Quantitative social research

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The quantitative methods in empirical social research include all procedures for the numerical representation of empirical facts, but also to support the conclusions from the empirical findings with the means of inferential statistics . Quantitative methods concern, among other things, sample selection , data collection and analysis.

Frequently, in addition to quantitative methods, qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews, are used in election analyzes and in market and opinion research .

Often quantitative methods in the social sciences are seen as the opposite of qualitative methods. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case, as it is entirely possible to use both types of methods in combination.

Outline of quantitative social research

Possible distinctions between the various areas of quantitative methods

Depending on the number of independent variables considered, a distinction is made between single and multi-factor studies, and depending on the number of dependent variables, univariate and multivariate methods (such as factor analysis and cluster analysis).

Qualitative and quantitative social research

Quantitative social research in the social sciences is often seen as the opposite of qualitative social research . The important thing is always your own interest in knowledge , which determines the choice of methods. Qualitative methods are often used when the subject of research is new or to explore the research area and develop hypotheses. Quantitative methods can generate hypotheses as well as test previously established hypotheses.

Countable properties are measured in quantitative social research. The most common data collection methods in the social sciences are interview , observation , experiment and content analysis . However, other measurement methods can certainly be used, such as the lost letter technique, with which problems such as reactivity can be avoided.

Example: surveys through standardized interviews

For interviews in representative surveys , respondents are mostly selected in a random sample . Apart from written or online surveys, the interviewers usually read out various questions . This can be done "face to face" (PAPI, CAPI) or by telephone ( CATI ). Each respondent is usually asked the same questions (exceptions: specification of certain filter guides or questionnaire splits). For these questions there are generally predefined answer categories that have been provided with a (numerical) code scheme in advance during the construction of the question program. If only predefined answer categories exist, then one speaks of a closed question. If there is also the possibility that respondents give formulated answers that are not specific in advance, then one speaks of semi-open questions. If there are no predefined answer categories, one speaks of open questions. These are less common in quantitative interviews, but are also used (example: what job do you do? ). The open answers are generally classified into certain categories (codes) after the survey during data processing so that they can be more easily fed into a statistical evaluation.

Advantages and disadvantages of quantitative social research

What is often criticized about quantitative social research is that it does not focus enough on the respondents. The fact that every respondent gets the same questions does not ensure that every respondent interprets them in the same way . This criticism could, however, also be viewed as unmasked, because the questionnaire was the only question that was thought of as a survey method. Parts of empirical social research also use behavior observation, content analysis, experiments and other survey methods, some of which can be better adapted to the subjective world of experience of the participants in empirical studies.

See also

literature

introduction

  • Andreas Diekmann : Empirical social research. Basics, methods, applications. 13th edition Hamburg: Rowohlt-Taschenbuch-Verlag, 2007, ISBN 3-499-55551-4
  • Rainer Schnell , Paul B. Hill and Elke Esser: Methods of empirical social research. 8th edition Munich: Oldenbourg 2008, ISBN 3-486-58708-0
  • David Kaplan (Ed.): The Sage handbook of quantitative methodology for the social sciences. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2004, ISBN 0-7619-2359-4
  • Björn Rasch, Malte Friese, Wilhelm Hofmann, Ewald Naumann: Quantitative methods 1st 2nd edition. Springer, Heidelberg, Berlin 2006, ISBN 978-3-540-33307-4
  • Björn Rasch, Malte Friese, Wilhelm Hofmann, Ewald Naumann: Quantitative methods 2nd 2nd edition. Springer, Heidelberg, Berlin 2006, ISBN 978-3-540-33309-8
  • Nicole Burzan : Quantitative Methods in Cultural Studies. An introduction. UVK (UTB), Konstanz 2005, ISBN 3-8252-2714-6 .

deepening