QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

 

OBJECTIVES:  By the end of this article, the reader/medical student will be able to;

1.  Understand the difference between qualitative and quantitative study designs

2.  Describe the sampling and sample size determination criteria used in quantitative study designs

INTRODUCTION:  This is a second approach to enquiry in the medical sciences that is rooted in rationalism.  Recently we were looking at Qualitative research and to be different,  this type follows a structured, rigid, predetermined methodology and believes in having a narrow focus.  It also, emphasizes greater sample size, and aims to quantify the variation in a phenomenon, and tries to make generalisations to the total population.

SAMPLING AND SAMPLE SIZE STRATEGIES IN QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH:  In quantitative research, the sample size must be predetermined unlike with qualitative type of research.  As we have seen earlier, since we need a large number of participants, we tend to use statistical formulae.  

RELATED;

1.  RESEARCH RIGORS  

2.  OTHER STUDY DESIGNS

3.  HOW TO WRITE A MEDICAL RESEARCH PROPOSAL

4.  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

5.  STRATEGIES FOR DETERMINING SAMPLE SIZE

REFERENCES