What are the 4 types of quantitative research and when should I use them?

Answer 1

Quantitative research can be broadly categorized into four main types, each with its own characteristics and applications. The choice of which type to use depends on your research objectives and the nature of your research question:

1. Descriptive Research:
2. Purpose: Descriptive research aims to describe and document the characteristics, behaviors, and attributes of a population or phenomenon. It does not involve manipulating variables or making causal inferences.
3. Use When: Use descriptive research when you want to provide a clear, detailed, and comprehensive overview of a particular phenomenon or population. This type is often used for initial exploration or to establish a baseline understanding of a topic.
4. Correlational Research:
5. Purpose: Correlational research examines the statistical relationships or associations between two or more variables without manipulating them. It measures the degree and direction of the relationships using correlation coefficients.
6. Use When: Use correlational research when you want to understand if there is a relationship or association between variables, but you do not intend to establish causation. It's useful for identifying patterns and predicting one variable based on another.
7. Causal Research (Experimental):
8. Purpose: Causal research investigates cause-and-effect relationships between variables. It involves manipulating an independent variable and observing its impact on a dependent variable while controlling for potential confounding factors.
9. Use When: Use causal research when you want to determine whether changes in one variable cause changes in another. Experimental designs, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), are commonly used in causal research to establish causal relationships.
10. Quasi-Experimental Research:
11. Purpose: Quasi-experimental research shares similarities with experimental research but lacks full control over variables. Researchers may manipulate an independent variable and observe its effects but may not have complete control due to ethical or practical constraints.
12. Use When: Use quasi-experimental research when you want to investigate causal relationships but cannot conduct a full experimental study. This type is often employed when random assignment is not feasible.