Limitations And Weaknesses Of Quantitative Research

Limitations And Weaknesses Of Quantitative Research

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Limitations And Weaknesses Of Quantitative Research

Limitations And Weaknesses Of Quantitative Research, Quantitative Research involves the process of collection and analysis of numerical data. It works well for identifying trends and averages as well as drawing a conclusion or result to a larger group. The scientific and social sciences, including biology, psychology, and economics, make frequent use of this quantitative research.

Descriptive research, correlational research, experimental research, and survey research are the four research methodologies used to conduct quantitative research. In descriptive research,  the focus is on the “what” rather than the “why” of a subject. It aims to explain the different parts of an information.

In correlational research, two variables are studied in order to determine their relationship to one another. The effects of one variable on the other are not adequately studied. Contrarily, an experimental investigation makes use of scientific techniques to determine the connection between sets of variables. In other words, it aims to prove a causal connection between the many variables under consideration.

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Last but not least, the most popular type of survey research entails creating pre-set questions for interviews, polls, and surveys, which a part of the target population responds to, and then drawing conclusions from those responses. In a given investigation, survey research examines the connections between different variables.

The Limitations and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

Quantitative research have some limits even though they are a necessary tool to solve a growing number of business challenges. Among the significant drawbacks of quantitative research are the following:

Limitations And Weaknesses Of Quantitative Research

1. Independence of Results/Responses

You cannot share participant responses for review in quantitative research. Even if the responses given to researchers seem unclear or inaccurate, they must be able to stand on their own. The quantitative approach provides very little opportunity to seek for clarification, as opposed to going off on a tangent like other approaches do.

The fact that the data researchers gather is confidential contributes to some of this disadvantage. There is no way to ensure the accuracy of a response received if an answer yields varied results. Even poorly formatted questions have the potential to influence results.

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2. No Feedback Access

No one has access to specific feedback.
The best way to describe quantitative research is as a pass-fail rating. Because of the data that researchers gather, you can be sure that the majority of a population demographic will feel a particular way about a particular issue. For example, you are aware that everyone buys pizza, but unaware of the number of customers satisfied with their purchase and plan to return in the future.

Using generalizations, researchers can determine whether products or services withstand scrutiny with a certain group by using the facts they collect through this method. Specific feedback situations that enable constructive improvement are not possible to develop using this data.

3. It takes a lot of time to set-up

Unlike qualitative research, which requires the study of already prepared data, quantitative research requires that you locate and gather the data yourself while putting it into a numerical form for proper analysis. It takes a while to complete this. Similarly, it can take a while to send out surveys and wait for responses because most people will reply after a certain amount of time has passed or not at all.

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In order to do a quantitative research, one needs to have great patience. Because the time it takes to receive results may be too long, it is not always a good method of research in situations of urgency.

4. Generalization of Data

As previously mentioned, quantitative research is typically conducted on a fraction of a target population rather than the entire population. As a result, data outcomes are typically generalized. The conclusion of this study is then interpreted to represent the viewpoint of the entire populace. This suggests that the research’s few respondents’ opinions represent those of the general public. Even if their opinions may be fake, the general public accepts them as true.

Because of this, a quantitative study is more likely to commit the mistake of hurried generalization. It may not be a good idea to generalize the opinions of a certain group of people because their opinions may be completely biased.

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5. It is quite expensive

Quantitative research requires much time, money, and effort. It takes a lot of time and has significant financial issues.

In order to conduct quantitative research, one must create their questions, send them out, then follow up to make sure they are answered. Also, some respondents can want payment before contributing to such a study. As an example,  consider the popular online surveys where the target respondents are paid for each survey they complete for a researcher.

6. Inaccuracy

Pitfalls like insufficient data, inconsistent definitions, picking the wrong sample, picking the wrong approach, making wrong comparisons, and making wrong presentations all reduce the accuracy of the solution gotten by quantitative methods.

Some Useful Tips For Conducting A Quantitative Research

Below are some useful tips one can take advantage of while carrying out a quantitative research: Limitations And Weaknesses Of Quantitative Research

1. Consult a Specialist.

Professional data analysts and market researchers receive training in how to develop statistical models and perform survey research. Work with a professional to make sure your research is well set-up and your findings are accurate. If hiring researchers for the duration of the project is out of your price range, look for someone who can assist with setup or analysis only.

2. Write a detailed research question.

Get a clear notion of the question you want to have answered before you start your investigation to save time and resources. By reviewing your marketing plan and finding the places where you find it difficult to make an informed decision, you can discover areas that require research.

3. Do not be wary of starting all over or changing tactics

It’s not a sign of failure or wrong doing to need to shift course or start over during the research process. Successful research most times creates new questions. Make a record of these fresh inquiries so you can respond to them as you proceed.

4. Make use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods

Understanding people is important for running a small business successfully; the actions of your clients and rivals cannot be quantified. Try to gather qualitative data in addition to quantitative data while you perform your research.

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This can take the shape of open-ended survey questions, panel discussions, or simply just keeping a record of what customers’ ideas or worries are. You’ll have the clearest image of how your company may expand and flourish in its industry if you combine the two sorts of study.

Conclusion

In summary, quantitative research is an effective method for completing research, particularly in the social and natural sciences, as it involves one-on-one interaction between the researcher and the individual respondents. However, it has its own drawbacks and limitations, which can affect the quality of research.

Frequently Asked Questions About Quantitative Research

What are the limitations of conducting quantitative research?

The fact that quantitative research methods only provide a surface-level understanding of a phenomenon and ignore test-takers’ and testers’ experiences as well as what they mean by certain terms is one of their limitations.

What causes limitations in a research?

A research’s flaws or limitations may be as a result of lack of resources, a limited sample size, a poor methodology, etc. No investigation is perfect or covers every angle.

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References

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