Research Methods and Thesis Writing (1st edition)

Rustico T. De Belen

A.) Quantitative Research

According to De Belen, the basic aim of Quantitative Research is to explore and describe. This focuses
on quantitative data for it works with statistical data. In Quantitative Research, we also deal with
historical data. Previous researches has to be reviewed first to be able to build a research method.
Second, since this research is quantitative, its basic structure are variables.

This research design can be classified into two: experimental design and non-experimental design.
Quantitative Research has no permanent typology because it varies depending on the dimensions of
research, i.e. the element of control over the independent variables, the type of comparison, among
other things.

B.) Qualitative Research

According to De Belen, the Qualitative Research pertains the textual and descriptive form of
the research. It is naturalistic in nature since it is used to study the human behavior and the
reasons that govern it. The Qualitative research paradigm is commonly used in social sciences
researches since it is used to describe a phenomenon. It neither controls the extraneous
factors or manipulate it’s variables. It can be:
 Exploratory - exploring what exists without research data in the area
 Explanatory - explaining a particular phenomenon
 Correctional Study - exploring the relationship between the different states.

The Qualitative research is an inquiry process of understanding based on distinct

methodological traditions of inquiry that explores both the social and human problems. It analyzes
the whole data in order to form a empirically tested hypothesis. The methods of research under
qualitative research uses documents, testimonial evidence, physical and material evidence o
observation data. Stated below are the following qualitative research traditions:
 Historical Research
 Ethnographic Research
 Phenomenological Research
 Hermeneutic Research
 Human Ethology
 Ecological Psychology
 Grounded Theory
 Discourse Analysis
 Ethno-methodological Study
 Biographical Research
 Case Study Research
C.) Quantitative
Research

Qualitative
Research

Historical
Data

Research
Design