Quantitative+Research+Methods

toc =Introduction= Involves metrics reduced to numbers,the process of measurement is centralized around quantitative research because it provides mathematical and empirical expression of quantitative relationships.Used mostly in scientific research of subjects such as physics and sociology. Used mostly in contrast to qualitative research.

=Methods= The following are some methods for quantitative research:

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 * Survey/Questionnaires
 * Sampling
 * Likert Scale Q
 * Scales

Survey
Conducting surveys bring a statistical point of view to wards the research. Quantitative research usually begins with collecting data based on a certain statistical theory, using statistical methods to find the relationships between two causing factors. Using scales such as histograms or dot plots to find causal relationships among factors. It can tell what percentage of people want without involving personal emotions or preferences

Sampling
This method is usually used for individual observations for a population of concern, the five stages of sampling are:
 * Definition of population of concern
 * Specification of a sampling frame, a set of items or events that it is possible to measure
 * Specification of sampling method for selecting items or events from the frame
 * Determine the sample size
 * Implement the sampling plan
 * Sampling and data collecting
 * Review of sampling process

Likert Scale Q
This is a psychometric response often used in questionaires. Subjects are asked to rank different questions on a scale of 1-5, 1-7 or 1-9. A simple sample of a Likert Scale question would be to rate a question such as " PG movies have the same amount of violence as R rated movies" the options on 5 part scale would be something like This not only brings a mathematical point of view into the questionairres but also some what of a personal observation is included as well
 * 1) Strongly disagree
 * 2) Disagree
 * 3) Neither agree nor disagree
 * 4) Agree
 * 5) Strongly agree

Scales
Refers to a set of methods used to analyze survey data. They can be either dichotomous with answers such as agree/disagree or yes/no etc, or they can be polytomous with answers such as disagree/strongly disagree/agree/strongly agree etc. The scales must have comparable results over different studies. There are different models of scales such as the Likert Scale Q mentioned above and the factor analysis. This can be turned into statistical data for researchers to collect.

=Bibliography=

__Quantitative Research__. Wikipedia. Nov.14.2006. __Survey__. Wikipedia.Nov.14.2006.  __Likert Scale__.Wikipedia.Nov.14.2006. Benyon D, Turner P, Turner S. __Designing Interactive Systems People, Activites, Context, Technologies__.London: Pearson Education Limited, 2005.