Quantitative Research Essay -- Scientific Research Science Essays

Quantitative Research Quantitative query is based on statements much(prenominal) as anything that exists exists in a certain quantity and can be measured. While Thorndikes statement from 1904 appears to be fairly innocent and direct, it staked an beta philosophical position that has persisted in social science research end-to-end most to this century. (Custer, 1996, p. 3). In 1927, William F. Ogburn successfully lobbied to have Lord Kelvins motto When you cannot measure, your knowledge is meager and unsatisfactory prominently and permanently mould onto the face of the University of Chicagos social science research building. In this decade, however, the competing icons of quantitative and qualitative research have become almost work partners in educational research. Many researchers today advocate a mental image of choices that seeks methodological appropriateness as the primary criterion for judging methodological quality. This will allow for situational responsiveness that s trict adherence to one paradigm or another will not (Patton, 1990, p. 30).The ideals of quantitative research claim for procedures that argon public, that use precise definitions, that use objectivity-seeking methods for data collection and analysis, that are replicable so that findings can be confirmed or disconfirmed, and that are authoritative and cumulativeall resulting in knowledge useful for explaining, predicting, and controlling the make of teaching on student outcomes (Gage, 1994, p. 372).This is the basic definition of quantitative research that will be discussed in this paper. For purposes of comparison, qualitative analysis will be frequently mentioned along with quantitative analysis.The Two ParadigmsA quantitativ... ...litative Research Methodologies. ledger of Industrial Teacher Education 34(2) 3-6.Gage, N. L. (1994). The Scientific Status of Research on Teaching. educational Researcher 44(4) 371-383.Hathaway, R. S. (1995). Assumptions Underlying Quantitative and soft Research Implications for institutional Research. Research in Higher Education 36(5) 535-562.Hoepfl, M. C. (1997). Choosing Qualitative Research A Primer for Technology Education Researchers. Journal of Technology 9(1) 12-39.Howe, K. R. (1985). Two Dogmas of Educational Research. Educational Researcher 14(8) 10-18.Liebscher, P. (1998). Quantity with Quality? Teaching Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in an LIS Masters Program. Library Trends 46(4) 668-680.Patton, M. Q. (1990). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. Newbury Park, CA, Sage Publications, Inc.