Quantitative research may be developed in a variety of ways, and researchers can choose either to create experimental or non-experimental studies. Experimental research is based on the results of a scientific approach where the manipulation of control variables and the measurement of subjects are possible. Non-experimental studies usually lack the manipulation of independent variables, and researchers have to measure variables independently.
In addition, quantitative studies may be developed according to a correlational or experimental design (Newman, 2016). The key difference between these studies lies in the variable for analysis: correlational studies have a variable as a cause that could be measured, and experiments have a variable as a cause that has to be manipulated (under researcher’s control).
In the selected quantitative research study, the authors investigate stressful situations among undergraduate students. Ganesan, Talwar, Fauzan, and Oon (2018) hypothesize that there is a relationship between stress and coping strategies that can be offered to university students. Stress may be caused by discrimination or other negative social behaviors and result in depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems.
The major independent variables were demographic factors of students (ethnicity and gender), and dependent variables were stress levels and coping strategies. A quantitative study with a cross-sectional non-probability sample was used to collect data from undergraduate students (Ganesan et al., 2018). Self-administrative questionnaires were offered to 86 students, along with the Perceived Stress Scale and the Adolescent Coping Scale (Ganesan et al., 2018).
Using the correlational data analysis, the results show that a moderate level of stress among students is frequently observed, and there is an inverse relationship between stress and coping strategies among the chosen participants (Ganesan et al., 2018). Regarding the methods and results achieved, this study is defined as correlational because it focuses on investigating the relationships between variables without direct interference of the researcher.
References
Ganesan, Y., Talwar, P., Fauzan, N., & Oon, Y. B. (2018). A study on stress level and coping strategies among undergraduate students. Journal of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, 3(2), 37-47.
Newman, M. (2016). Research methods in psychology (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.