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1.2 Quantitative Approach

The quantitative approach focuses on gathering information from a large number of participants through surveys to identify patterns across groups. It allows comparing outcomes between experimental and control groups, and examining how factors influence outcomes over time. For example, a study surveyed over 1,100 mentors and found that matches lasting over a year reported improved academic and social outcomes. Quantitative research enables generalizing conclusions to broader populations and informing policies through statistical analysis. However, it has limitations in identifying new phenomena and requires control groups for accurate interpretation.

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Saif Ullah Khalid
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90 views2 pages

1.2 Quantitative Approach

The quantitative approach focuses on gathering information from a large number of participants through surveys to identify patterns across groups. It allows comparing outcomes between experimental and control groups, and examining how factors influence outcomes over time. For example, a study surveyed over 1,100 mentors and found that matches lasting over a year reported improved academic and social outcomes. Quantitative research enables generalizing conclusions to broader populations and informing policies through statistical analysis. However, it has limitations in identifying new phenomena and requires control groups for accurate interpretation.

Uploaded by

Saif Ullah Khalid
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1.

2 Quantitative Approach

Introduction

In the world of research, there are two general approaches to gathering and reporting
information: qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative approach to research is
focused on understanding a phenomenon from a closer perspective. The quantitative approach
tends to approximate phenomena from a larger number of individuals using survey methods. In
this lecture, I describe methods that are generally used in each strand of research. Each approach
has its benefits and detriments, and is more suitable to answering certain kinds of questions.

Quantitative Approach
The quantitative approach to gathering information focuses on describing a phenomenon across a
larger number of participants thereby providing the possibility of summarizing characteristics
across groups or relationships. This approach surveys a large number of individuals and applies
statistical techniques to recognize overall patterns in the relations of processes. Importantly, the
use of surveys can be done across groups. For example, the same survey can be used with a
group of mentors that is receiving training (often called the intervention or experimental groups)
and a group of mentors who does not receive such a training (a control group). It is then possible
to compare these two groups on outcomes of interest, and determine what influence the training
had. It is also relatively easy to survey people a number of times, thereby allowing the
conclusion that a certain features (like matching) influence specific outcomes (well-being or
achievement later in life).

Example from youth mentoring research:

Grossman and Rhodes (2002) examined duration of matched relationships in over 1,100 Big
Brothers Big Sisters mentor-mentee matches. Because the information they used was survey-
based and numerical, they were able to employ statistical techniques examining how duration of
match was related to different outcomes of interest.

In using a variety of statistical techniques, they concluded that “youth who were in [matched
mentoring] relationships that lasted a year or longer reported improvements in academic,
psychosocial, and behavioral outcomes” (p. 213). If Grossman and Rhodes had not used survey-
based quantitative research, they would not have had such a large sample of matches and
therefore could not generalize to matches in general. In addition, with a smaller number of
participants, it is challenging to apply some statistical techniques to examine emerging patterns
across such a large group of mentored matches. The current rule of thumb to using complex
statistical modeling is that you need a sample of at least 130 participants. However, for more
complex modeling that controls for characteristics, a larger pool of participants is needed.

Benefits of the quantitative approach:

Using survey methods across a large group of individuals enables generalization. For example, if
policy makers wanted to instantiate a policy about mentor training, they would likely require
some evidence that this training actually works. Interviewing a few individuals, or conducting a
focus group with forty matches, might be reflective of specific cases in which the mentoring
training worked, however, it would not provide strong evidence that such training is beneficial
overall. Stronger support for successful training would be evident if using quantitative methods.

1. Enables gathering information from a relatively large number of participant


2. Can conduct in a number of groups, allowing for comparison
3. Allows generalizing to broader population
4. Provides numerical or rating information
5. Informative for instantiating policy or guidelines
6. Lends to statistical techniques that allow determining relations between variables

Limitations:

1. Difficulty in recognizing new and untouched phenomena


2. Caution in interpretation without a control group

Conclusion

In summary, the qualitative and quantitative approaches to research allow a different perspective
of situations or phenomena. These two main approaches to research are highly informative,
especially if used in combination. Each approach has its benefits and detriments, and being
aware of the methods used to gather information can help practitioners and policy-makers
understand the extent to which research findings can be applied.

More straightforward explanations to essential research concepts & terms.

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