Quantitative Research: Planning, Adapting, and Thriving
By Doina Gavrilov
Unlike qualitative studies that test several aspects simultaneously and adapt easily, quantitative research aims to measure something. It gathers data about a set of variables and focuses on testing one central idea. But, if something goes wrong, we may change the whole study.
How do I know if quantitative research is appropriate for my study?
To answer this question, we must look at the object of study and the research hypothesis. For instance, a hypothesis centred on measuring a process or its impact would match the quantitative methodology. But sometimes, the quantitative methodology may not adequately address the research question and in such cases, we should adopt a mixed methodology.
Does quantitative research match my theoretical choice?
The use of quantitative research in the humanities also depends on the theoretical choice we make. The complex processes and phenomena we deal with often imply qualitative data analysis. So if we choose a quantitative-based methodology, we must know if the theory agrees with the ways we collect and process our data to ensure that the methodology remains consistent with the theory.
Collecting the data
In some cases, collecting data can be easy. Once we define the variables, we can start looking for information. For example, if our study analyses the role of women in the economy of a country, we can focus on the number of women that are employed, their contribution to the country's GDP, the number of business women, etc. This information is sometimes available on official institutions’ online pages.
However, sometimes it may be necessary to be on the field. In both quantitative and qualitative studies, research may go wrong, starting from the research ethics that can be perceived differently by researchers and the participants, to the failure of collecting data as planned because of a pandemic.
The time when nothing worked until it did
No one could predict such a pandemic…
In 2019 I was seeking to measure the institutional change from the perspective of the people who worked in an institution. I planned everything, and in February 2020 I was scheduled to start my internship and collect my data through physical questionnaires. However, at the end of January, I received an email informing me that the internship was postponed.
“Alright,” I was thinking. “It cannot take much time. I will give it a few weeks”.
But in March, a state of alert regarding the pandemic was declared, and no one knew how long it would take. Meanwhile, I was approaching the study deadline.
“What should I do?”
In my overthinking crisis, a light bulb lit up: "What if I change the way I collect the information? And what if the participants could complete the questionnaire wherever they want?”
“I must adapt!”
So, I formulated the questions in Google Questionnaires, and sent the form to the institution for dissemination. I received my answers in one month. I learned my lesson: I could not rely only on one data collection method - I needed a backup plan. While waiting for the answers, I used secondary data and built another measurement system incorporating the new variables.
Key takeaways
If you choose a theory that embraces only quantitative research, make sure you have a good plan on how you would collect the data, but also set a backup plan.
Try to anticipate the unexpected and prepare to adapt.
See the positive side. Even unexpected and less pleasant experiences can provide you information for a study. The research limitations can represent the foundation of a good paper.
Join us for an upcoming webinar on the topic of Quantitative Methodology on April 3, 2024.
About the Author
