Video link: Find Quantitative Articles
Begin Transcript
Visual: Title image
Narration: This video shows how to locate research articles that use quantitative methodology.
Visual: Quantitative terms image
Narration: You can use terms related to the methodology when you do your search. For quantitative
articles that typically means the statistical terminology, such as the statistical method used or terms
related to data analysis. For example, a quantitative article may use terms like statistical, correlation,
variance, distribution or ANOVA.
Visual: Database search page
Narration: You can search for several alternative quantitative keywords at once by putting an OR
operator between each keyword. Here I am searching for quantitataive or statistic* or correlat* or
ANOVA. The asterisks tell the database to find alternative endings on the root word, like statistics or
statistical.
You’ll also want to add a topic area keyword to your search, which will help drop out any how-to articles
on methodology. For this search I’m using post-traumatic stress disorder as my topic area. Be aware that
not all research topics lend themselves to quantitative research methods. You may have to adjust your
topic slightly if most of the research done in that area uses qualitative methods.
Visual: Methods section of an article
Narration: To be sure that your article is actually using the methodology you want, you’ll need to open
the full text and look at the methods and results sections. There you will find a detailed description of
the methods used and the end results. It’s important to remember that quantitative studies may not use
that term. Instead you’ll be able to tell that a study is quantitative by seeing statistical terminology,
formulas, lots of percentages and other numbers in the text. Quantitative articles will often contain
detailed tables showing the results. This study includes both a section describing the statistical analysis
used and contains many references to numerical findings.
Created September 2013 by Walden University Library