Theme 4: Quantitative research

I chose the article Using social media applications for educational outcomes in college teaching: A structural equation analysis by Yingxia Cao and Paul C Hong. The paper is published on British Journal of Educational Technology (Impact Factor: 1.54). The quantitative study analyses social media impact on education. To be more precise, how students’ results are influenced by social media applications. Scholars formulated 8 hypotheses in terms of correlation between students’ results and apps. In order to support or refute the hypothesis researches conduct a survey of 168 faculty members. Regarding to the results of quantitative research, authors claim that social media positively influence on educational results.

 
Quantitative methods: benefits and limitations
Scholars use the exploratory questionnaires method to collect data. Measurement models SPSS and SmartPLS (statistic software) evaluate variables and find correlations among the constructs. Using mentioned measurement models scholars present descriptive statistics. Also, a partial least squares (PLS) regression is applied in order to examine the capacity of learning outcomes using mobile applications. Research field is limited with narrow investigated group since the study is concentrated only on students’ results at colleagues. Another limitation is caused by questionnaires formulations and narrow focus on participants. Only teachers evaluated how social media influence educational achievements, the view of students is not analyzed. Study provides defined and measured constructs which are considered as the benefit to carry out future researches.

Quantitative methods: what I learnt

Reading the research paper I learnt how to make a survey. Also, what kind of measurements models are applied to esteem variables. Moreover, this research paper is a good example how to combine and convert different questions to constructs and what kind of scales are used to measure that constructs.

Methodological problems and how to improve methods

Empirical data are based on personal answers (in one way opinion) and therefore results tend to be biased. Especially when a part of questions are formulated using the verb “I feel that using social media will help”. Therefore, this paper lacks of profound empirical data because now it is possible to interpreter collected data as personal view. Scholars agree that willing to measure the impact of apps on studies results more solid variables have to be included in the research field. “We recommend that future researchers incorporate other measures of learning outcomes such as students’ grade point average (GPA)” (Y. Cao, P. C. Hong, 2013, p. 591). Authors make an implication to future researches to carry out long term analysis measuring results before and after using social media.

Drumming in Immersive Virtual Reality: key points

The research paper analysis how virtual body influences psychological, behavioral and attitudinal human changes. Study raises the hypothesis that virtual appearance of different bodies will have different impact on behavioral changes. In order to prove or deny this hypothesis the experiment was conducted. Participants plaid drums with different virtual bodies and answered to the questions. After the experiment the hypothesis were approved. Virtual body results in self-identification with new body process and causes behavioral changes. Temporally changes perceiving and adapting own body with the virtual one occurs regardless of demographic and gender factor.

Drumming in Immersive Virtual Reality: what I learnt

Firstly, I deepened my knowledge how to do and summarize a research. For instance, reading preparation part I kept in mind that it is very important to clarify the rules to participants in order to get reliable data. Even the environment of place and virtual interior are important details analyzing cognitive changes. Also, it is important to learn how variables are measured and how data weighted. In my mind, this research is a good example how to define the research field and variables. Despite the fact that authors agree that it is difficult to convert performativity into a numerical quantity but the problem is solved defining “performativity’ as dimensionality of the movement data.” It can be assumed that conducting new experiments there is a risk to face with problem to measure variables. Therefore, the clear definition of measures is more than important. Moreover, the research paper is a good example how make literature review relevant in terms of own research. For instance, in the beginning Proteus and Doppelganger approaches were presented. After explaining results, it was pointed out how Drumming in Immersive Virtual Reality experiment differs from mentioned researches in the literature review. Finally, reading the research paper, I bear in mind how it is important to point out applicability of conducted research. In terms of Drumming in Immersive Virtual Reality, it is clearly stated where found results can be applied.

Definitions of quantitative and qualitative researches 

Primarily, quantitative research is based on empirical data. Correlations and results are used to test hypothesis. According to Edward D. Mansfield and Jon C. Pevehouse (Quantitative Approaches, 2009, p. 2) quantitative research:

· useful when analyzing a large number of observations
· link theory to statistical models
· tend to be especially transparent and replicable

Qualitative research is applied to interpreter data, analyzing the case and context, and trying to find causality of empirical data. “Qualitative research usually begins from relatively broad and open ended research problems and is committed to developing descriptive and theoretical ideas through the collection and analysis of data.” (B. Cooper, et al. Challenging the qualitative-quantitative divide: Explorations in case-focused causal analysis, 2012, p. 6). Qualitative research interprets correlation between variables. “Qualitative research is a process of examining and interpreting data in order to elicit meaning gain understanding and develop empirical meaning.” (J. Corbin, A. Strauss. Basics of Qualitative research, 2008, p. 1). Usually, scholars combine both types of researches. “Qualitative findings contribute to the interpretation of relationships between variables in quantitative data sets.” (U. Flick. Designing Qualitative research, 2007, p. 8). It is obvious that firstly you have to get data and correlations before going to analyze the relationship and causality.

Additional literature:

1. Cooper, B., Glaesser, J., Hammersley, M. & Gomm, R. (2012). Challenging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide Explorations in Case-focused Causal Analysis. 
2. Corbin, J, Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of Qualitative research. 
3. Flick, U. (2007). Designing Qualitative research.
4. Mansfield E, D., Pevehouse, J. C. (2009). Quantitative Approaches. In The Oxford Handbook of International Relations