Library Transcripts

Video URL: https://youtu.be/U6OjBBAymdI

Narration: This video shows how to locate research articles that use quantitative methodology. You can use terms related to the methodology when you do your search. For quantitative articles, that typically means statistical terminology, such as the statistical method used or terms related to data analysis.

Narration: For example, a quantitative article may use terms like statistical, correlation, variance, distribution, or ANOVA. You can search for several alternative quantitative keywords at once by putting "or" between each keyword. Here, I am searching for quantitative or statistic* or correlate* or ANOVA. The asterisks tell the database to find alternative endings on the root word, like statistics or statistical.

Narration: You'll also want to add a topic area keyword to search, which will help avoid getting how-to articles on methodology. For the 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 topics slightly, if most of the research done in your area of interest uses qualitative methods.

Narration: You can also specify to search for the methodology terms in the abstract, as the methods used are normally covered in the summary. 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.

Narration: It's important to remember that quantitative studies may not use that specific 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.