1. The Quantitative Research Approach
Chapter 4
The Quantitative Research Approach

2. THE POSITIVIST WAY OF THINKING
Striving Toward Measurability
Striving Toward Objectivity
Striving Toward Reducing Uncertainty
Striving Toward Duplication
Striving Toward the Use of Standardized Procedures

3. RESEARCH APPROACHES

4. STEPS WITHIN THE QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH APPROACH
Steps 1 and 2: Developing the Research Question
Task 1: Develop Concepts
Task 2: Identify Variables and Concepts
Task 3: Put Value Labels on Variables
Task 4: Define Independent and Dependent Variables
Task 5: Construct a Hypothesis
Task 6: Evaluate the Hypothesis
Relevance
Completeness
Specificity
Potential for Testing
Step 3: Designing the Research Study
Step 4: Collecting the Data
Steps 5 and 6: Analyzing and Interpreting the Data
Steps 7 and 8: Presentation and Dissemination of Findings
Descriptive Statistics
Inferential Statistics

5. EXAMPLE OF THE QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHOD
Step 1: What’s the Problem?
Step 2: Formulating Initial Impressions
Step 3: Determining What Others Have Found?
Step 4: Refining the General Problem Area
Step 5: Measuring the Variables
Step 6: Deciding on a Sample
Step 7: Obeying Ethical Principles
Step 8: Collecting the Data
Step 9: Gathering and Analyzing the Data
Step 10: Interpreting the Data
Step 11: Comparing Results with Others Findings
Step 12: Specifying the Study’s Limitations
Step 13: Writing and Disseminating the Study’s Results