The pros and cons of quantitative research
In examining the characteristics of different types of quantitative data, consider their suitability for your
research plans, and evaluate any ethical or feasibility barriers, and ideas of how those could be
overcome.
My chosen topic problem:
Research Aim:To identify and explore the human resource strategies that influence employee
engagement within organisations in Qatar and to develop recommendations on how these human
resource strategies can be changed in order to improve employee engagement.
Research Questions:
RQ 1: Which human resource strategies influence employee engagement within organisations in Qatar?
RQ 2: How do these human resource strategies influence employee engagement within organisations in
Qatar?
RQ 3: How can these human resource strategies be changed in order to improve employee engagement
within organisations in Qatar?
End-Product:Objective: To develop recommendations on how human resource strategies can be changed
in order to improve employee engagement within organisations in Qatar
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Quantitative Research Pros and Cons
Quantitative research aims at measuring and quantifying data using not only statistical
analysis but also numerical information. Using prescribed variables, quantitative research
samples a huge sample targeting a given population to assess behaviors, attitudes and views to
quantify the results. In this study, the target population/group is the organisations within Qatar.
Pros
Quantitative research is objective in nature. As such, it allows that researcher to not only
measure but also analyse data. Again, the element of objectivity helps the researcher to collect
numerical data that cannot be misinterpreted. In addition, it allows the researcher to determine
the relationship between independent and independent variables. The dependent variable in this
study is employee engagement while human resource activity is the independent variable.
Understanding this relationship is important to the researcher since it helps him/her to be
objective regarding the findings of the study (Saunders, Lewis & Thornhill 2012).
Another advantage of quantitative research is the statistical technique. In this study for
instance, the researcher gets the opportunity to use statistical methods. In turn, this helps the
researcher to understand the important characteristic of data (Ross & Onwuegbuzie 2014). Also,
the use of statistics allows the researcher to test hypotheses by measuring data using applicable
statistics. The researcher in this scenario will be able to use statistical methods to measure the
way human resource strategies influence employee engagement.
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Quantitative research is also beneficial as it enable the researcher to collect information
faster. Besides, the data can be analysed quicker while generalizing the results to the entire
population. By using a suitable sample, the researcher will select a few Oatar organizations that
will be studied; the findings would be generalized to all organization within Qatar. With reliable
data, quantitative research that uses questionnaires can present valid data for conducting future
research. This type of research may be anonymous meaning that it is appropriate when it comes
to handling sensitive information (Saunders, Lewis & Thornhill 2012).
Cons
Quantitative research requires a big sample. The bigger the sample, the higher the
chances of getting statistically accurate results (Collis &Hussey 2013). Hence, a researcher needs
time to select the sample. Nonetheless, the large sample is not all about accuracy of statistical
results since there is self-selection for those ready to take part in the study, an aspect that
contributes to potential prejudice.
Conducting a quantitative research is costly. This due to the fact that the researcher has to
ensure that the sample is big enough and money is needed to develop questionnaires, send to
participants and collect among other issues. Due to the cost involved in conducting a
quantitative study, it is not possible to investigate further than the initial surface responses to
assess the views in detailed (Smith 2014). Another disadvantage of quantitative research is that
study context is overlooked. Since this research does not highlight the natural occurrences or
even describe the meaning of various elements to different respondents.
Moreover, quantitative research does exactly tell the number of people that respond to a
given question. This element makes it challenging to develop any form of solid statistics. In
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reality, this hinders the researchers from probing participants’ views. Owing to the fact that
quantitative researcher allows the generalization of findings; it creates bias (Sreejesh, Mohapatra
& Anusree 2014). This is because participants may have similar characteristics but such
characteristics are not applicable to the entire population.
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Bibliography
Collis, J. and Hussey, R., 2013. Business research: A practical guide for undergraduate and
postgraduate students. Palgrave Macmillan.
Ross, A. & Onwuegbuzie, A.J. 2014, “Complexity of quantitative analyses used in mixed
research articles published in a flagship Mathematics education journal”, International
Journal of Multiple Research Approaches, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 63-73
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. 2012. Research Methods for Business Students, 6th ed.
Pearson Learning Solutions.
Smith, T.A. 2014, “testing theory and related factors for influencing proficiency in quantitative
research”, Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 117-128.
Sreejesh, S., Mohapatra, S. and Anusree, M.R., 2014. Business research methods. Springer
International Publishing AG
