Quantitative Methods

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Explores the use of numerical data in research and includes topics such as statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, and survey research techniques.

Introduction to Research Methods: An overview of research methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods, hypothesis development, research questions, and ethical considerations.
Measurement: Different types of measurement, including nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales, the concept of reliability, and validity in research.
Sampling: Various sampling methods, probability, and non-probability sampling techniques, sample size determination, and sampling errors.
Research Designs: Experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental research designs, the use of control groups, and randomization.
Data Collection Techniques: Data collection tools, observation, surveys, and their design, questionnaire construction, and administration.
Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and hypothesis testing.
Statistical Software: The use of statistical software, including SPSS, STATA, and R, for data management, analysis, and visualization.
Writing and Presenting Research: How to organize and write research papers, academic writing styles, publishing research, and presenting findings.
Critiquing Research: Evaluating research articles, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of research, and developing a critical perspective.
Qualitative Methods in Public Administration Research: Introduction to qualitative methods, data collection, analysis, and ethical considerations.
Case Studies: Single-subject and comparative case studies, advantages and limitations, and how to design and conduct a case study.
Survey Research: The use of surveys in public administration research, surveys’ design, and administration, and analysis of survey data.
Content Analysis: Understanding the concept of content analysis, collecting and preparing content for analysis, and analyzing content.
Ethics in Research: The ethical considerations and guidelines for research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and privacy.
Mixed-Methods Research: Integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, the advantages and limitations of using mixed-methods, and how to design mixed-methods research.
Survey Research: This research method is the most commonly used method in public administration research. It involves collecting data from a sample of individuals or organizations through structured questionnaires or interviews.
Experimental Research: This method involves interventions made in a controlled setting to observe the effects on a dependent variable.
Correlational Research: This type of research method focuses on exploring the relationship between two or more variables based on a correlation coefficient.
Comparative Research: This method involves comparing two or more groups or individuals to identify similarities or differences between them.
Statistical Analysis: This method involves the use of statistical tools to analyze numerical data to draw inferences and conclusions.
Historical Research: This method involves the study of past events to gain an understanding of current or future issues.
Case Study Research: This method involves the in-depth study of a particular situation or individual to draw insights and understand the context.
Content Analysis: This method involves analyzing the content of documents, articles, or media to gain insights into public administration issues.
Meta-Analysis: This research method involves synthesizing data from different studies to identify patterns and trends.
- "Quantitative research is a research strategy that focuses on quantifying the collection and analysis of data."
- "Quantitative research is formed from a deductive approach where emphasis is placed on the testing of theory."
- "Quantitative research is shaped by empiricist and positivist philosophies."
- "Associated with the natural, applied, formal, and social sciences, this research strategy promotes the objective empirical investigation of observable phenomena to test and understand relationships."
- "There are several situations where quantitative research may not be the most appropriate or effective method to use."
- "When exploring in-depth or complex topics." - "When studying subjective experiences and personal opinions." - "When conducting exploratory research." - "When studying sensitive or controversial topics."
- "The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories, and hypotheses pertaining to phenomena."
- "The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships."
- "Quantitative data is any data that is in numerical form such as statistics, percentages, etc."
- "Qualitative research, on the other hand, inquires deeply into specific experiences, with the intention of describing and exploring meaning through text, narrative, or visual-based data, by developing themes exclusive to that set of participants."
- "Quantitative research is widely used in psychology, economics, demography, sociology, marketing, community health, health & human development, gender studies, and political science."
- "Quantitative research is less frequently used in anthropology and history."
- "Research in mathematical sciences, such as physics, is also 'quantitative' by definition."
- "Quantitative methods can be used to verify which of such hypotheses are true."
- "A comprehensive analysis of 1274 articles published in the top two American sociology journals between 1935 and 2005 found that roughly two-thirds of these articles used quantitative method."