Basic Issues in Quantitative Methods of Data Collection and Analysis: Study Guide for Students and Researchers

Abstract

This paper aims at providing students and other researchers with a basic knowledge of quantitative methods of data collection and analysis, which can be applied in a variety of research contexts. The paper deals with issues such as: definitions of research, research method, and quantitative research method; advantages and disadvantages of quantitative research methods; basic requirements for quantitative research; choosing a research method; steps in quantitative research; major steps in literature review; steps in quantitative method of data collection; steps in quantitative methods of data analysis; pre-estimation and post-estimation diagnostic tests; how to draw conclusions and recommendations; and how to make internal and general referencing; and how to make an abstract. The paper concludes that the choice of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods depends not on the preference of a researcher but on the research question and suitability of the particular method for what he/she is studying and what he/she wants to find out. Furthermore, to succeed in the conduct of quantitative research, one must have excellent command of English, computer literacy, good understanding of the subject matter (Sanda, 2007), solid understanding of Statistics and Econometrics, and the ability to make use of statistical and econometric packages (Garba, 2013).