Study on measurement, quantitative researchQualitative research(Qualitative research) Relative concept. To investigate and study the quantity of things, we must use mathematical tools to analyze the quantity of things. This is called quantitative research, also known as quantitative researchQuantitative research, Yessocial sciencesA basic aspect of the fieldResearch Paradigm, alsoscientific researchThe importance ofstepAnd methods.
DMB Research (DMB Research) Senior researchers said that quantitative research refers to the prescriptive scientific research to determine the quantity of a certain aspect of things. It is a research method and process that uses the quantity to express problems and phenomena, and then analyzes, tests, and explains them to obtain meaning.Quantitative measurement is based on digital symbols.Quantitative research measures the characteristic value of the object by comparing the characteristics of the object according to a certain standard, or works out the change rule of the quantity among some factors.Because its purpose is to answer the quantitative attribute of things and their movement, it is called quantitative research.Quantitative research andscientific experimentResearch is closely related. It can be said that scientific quantification is accompanied byexperimental methodGenerated.[1]
Methods of quantitative research
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The main methods of quantitative research design aresurvey method, correlation method and experimental method.
survey method
The investigation method is an ancient research method. It refers to a research method that, in order to achieve the intended purpose, formulates a plan to comprehensively or more comprehensively collect various materials about a certain aspect of the research object, and then analyzes and synthesizes them to get a conclusion.
correlation method
The correlation method is a research method to explore the relationship between variables by using correlation coefficients.The main purpose of relevant research is to determine the degree and direction of the relationship between variables.The degree of variable relationship, including complete correlation, high correlation, medium correlation, low correlation or zero correlation;The direction of variable relationship has positive correlation and negative correlation.
experimental method
Experimentation is a research method that manipulates one or more variables and controls the research environment to measure the causal relationship between independent variables and dependent variables.There are two experimental methods, one isNatural experiment method, the other isLaboratory experiment method。
Measurement scale of quantitative research
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S. S. Stevens divided the measurement scale of quantitative research into four types, namely nominal scale, sequential scale, spacing scale and proportional scale.
The significance and characteristics of quantitative research on four measurement scales are as follows:
The numerical value used by the nominal scale to indicate whether it belongs to the same person or thing.For example, number things belonging to a specific group (men and women, occupation, region, etc.).
The magnitude of the numerical value used in the order scale corresponds to the specific order of the research object.For example, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" or "3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1" for the upper, middle and upper, middle and lower, middle and lower levels of the social class belong to this category.However, the difference between the 5 representing the upper layer and the 4 representing the middle and upper layers, and the difference between the 4 representing the middle and upper layers and the 3 representing the middle layer, are not necessarily equal.5. 4, 3, and so on are arbitrary symbols. It is OK to write them as 100, 50, and 10.
The numerical value used in the spacing scale not only represents the amount of the measured object, but also the extent of their size, that is, the size of the spacing.However, the origin in this scale can be arbitrarily set, but it does not mean that the quantity of the thing is "nothing".For example, 0 ° C is an absolute temperature of 273 ° K, 32 ° F.
The values of nominal scale and sequential scale cannot be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided, but the values of interval scale can be added or subtracted.However, since the origin is arbitrarily set, multiplication and division cannot be performed.For example, the difference between 5 ℃ and 10 ℃ is the same as that between 15 ℃ and 20 ℃, which is 5 ° C.But it cannot be said that 20 ℃ is 4 times higher than 5 ℃.
The meaning of proportional scale is absolute, that is, it has the origin 0 which means "nothing".Length, weight, time, etc. are the measuring range of proportional scale.The difference and ratio of the measured values of the scale can be compared.For example, the difference between 5 minutes and 10 minutes and between 10 minutes and 15 minutes is 5 minutes, and 10 minutes is 5 times of 2 minutes.The scale can be used for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Significance of quantitative research
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The method of analyzing and studying things from the aspect of quantity, and using mathematical methods to study and investigate the interrelation and interaction between things.Everything is a unity of quality and quantity.Qualitative research without quantitative research can only provide a general understanding of things, which is neither accurate nor comprehensive, and may even be wrong.Because no quantity, no quality.Quantitative change to a certain extent will lead to qualitative change, so the basic quantitative analysis of things is very necessary.Quantitative research is to grasp the prescriptiveness of matter by analyzing the prescriptiveness of matter quantity.In sociological research, the most commonly used quantitative research method is social statistics.It has a complete set of methods in collecting, sorting out and analyzing data.Social statistics can not only describe a social phenomenon and reveal the relationship between social phenomena through various statistics, but also infer the relationship between local and overall.In recent years, with the popularization and application of electronic computers and the improvement and development of measurement design and computing technology, social statistical methods have become increasingly perfect.Therefore, the application of quantitative research in sociology is becoming more and more popular.Quantitative research is characterized by logical rigor and reliability, and its conclusions are usually very accurate.However, in concrete application, we must have correct theoretical viewpoints as guidance, organically combine quantitative research and qualitative research, and must not subjectively separate the relationship between quantity and quality, and avoid analyzing and studying problems in isolation, one-sided and static.[2]
Difference between quantitative research and qualitative research
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Quantitative research and qualitative research are two opposite research paradigms in the field of social science. There are obvious differences in research objectives, objects and methods between the two.
First, in terms of research objectives, quantitative research attaches importance to predictive control and qualitative research attaches importance to the understanding of meaning;Secondly, quantitative research emphasizes the factObjective realityQualitative research emphasizes the subjective intention of the object;Third, in terms of research methods, quantitative research focuses on empirical confirmation while qualitative research focuses on interpretation and construction.[3]
Due to the different orientation of methodology, there are obvious differences between quantitative research and qualitative research in practical application.This is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
① Different focus
Quantitative research focuses on the quantity of things;Qualitative research focuses on material aspects.
② Different levels in research
Quantitative research is for more accurate qualitative analysis.
③ According to different
Quantitative research is mainly based on the actual data obtained from the survey, while qualitative research is based on a large number of historical facts and lifeExperience materials。
④ Different means
Quantitative research mainly uses empirical measurement, statistical analysis and modeling methods;Qualitative research mainly uses logical reasoning, historical comparison and other methods.
⑤ Different subject bases
Quantitative research is based on probability theory and social statistics, while qualitative research is based on logic and history.
⑥ Different forms of conclusions
Quantitative research is mainly expressed by data, models, graphs, etc;Qualitative research conclusions are mostly written descriptions.Qualitative research is the basis and guide of quantitative research, but only when quantitative research is applied at the same time, can it be accurately qualitative on the basis of accurate quantitative research.
