What is Research?

Research is a systematic, impartial and scientific process of generating new knowledge and technology for the
improvement of the people’s life and the environment they are living with.

Characteristics of Research

There are seven (7) characteristics of research. Remember the code LACCREM (Logical, Analytical, Cyclical,
Critical, Replicable, Empirical, and Methodical)

1. Logical. Research is sensible and is based on facts, clear and reasonable thought rather than emotion. It is always
emphasized and to interpret date based on the researcher’s feelings, intuition and opinion.
E.g.
You wanted to prove that what is being practiced in the school is a reflection of the student’s behavior at
home. You can never tell and report that the Islamic practice of praying at least five times a day among Grade 1
pupils is evident in the provision of a prayer room in the school for them unless you have statistically computed
the F – value and concluded that there is no significant difference between the mean ratings of the parents at
home and the teachers in the school (Besona, 2012) on the specific Islamic practices of 400 children under study.

2. Analytical. Research results are examined deeply and seriously to determine great understanding and discovery
about things, behaviors and responses under study.
E.g.
In the study of Sabijon (2014), she would like to document original Maguindanaon songs. She had
already collected, verified and validated the lyrics and other musical elements of the songs. She stored the
collections on a compact disc and provided a hard copy of five (5) original songs. What for? After analyzing all
the elements in a documentary process, she played the musical video of the collection to the young generations of
Maguindanao, Cebuanos, and B’laans in order to determine their level of appreciation. Keen examination of
details, song patterns, message and theme, the responses of the teenagers were also analyzed considering that
effort is useless unless these are valued. It was found out that the three tribes of Junior High School students did
not have significant difference in the level of appreciation for the Maguindanaon songs.

3. Cyclical. Research process keeps on going back to its origin which is the problem. Looking up for a research
problem is the first process and when you have drawn your conclusion, you have to recommend another study to
answer problems that you encountered and which are not covered in the conduct of the research.
E.g.
Your study aimed to produce palatable Camias Prunes and is acceptable in terms of aroma, taste, texture
and color. However, in the conduct of the study, you have left unattended those excess and over – sized Camias
fruits on a plastic pail. While waiting for the results of the experiment, you found out that the pail as deformed. So
another study can be conducted investigating the deformation of plastic, pail filled with Camias fruits. Would it be
due to produce natural stain remover extracts or a challenge to develop a plastic melting agent? You have to
recommend for other researchers to continue the research or you have to include these problems for your follow
up studies.

4. Critical. Research results are drawn from careful and precise scrutiny of procedures and methods to be able to
withstand criticism and come up with a judgment which is foolproof and free from drawbacks. Research has
passed on to a taught inquiry to make sure that results are credible.
E.g.
An investigation n the response of the PE students in Maguindanao about the alternative methodologies
of PE teachers in holding basketball tournament was conducted. In the study of Morbo (2012), she conducted the
interview and actual observation not only from the responses of one High School but, of, at least, there big high
 school in Maguindanao District – 1, to ensure that the conclusive statement that rice hulls and ashes are effective
alternative markers on the ground and do not have any significant influence in the playing performance of junior
high schools in the basketball court. Further investigation should be done on mobility, motion and the time
against the objective of learning the rules of the game.

5. Replicable and Verifiable. Research results reveal information which can be conducted again by other
researchers. The research design and procedures are replicated or repeated to enable the researcher to arrive at
valid conclusive results. Similarities and differences of replicated researchers can be compared. The more
replications of researches, the more replications of researches, the more valid and conclusive results would be.
E.g.
In the study of Alegado (2012), he found out that the burnt shavings of Oil Palm fronds are effective
medium in substituting charcoal graphite for sketching. In the methodology, he used three treatments replicated
three times. He used treatment 1 which is the burnt oil palm frond applied with brush strokes to produce an image
in smudge rendering. He did it three times on the same kind and size of illustration board. The treatment 2 is the
burnt oil palm fronds applied directly on the illustration board to produce a line-tone rendering technique. He did
it for three times using the same image as treatment 2, same size and material. His treatment 3 (burnt oil palm
fronds applied directly on the surface of illustration board to produce a sketch of the same image, size and
materials treatment 1 and 2). He did it three times. He produced nine (9) outputs of the same materials, size and
images. Three of these were smudged, three (3) line – toned and three (3) were sketched images for evaluation by
the panel of jurors.
Upon looking at the methodology, other researchers can conduct the same research in their respective
localities anytime they wanted in order to verify the findings of Alegado in 2012. Replication is the right term for
this process and not copying the work of others.

6. Empirical. Research is generating new knowledge or technology from actual sensory observation, experience or
real cases and not derived from the application of theory and logic alone.
E.g.
You have to prove that used cooking oil from the kitchen is still functional fuel similar with the gasoline in
running a car. It is because of the theory that all types of oil have the energy, but, process and the reaction to the
process of which the car had ran without any manual and natural force except for the reaction of the combustion
of engines whose fuel tank was filled with used cooking oil instead of commercial gasoline. How far the car would
run in a prescribed time and how much fumes are left on the air are still part of your observations.

7. Methodical and Controlled. Research results are generated by strictly observing the defined sets of procedure.
Most of accurate results are expected because there are no other reasons to cause variation in these results except
that the sequence and exact treatment should be religiously followed. It should be based on facts and reason which
should be systematically established. The different steps cannot be undertaken.
E.g.
In the investigation of Cal (2014), she wanted to discover the designs of valance of drapes used among
Maguindanaons in many interior designs of government building lobbies, receiving areas and stage decorations.
She has to plan whom to ask about it, where the original source of the drapes is, who did it by hand and how to
reach the known makers and designers. She has also plan out who are the respondents who can attest that colors,
sequence and beads of these drapes called “Likos” have significance in the lives and feelings of guests and the
tribesmen embracing these colorful accents of ceilings and cornice.