What Is Quantitative Research
What Is Quantitative Research
What Is Quantitative Research
Qualitative research produces information only on the particular cases studied, and any more
general conclusions are only hypotheses. Quantitative methods can be used to verify which of
such hypotheses are true.
Quantitative research is generally made using scientific methods, which can include:
Advantage: Quantitative research allows the researcher to measure and analyze data. The relationship
between an independent and dependent variable is studied in detail. This is advantageous because the
researcher is more objective about the findings of the research. Quantitative research can be used to
test hypotheses in experiments because of its ability to measure data using statistics.
Disadvantage: The main disadvantage of quantitative research is the context of the study or
experiment is ignored. Quantitative research does not study things in a natural setting or discuss the
meaning things have for different people as qualitative research does. Another disadvantage is that a
large sample of the population must be studied; the larger the sample of people researched, the more
statistically accurate the results will be.
Examples:
* Research that consists of the percentage amounts of all the elements that make up Earth's
atmosphere.
* Survey that concludes that the average patient has to wait two hours in the waiting room of a
certain doctor before being selected.
* An experiment in which group x was given two tablets of aspirin a day and group y was given two
tablets of a placebo a day where each participant is randomly assigned to one or other of the groups. *
* The numerical factors such as two tablets, percent of elements and the time of waiting make the
situations and results quantitative.
* In finance, quantitative research into the stock markets is used to develop models to price complex
trades, and develop algorithms to exploit investment hypotheses, as seen in quantitative hedge funds
and Trading Strategy Indices.
Tools:
Telephone surveys
Telephone surveys are administered by trained market research interviewers working under strict
quality control guidelines. Telephone data collection remains the most effective means of researching
most B2B audiences in the US and other developed markets; list sources and response rates for online
surveys are typically not sufficient to support a study with a narrowly defined B2B target audience
(e.g., Finance Directors/VPs in large enterprises). Telephone surveys are often augmented with a
website to enable the interviewer to show the respondents visual stimuli (e.g., ad concepts, product
concepts, etc.) during the course of the survey.
Online surveys
Online surveys are used effectively with audiences like small businesses, customers or consumers. With
online surveys, respondents are emailed a link to take a self-administered survey. The online platform
offers a range of possibilities for showing respondents product or advertising concepts, value
propositions, and other visual stimuli. Respondents to online surveys are sourced from online market
research panels, publication subscriber lists, and client’s internal databases.
In-person surveys
Although not commonly used in North America and Europe, in-person surveys are often the only viable
option for conducting surveys with B2B audiences in the Middle East, Latin America and some parts of
Asia. The in-person survey shows respect for the respondent, and is often a more effective way to
engage their attention than a telephone or online survey.
Mobile surveys
Mobile market research is an emerging methodology that is currently used in a very small percentage of
all market research studies. As of today, mobile surveys are simply a short survey administered
through a mobile device interface; respondents are still recruited by email or phone and simply access
the survey on their mobile device. Mobile surveys are used to provide a more convenient option for
the respondent to participate or to engage respondents at the point of experience.
Analytical techniques
When appropriate Isurus uses specialized techniques to analyze and interpret quantitative data.
Examples include conjoint and discrete choice analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis, regression, and
the Van Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter. We apply our statistical knowledge judiciously by focusing
on results that are not only statistically meaningful, but also important from a management and
marketing perspective.