在社会科学中，定量研究（英语：Quantitative research）或又称为量化研究，指的是采用统计、数学或计算技术等方法来对社会现象进行系统性的经验考察。这种研究的目标是发展及运用与社会现象有关的数学模型、理论或假设。定量研究中最重要的过程是测量的过程，因为这个过程根本上链接了现象的「经验观察」与「数学表示」。量化数据包括以统计或百分比等数字形式呈现的各种数据。定量研究方法一般会经历获得数据、数据预分、数据分析和分析报告四个阶段。定量研究方法采用统计与线性规划两种分析方法。

In natural sciences and social sciences, quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena. The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships. Quantitative data is any data that is in numerical form such as statistics, percentages, etc. The researcher analyzes the data with the help of statistics. The researcher is hoping the numbers will yield an unbiased result that can be generalized to some larger population. Qualitative research, on the other hand, asks broad questions and collects word data from phenomena or participants. The researcher looks for themes and describes the information in themes and patterns exclusive to that set of participants.