Epistemological Foundations of Quantitative Research

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Quantitative approach in education generalities

Quantitative approach is suitable to answer more precisely some fundamental questions.

Quantitative research is principally objective

For instance, to measure an aspect of interest of research study by using numbers.

like who, how much, what, where, when, how many, and how.

Main advantages of quantitative approach.

simplifies the possibility of measuring how many and how often “situations”

helps researches to optimize the time and effort invested in analyzing and describing the results gotten.

the information can be more accurately verified, confirmed and checked.

Disadvantages of the quantitative approach

some mistakes may happen if a hypothesis or a method

Quantitative research can be insufficient

measures variables in a particular context at a determined moment

positivism paradigm neither describes how reality is “shaped” nor refers to how persons “interpret” their behaviors.

can also be restrictive.

Quantitative research is practical and useful because it is likely to

Eliminate bias

Extensive range of data analysis

Quick data collection

Collect reliable and accurate data:

permits to observe, count and analyze the information required using statistical techniques.

Epistemological Foundations of Quantitative Research

Quantitative research characterizes for being a systematic investigation

The third epistemology

Pragmatism, recommends a mixed methods approach relating quantitative and qualitative

The second epistemology

known as Experiential realism, claims that it is not possible to observe the world from an objective way only

Post-positivists consider that research can never be certain, and that researchers should approximate that reality as best as they can.

the results are based on bigger sample sizes

The term epistemology comes from the Greek word epistêmê.

Epistemologies underlying theory and practice

positivism and subjectivism,

Postmodernism

rejects the idea that science can be regarded as objective.

Criticalism

confronts those predictable knowledge foundations and methodologies.

Interpretivism

incorporates human interest into a study.

Post-positivism

everything that is observed is assumed through a "prior understanding of other theories and concepts."

Subjectivism

gives primacy to subjective experience as fundamental of all measure and law.

Positivism

based on natural phenomena and their properties and relations.