A500.7.3.RB_MedinaM

            There are two types of research designs: descriptive and explanatory research. Descriptive research design is also known as qualitative research, which aims to answer questions such as what exists or happens in society. Explanatory research design, which is known as quantitative research, aims to answer questions such as why does it exist or happen. In other words, qualitative or descriptive research aims to answer questions to how something happens, while quantitative or explanatory research aims to answer why questions.

According to the PDF slides developed by Tero Mamia, Quantitative research aims at explaining problems, issues, and results through the use of numbers. It is based on the idea that social phenomena can be quantified, measured and expressed numerically (Mamia). Basically the goal of quantitative research is to determine the connection between independent and dependent variables. A variable is an observable and measurable unit that can then be used to compare other observable measurable units. This type of research generates numerical data that can be analyzed by statistical methods. The numerical data is often collected in the form of surveys or questions. For example, ERAU survey asks students to rate his or her teacher’s performance. Typically, these types of surveys have number answers, such as 5 for very satisfied to 1 very dissatisfied. To my understanding these numbers or observations are then processed into a data matrix for analysis.

            There are various strengths and weaknesses to quantitative research. Some of the strengths are: it enables research and description of social structures and processes, allows for comparisons between variables, gives a description of change, and it analyses and explains social phenomena dependencies. The weaknesses of quantitative research are: it simplifies and compresses reality, only applicable to quantifiable phenomena, and it assumes the researcher has extensive knowledge on the subject in order to ask the correct questions on the survey (Mamia).