An introduction to quantitative research

Intermediate

In this lesson, you’ll explore:

  • Understanding the core purpose of quantitative research.
  • Identifying various methodologies associated with quantitative research.
  • Evaluating the primary strengths and limitations inherent in quantitative research approaches.

 

This lesson introduces key terms commonly used in quantitative research. Don’t worry if these terms aren’t familiar yet; as you progress through the quantitative unit and case studies, their meaning will gradually become clearer. Feel free to revisit these lectures as many times as needed.

An introduction to quantitative research

This lession will introduce you to quantitative research. This involves collecting data in a structured and measurable way. Common methods of data collection include surveys, experiments, observations, and the analysis of existing datasets. The data collected should be in the form of numbers or quantifiable data.
Additionally, we’ve provided the paper referenced in the lecture in the resource below from Moreno-Agostino and colleagues (2023). It’s categorized as ‘advanced’ reading, so take a look, but don’t stress if some terms are unfamiliar at this stage.

Table of Contents

Quantitative study

Advanced

Quantitative Study – Mental health inequalities during the Covid-19 pandemic
This is an example of a quantitative study discussed in the quantitative lession. In this study they found evidence of large mental health inequalities across different groups. Large proportions of those inequalities were accounted for by the variables used to define the intersections, with some of the largest gaps associated with sexual orientation (with sexual minority groups showing substantially worse outcomes). Moreno-Agostino, D., Woodhead, C., Ploubidis, G. B., & Das-Munshi, J. (2023). A quantitative approach to the intersectional study of mental health inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK young adults. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 1–13. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-023-02424-0

Links for extra

Research Methods Toolkit for Society and Mental Health
The creation of the Research Methods Toolkit has been guided by a commitment to co-production. It follows the key principles outlined by the National Service User Network of collaboration, redefining our understanding of legitimate knowledge and placing those with lived experiences at the centre of our research. We understand co-production to be more than a method. It is an ethos that runs through the entire research process – from identifying a topic, to study design, to data collection and analysis, and finally to knowledge dissemination.