Understanding the differences between Quantitative and Qualitative Research is vital to further
dissecting and digesting the volumes of literature in this course. Quantitative Research Methods
employs a great deal of gathering, organizing, assessing, and presenting numerical data. Since
much of the professional research published in the Sport Profession is quantitively-oriented, it is
vital to discern and apply this sort of research in your review. The best way to comprehend
quantitative research methods is to study it intimately while dissecting and re-presenting a
pristine summary of a single statistically-packed quantitative research study. Learn the intricacies
of a major published research project regarding your topic from Abstract through References
writing a thorough analysis of one.
Instructions
Choose 1 quantitative article related to your Literature Review or Alternative Assignment and
compose a 2-page review of it. Your review must include 2 sections after a proper Title Page: (1)
a summary of the article and (2) a critical analysis of the article.
Your summary must include:
- The purpose of the study
- Description of participants/sample
- The research design (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, regression,
etc.)
- Method of data collection (survey, test, questionnaire, etc.)
- Statistical analysis (t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), analysis of covariance
(ANCOVA), chi square, Pearson product moment correlation, Spearman rho, etc.)
- Results
Your analysis must include:
- Opportunities for further research not already stated in the article
- Threats to validity or rival hypotheses not already discussed
- Other original insight or criticism
- Implications of the findings
Full Answer Section
- Participants/Sample: Describe the characteristics of the participants involved in the study.
- Sample size (number of participants)
- Inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Demographics (if relevant to the study)
- Research Design: Specify the type of quantitative research design used (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, regression).
- Data Collection Method: Describe the method used to collect data from the participants (e.g., survey, questionnaire, test).
- Mention any specific tools or instruments used (if applicable).
- Statistical Analysis: Identify the statistical methods employed to analyze the data.
- Common examples include t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, chi-square, correlation coefficients (Pearson, Spearman).
- Results: Summarize the key findings of the study, including any significant relationships or differences observed between variables.
Page 2: Critical Analysis
- Opportunities for Further Research: Discuss potential areas for future research based on the limitations of the current study.
- This could involve exploring different populations, using alternative methodologies, or investigating additional variables.
- Threats to Validity: Identify potential threats to the internal or external validity of the study.
- Internal validity refers to whether the study design allows for a cause-and-effect conclusion.
- External validity refers to the generalizability of the findings to a broader population.
- Consider factors like sampling bias, measurement error, or confounding variables.
- Original Insight or Criticism: Provide your own critical analysis of the research.
- Do you agree with the authors' conclusions?
- Are there alternative explanations for the findings?
- Offer your unique perspective based on your understanding of the topic.
- Implications of the Findings: Discuss the practical significance of the research findings.
- How do the results contribute to the existing knowledge base in the field?
- Can the findings be applied to real-world settings or inform future interventions?
Remember to Cite Your Source:
- Include a proper APA citation for the research article you reviewed in your reference list.
By following this structure and including these elements, you can create a well-organized and insightful review of a quantitative research article.