Quantitative Research

Quantitative research is the empirical information gathering process. This mode of research involves the researcher being distant and objective. The researcher knows in advance what they are looking for, and asks specific questions to test a hypothesis they have develop which will gather answers. The main characteristic of quantitative data is the information gathered will be numerical data. The information will be analyzed through mathematical calculations. Basic research designs are experimental, correlational, and survey. In correlational research variables are measured. The purpose is to identify the relationship between the variables. In experimental research, variables are manipulated, and the effects of this manipulation is measured upon the dependent variable. In surveys, researchers ask participants questions about the variable within the study.
When using quantitative research, one must know clearly what needs to be examined. Sometimes quantitative researchers work with large data sets; in contrast, qualitative researchers work with small groups, and sometimes, only one subject. The presence of an independent variable and dependent variable are key qualifications of quantitative research, as qualitative research is about discovery, not testing. An independent variable is the portion of the study the researcher makes a hypothesis on. This variable is the portion manipulated by the researcher. The dependent variables are the factors not manipulated, but should change with the changes in the independent variable.

The considerations of quantitative data are objectivity, type of design chosen, accuracy, feasibility, and validity. We want to be able to control the focus of our study. The review of the literature should be written in the way that the reader can judge and acknowledge the objectivity of the researcher. The eye must be narrow for this type of researcher. The research design purpose gives a plan of what will be studied and how. You increase the control of the research study through being objective, which occurs by being a stoic standby instead of involving oneself with external factors. Accuracy is gained through the theoretical framework and the research review.
Feasibility deals with time, money and people. Is there enough time to complete the study? Is there enough subjects available to researcher? Is the study thoroughly financially sponsored? Is the study based on the researcher's skills and interests? Are steps being taken to secure the safety of the test subjects? A researcher wants to make sure the study participants are given equal study materials (the same information, the same survey, etc.). This is different from qualitative research, for qualitative research can change paths due to information given by a subject.

A researcher needs to reduce the outside variables that would disrupt study results. These extraneous variables are usually unexpected and can come into place through using consistent data collection procedures or a similar data set can reduce this effect. However, when you streamline the data set, you can limit the generality of the study and you limit the ability to use the study for other applications.

Randomization is where each subject in the study has an equal chance of being a part of the control group or the experimental group. Internal validity evaluates whether the independent variable really made a change in the dependent variable, which occurs by eliminating the likelihood of other factors as contrary explanations. History (an event inside or outside of the experiment), maturation (things that operate on or in a person over time outside of the experiment), death of a study subject, and selection bias (from the researcher) are all examples of threats to internal validity. External validity is the point in which study results can apply to other people and can be useful to other studies. The final conclusion of quantitative research involves a comparisons of means, and explaining the statistical significance of one's findings.

References

Brock, Stephen E. Descriptive & Correlational Research. Sacramento : California State University. Accessed at  http://www.csus.edu/indiv/b/brocks/Courses/EDS%20250/EDS%20250/PowerPoint/PDFs/Presentation%207.pdf 
Cohen, L., Manion, L. & Morison, K. (2000). Research Methods in Education, 5th edition. Routledge Falmer.
Johnson, B., & Christensen, L. (2008). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and

 mixed approaches (p. 34). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.