Analysing quantitative research

Professions are characterized by a body of specialized knowledge, and commonly this knowledge is the results of scientific research. As for other professional fields such as medicine, management, or education, research is critical for human resource development (HRD), and this is so for two major reasons. First, research yields new knowledge related to the many issues, questions, and problems in HRD, and second, research ensures a process for disseminating such knowledge when and if it is judged to be of high quality. Research, thus, has both a product and a process aspect, addressing substantive findings and the process of obtaining and reporting them. Research is the life-blood of HRD, aiming to advance our understanding and improve practice. In this chapter we will address one important type, quantitative research, introducing its major tenets, assumptions, methods, and evaluating its strengths and weaknesses.