Philosophical Basis for Research

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Health research is originated from two different programs of sociological research:

a) Descriptive statistics and public health:

The word statistic came from the German word ‘Statistik’ meaning information about the people. The term was introduced by Sir John Sinclair in 1791 within his Statistical account of Scotland. The analysis of demographic and descriptive data became prominent in the earlier 20th century and was used for census, surveys and other demographic properties of the population. Descriptive statistics was helpful in knowing that if the sample is the representative of the population, degree of association in the group and making prediction from the sample to the population.

b) Inferential statistics and controlled experiments:

The second program leading to QHR was theory of experimental design. Medical treatments were already using Health quasi experiments leading to controlled experiment by James Lind in 1757. Later in 1870s and 1880s C.S. Peirce refined experimental designs and modernized them to the new idea of inferential quantitative research or Randomized controlled trial (RCT) which contributed to data modelling and regression analysis.

7: Experimental Design:

The term experiment is used for diversity of work, social scientists use this term more specifically for a research design in all variable except few are kept constant. They are also named as quasi experiments. In an experimental design the scientist develops a causal effect in which one variable affects one or more other variables. It may include one or more groups including the experimental and the control groups on the basis of which outcomes are measured.

What is QR?

The Quantitative research involves the collection of numerical data, its manipulation and analysis. Groove (2008: 27) defines it as a formal, objective and systematic process which constitutes of numerical data and information about the world. These are one of the best methods when we need to measure something (Shields and Twycross, 2003: 24). They are suggested the use of both qualitative and quantitative (‘mixed-method’) for research.

(By Madiha Niaz)

8: Seven (7) features of Quantitative Research:

Burnard et. al. (2011) have summarized simple descriptions and definitions into seven features of quantitative research including the following;

1. Design of experiments to test laws and hypothesis

2. Use of tests

3. Scales and statistical methods

4. Analysis of numerical data

5. Objectivity

6. Validity

7. Reliability

9: The Quantitative Research Paradigm:

All researchers work within frameworks or paradigms of underpinning philosophical assumptions about the nature of knowledge and reality. The quantitative research paradigm regards research as a sort of mapping or modeling exercise in which aspects of the world can be accurately represented in numerical form and the resulting map or model is then deployed to make further discoveries and test new hypothesis, which can be used better to find our way around the real world (Toulmin 1953).

10: Summary:

This manuscript provides researchers with some of the basic philosophical ideas, theories and terminology necessary for an understanding of quantitative research. Bacon outlined the founding principles of inductive reasoning (Positivism) developed from Galileo’s work. The development of quantitative health research predates the origin of sociological research in the mid nineteenth century. Quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data is used to obtain information about the world. The choice of research method used to gain knowledge depends on reality and critical realism is considered to be the most common philosophical position of scientists. Critical realist stance introduces a number of challenges and caveats into the process of designing, conducting, interpreting and analyzing research.

(By Shahibzada Muneeb Bugvi)

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