Final answer:
The quantitative research process includes developing a research question, reviewing literature, formulating a hypothesis, designing a study, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting the findings with an emphasis on accuracy, validity, and reliability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key steps in the quantitative research process begin with the preliminary stages that establish the foundation for conducting effective and accurate research. Initially, these stages include asking a question, researching existing sources, and formulating a hypothesis about the research topic.
- Develop a research question about the topic of interest.
- Conduct a literature review and document relevant articles or books to frame the research context.
- Formulate a hypothesis based on the gathered preliminary information.
With these steps complete, researchers then design a detailed study plan, select subjects, and determine how to collect data, often using instruments such as questionnaires to gather quantitative data. Once data is collected, it is analyzed to draw meaningful conclusions. These results are then prepared and presented in a research report to communicate the findings, frequently including both quantitative and qualitative research data.
Throughout this process, researchers must ensure the accuracy, validity, and reliability of their methods and data to produce credible and replicable results. This involves asking progressively more specific questions and seeking answers through various sources and experts to refine the research focus and methods.