The Measurement Study
The Measurement Study
The measurement study is a type of exploratory study. It differs from the reconnaissance and descriptive studies insofar as some sort of measurement is involved. It differs from the exploratory correlational study insofar as the researcher doesn’t attempt to determine whether there are relationships between any of the measurements.
The centerpiece for a measurement study is the presentation of descriptive statistics. Typically, some graph or chart is produced. However, no a priori hypothesis is proposed, and no formal statistical test is performed. An example is provided in the table below—showing the number of musical instruments sold in the United States in 2012.
As with all exploratory studies, the hope is that the research will produce interesting observations, raise good questions, and ultimately inspire the formation of an explanatory theory. However, any resulting theory is post hoc. The observations cannot be viewed as “supporting” or “testing” the theory, since the observations were the inspiration for the theory in the first place.
| Instrument | Number Sold in the U.S. in 2012 |
|---|---|
| Acoustic guitars | 1,326,500 |
| Electric guitars | 1,162,890 |
| Ukuleles | 1,087,000 |
| Flutes & Piccolos | 139,362 |
| Trumpets | 134,357 |
| Electronic pianos | 128,000 |
| Clarinets | 111,160 |
| Saxophones | 86,188 |
| Trombones | 63,803 |
| Acoustic pianos | 37,200 |
| Tubas | 35,144 |
| French Horns | 14,750 |
| Oboes & Bassoons | 5,790 |
(From Music Trades, April 2014)