Surveys can be conducted within a specific target group or across various groups to enable comparative analysis. Businesses utilize surveys because they can be done quickly through online forums unlike in the past when they were conducted face-to-face or through phone calls.
Questionnaires are useful for researching business. They are not time-consuming in comparison to interviews and other quantitative tools. Questionnaires are common, and participants tend to respond well to questionnaires than other tools. They are universal and simple to use. Surveys are also cost-effective, and they are useful for organizations that conduct research frequently. Questionnaires have certain limitations that reduce their effectiveness. They lack the depth and provide limited information. Participants also lose interests in questionnaires when they are long and can give inaccurate responses just to be done with the questionnaire.
Another quantitative tool is an interview. Interviews for quantitative research is done with the aim of gathering numerical data. The interviews can be done face-to-face or over the phone. Interviews can be structured or unstructured. Structured interviews are efficient, and they hasten the interview process, unlike unstructured interviews where researchers ask questions and engage in a conversation with the participants. Interviews are useful because they provide in-depth information. Interviews are also more flexible than questionnaires and other quantitative tools giving researchers room to ask follow-up questions and clarify answers. Interviews make it possible to access more precise data that will be used to reach reliable conclusions. Barnham (2015) states that the main shortcomings of the interviews are that they are time-consuming. Organizations will have to spend a lot of resources on travel, interviewer salaries, and other expenses incurred during the data collection process. Also, unstructured interviews can provide a lot of information that will be hard to quantify.
The other tools for quantitative research are observation and records. Observation is not a common tool in business unless for technology companies that want to observe participants as they use their products. Observation is mostly used to collect qualitative data. A business that deals with technical products can use simple observation to collect data inexpensively. Researchers are the ones who record data themselves; they will focus on information that will be usable. Observation is ineffective, and it requires extensively trained researchers. Observation also has room for bias since the researchers record the quantitative information. Lastly, using records as a quantitative tool is common in business. Businesses use external data to generate critical information that will answer the research question and influence business decisions. Government institutions such as the Bureau of Statistics, public organizations, and nonprofits generate large data sets that can be utilized by business. Records are effective because they have comprehensive data captured over an extended period. Records are also inexpensive. The main limitation of records is that they provide numerical data without reason or cause behind the data. Analyzing large data sets can also be challenging.
3. In your opinion, what is the future of quantitative research both within your discipline and in general?
Quantitative research methods are used to identify a problem or phenomenon with the aim of coming up with a specific solution to address the issue. The different quantitative methods and tools have their advantages. In the future, researchers have to take into consideration the recent advances in technology and their effects on quantitative research. Modern technology has broadened the perspective of research, and quantitative researchers should not limit themselves to surveys, interviews, and ethnographies. Quantitative researchers should also take advantage of the new data collection platform and analytical tools to address the challenges of quantitative research.
References
Barnham, C. (2015). Quantitative and qualitative research: Perceptual foundations. International Journal of Market Research , 57 (6), 837-854.
Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative (pp. 146-166). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Zyphur, M. J., & Pierides, D. C. (2017). Is quantitative research ethical? Tools for ethically practicing, evaluating, and using quantitative research. Journal of Business Ethics , 143 (1), 1-16.
