Quantitative Research Designs

Research Design

Experimental

True Experimental

1. Pre- Test Design
2. Post- Test Design
3. Post- Test/only Control

Quasi-Experimental

1. Non-equivalent Control Group Design
2. Time Series Design

Pre-Experimental

1. One Shot Case Study
2. One Group Pre- Test
Post- Test Design

Non- Experimental

Descriptive

1. Survey
2. Correlational
3. Ex- Post Facto Studies
4. Comparative
5. Evaluative
6. Methodological

Characteristics

Strengths

Useful for obtaining data that allow
quantitative predictions to bemade

It is useful for studying large numbers of people

Provides precise, quantitative, numerical data

Data analysis is relatively less time consuming

The research results are relatively independent
of the researcher

Weaknesses

Researcher’s categories that are used might
not reflect local constituencies’ understandings

Researcher’s theories that are used might
not reflect local constituencies’
understandings

Researcher might miss out on phenomena occurring because of the focus on theory or hypothesis
testing rather than on theory or hypothesis generation

Knowledge produced might be too abstract
and general for direct application to specific local
situations, contexts, and individuals