Tyronn White
Quantitative Research
Research on society can be an interesting and tricky topic. As social researchers are trained to look for patterns or irregularities, it may be more difficult today to find answers to explain why certain patterns exist. With our society changing every few years, due to governmental policies and social media, researching may have difficulties catching up to the changes every few years.
Social researchers must have questions answered as it pertains to their research on what events take place in society. The why and what questions can sometimes be difficult to answer because of how a researcher responds to new knowledge, the self-consciousness of the researcher may impede progress and if the researcher him or herself is part of the object of study.
Also any measurements taken for analysis may be inaccurate due to biases, persuasion through media outlets and personal feelings towards the research.
I my personal opinion, society changes every three to four years. You can see it and feel it through media and social media outlets. The content that is allowed on television and radio may change public perception on topics and events as it is designed to tap into our feelings and possibly persuade our views on social issues.
How to obtain quantitative data?
In quantitative research, the researcher aims at answering the why question, seeking an explanation. The quantitative method states that the social phenomenon can be measured and expressed numerically. The information about a social phenomenon is put into numerical terms that can be measured in statistical information. The numerical terms can be transformed into a rows and columns for a data chart which can be later used as a starting point for an analysis.
An analysis is needed for measurement and documentation of data so it can be used for any type of comparison that a researcher wants to use it for.
How describe data and single variables?
The definition of a variable is anything that can be observable and measurable. Variables are used as a visual representation of what is being researched and or experimented.
Variables may be anything that the researcher wants to represent, individuals, groups, events, multimedia etc.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research:
When gathering information from variables, there are strengths and weaknesses to consider. One of the strengths, to consider is that someone’s research may be a topic(s) that may or may not be directly or easily observable by the general public that may provide important information to the public that may not otherwise be discovered.
This is when biases and personal feelings on a topic should be carefully filtered. If the social researcher discoverers and publishes data discovered that may change public perception, it would be irresponsible for the social researcher not take into account the magnitude of that information.
One weakness to consider is that the information discovered and provided for the researcher may simplify or compress information that may not tell the entire story and may lack perspective.
How to obtain quantitative data?
To obtain qualitative data, the researcher must 1st select s theme or topic as a plan of research. The next step is to get familiar with the theme being researched by asking oneself a few questions. What do I know and don’t know about the theme / topic, has the theme / topic been researched in the manner the researcher wants to research and are there pre-existing data available?
How to describe data and single variables?
The description of single variable and data is all of the information that lends itself to research. Data and single variables give us the meat and potatoes of the results that follow research. Based on our research, a researcher may construct data and variables to indicate and or illustrate whatever the researcher wants to emphasize on. When using variables to illustrate, demonstrate or bring light to subject matter, it is the researcher’s responsibility that the information presented is as accurate as possible. Miss information for the masses may have a negative impact and may be difficult to recover from.
How to analyze relationships (dependencies between two or more variables)?
One way to analyze data and the relationships between two or more variables is to one, research the topic to find the data, indicate the facts found (statistical data, observations, etc.). Explain the information discovered. Illustrate the information discovered by showing charts and graphs to match the data and explanation of that data. Future illustration of the data through charts and graphs may illustrate comparisons and contrast between the variables. Once again this is opportunity for biases and personal feelings on charts and graphs on the variables should be carefully filtered and are as accurate as possible. If the social researcher discoverers and publishes data discovered and publish the charts and graphs as factual data, then that data must be factual because sensitive data involving charts and graphs may have a greater impact that the data itself because of the visualization of charts and graphs. It would irresponsible for the social researcher not take into account the magnitude of the information and visualization from charts and graphs.
