Unit 1

Nature and Inquiry of Research

The word research simply means:

-finding a piece of information or making notes and then writing a documented paper.
-refers to the act of informing oneself about what one does not know, perhaps by rummaging through
available sources (such as the internet or library) to retrieve a bit of information.

What Research Is Not

The following are some common misconceptions about research.

1. Research is not mere information gathering- Going to the library (as an example) is just information
gathering.
2. Research is not mere transportation of facts from one location to another. The true essence of
research is not just to gather data or information, but to analyze, interpret data gathered and to draw
conclusions from them. This is just what we called fact transcription, fact organization, or fact
summarization.
3. Research is not merely rummaging for information. Rummaging, whether through one’s personal
records or at the public or college library, is not research. It is more accurately called an exercise in
self-enlightenment.
4. Research is not a catchword used to get attention. The phrase “years of research” on product labels
catching your attention is not the “research” we mean- its misleading.

What Research Is

Research - is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information (data) in order to
increase our understanding of a phenomenon about which we are interested or concerned.
- formal research, which intentionally sets out to enhance our understanding of a phenomenon and
expect to communicate what we discover to the larger scientific community.
- a process of executing various mental acts for discovering and examining facts and information to
prove the accuracy or truthfulness of your claims or conclusions about the topic of your research
- requires you to inquire or investigate about your chosen research topic by asking questions that
will make you engage yourself in top-level thinking strategies of interpreting, analyzing
synthesizing, criticizing, appreciating, or creating to enable you to discover truth about the many
things you tend to wonder about the topic of your research (Litchman 2013)

Importance of Research

1. Research gathers knowledge or information on subjects or phenomena we lack or have little knowledge
about.
2. Research corrects perceptions as well as expands them.
3. Research develops and evaluates concepts, practices and theories.
4. Research also develops and evaluates methods that test concepts, practices and theories.
5. Research obtains practical knowledge for purposes like solving problems on population explosion, drug
addiction, juvenile delinquency and the like.

In business, research is used to test products, ensure the adequate distribution of a company’s product,
measuring advertising effectiveness and helps the company to stay competitive in the market.

6. Research provides hard facts which serves as bases for planning, decision-making, project-implementation
and evaluation.

Characteristics of Research

1. Accuracy. It must give correct or accurate data, which the footnotes, notes, and bibliographical entries
should honestly and appropriately documented or acknowledged.

2. Objectiveness. It must deal with facts, not with mere opinions arising from assumptions, generalizations,
predictions, or conclusions.

3. Timeliness. It must work on a topic that is fresh, new, and interesting to the present society.
4. Relevance. Its topic must be instrumental in improving society or in solving problems affecting the lives
of people in a community.

5. Clarity. It must succeed in expressing its central point or discoveries by using simple, direct, concise, and
correct language.

6. Systematic. It must take place in an organized or orderly manner.

Purposes of Research

1. To learn how to work independently

2. To learn how to work scientifically or systematically
3. To have an in-depth knowledge of something
4. To elevate your mental abilities by letting you think in higher-order thinking strategies (HOTS) of inferring
evaluating, synthesizing, appreciating, applying, and creating
5. To improve your reading and writing skills
6. To be familiar with the basic tools of research and the various techniques of gathering data and of
presenting research findings
7. To free yourself, to a certain extent, from the domination or strong influence of a single textbook or of the
professor's lone viewpoint or spoon feeding

Types of Research

1. Based on Application of Research Method

a. Pure Research - it deals with concepts, principles, or abstract things. This type of research aims
to increase your knowledge about something.

b. Applied Research - applying your chosen research to societal problems or issues, finding ways to
make positive changes in society.

2. Based on Purpose of the Research

a. Descriptive Research -This type of research aims at defining or giving a verbal portrayal or
picture of a person, thing, event, group, situation etc. This is liable to repeated research because
its topic relates itself on], to a certain period or a limited number of years. Based on the result of
your descriptive studies about a subject, you develop the inclination conducting further studies on
such topic.

b. Correlational Research -A correlational research shows relationship or connectedness of two

factors, circumstances, or agents called variables that affect the research. It is only concerned in
indicating the existent, of a relationship, not the causes and ways of the development of sari
relationship.

c. Explanatory Research - This type of research elaborates or explain, not just the reasons behind
the relationship of two factors, but also the way. By which such relationship exists.

d. Exploratory Research - An exploratory research’s purpose is to find out reasonable or possible it

is to conduct a research study on a certain topic. Here, you will discover ideas on topics that could
trigger your mom in conducting research studies.

e. Action Research-This type of research studies an ongoing practices in a school, organization,

community, or institution for the purpose of obtaining results that will bring improvements in the
system.

3. Based on Types of Data Needed

a. Qualitative research - requires non-numerical data, which means that the research uses words
rather than numbers to express the results, the inquiry or investigation about people’s thoughts,
beliefs, feelings, views, at lifestyles regarding the object of the study. These opinionated answers
inform people are not measurable. So, verbal language is the right way to eplain your findings in a
qualitative research.
 b. Quantitative research- involves measurement of data Thus, it presents research findings
referring to the number or frequency of something in numerical forms (i.e., using percentages,
numbers). The data you deal with in research are either primary or secondary data.

Primary data - are obtained through direct observation or contact with people, objects,
artifacts, paintings, etc. Primary data are new and original information resulting from your
sensory experience.

Secondary data – if such data have already been written about or reported on and are
available for reading purposes.

Approaches to Research

1. Scientific or positive

- in which you discover and measure information as well as observe and control variables in an impersonal
manner.
-It allows control of variables. Therefore, the data gathering techniques appropriate for this approach are
structured interviews, questionnaires, and observational checklists.
-Data given by these techniques are expressed through numbers, which means that this method is suitable
for quantitative research.

2. Naturalistic approach

- the naturalistic approach uses words. This research approach directs you to deal with qualitative data that
speak of how people behave toward their surroundings.
-These are non-numerical data that express truths about the way people perceive or understand the world.
-Since people look at their world in a subjective or personal basis in an uncontrolled or unstructured
manner, a naturalistic approach happens in a natural setting.

3. Triangulation approach

- combination of the scientific and naturalistic approaches in designing your research.

- In this use, you are free to gather and analyze data using multiple methods, allowing you to combine or
mix up research approaches, research types, data gathering, and data analysis techniques.
-Triangulation approach gives you the opportunity to view every angle of the research from different
perspectives. (Badke 2012; Silverman 2013)

The Research Process

The research process follows a cycle and begins simply. It follows logical, developmental steps:

a. Observation and Inquiry

A questioning mind observes a particular situation and asks, Why? What caused that? How come?
(This is the subjective origin of research.)

b. Formulation of the General Problem Statement

One question becomes formally stated as a problem. (This is the overt beginning of research.)

c. Formulation of the Specific Problem Statements

The problem is divided into several simpler, more specific subproblems.

d. Preliminary Data Gathering

Preliminary data are gathered that appear to bear on the problem.

e. Formulation of the Hypothesis

The data seem to point to a tentative solution of the problem. A guess is made; a hypothesis or
guiding question is formed.

f. Systematic Data Collection.

g. Data processing and Interpretation

The body of data is processed and interpreted.

h. Discovery of Concepts and Conclusion Formulation

 The tentative hypothesis is either supported by the data or is not supported; the question is either
answered (partially or completely) or not answered.

Ethics of Research
There are several reasons why it is important to adhere to ethical norms in research (Resnik, 2015).

1. Norms promote the aims of research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error.
Example, prohibitions against fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting research data promote the
truth and minimize error.

2. Ethical standards promote the values that are essential to collaborative work, such as trust,
accountability, mutual respect, and fairness.
Example, many ethical norms in research, such as guidelines for authorship, copyright and patenting
policies, data sharing policies, and confidentiality rules in peer review, are designed to protect
intellectual property interests while encouraging collaboration. Most researchers want to receive credit
for their contributions and do not want to have their ideas stolen or disclosed prematurely.

3. Ethical norms help to ensure that researchers can be held accountable to the public.
Example, government policies on research misconduct, conflicts of interest, the human subjects
protections, and animal care and use are necessary in order to make sure that researchers who are
funded by public money can be held accountable to the public.

4. Ethical norms in research also help to build public support for research.
People are more likely to fund a research project if they can trust the quality and integrity of research.

5. Norms of research promote a variety of other important moral and social values (such as social
responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, compliance with the law, and public health and safety)

Codes and Policies for Research Ethics

Given the importance of ethics for the conduct of research, it should come as no surprise that many different
professional associations, government agencies, and universities have adopted specific codes, rules, and policies
relating to research ethics.

Many government agencies, both national and abroad, have adopted certain ethical policies for funded
research. These are the following:

1. Honesty
Strive for honesty in all scientific communications. Honestly report data, results, methods and
procedures, and publication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data. Do not deceive
colleagues, research sponsors, or the public.
 2. Objectivity
Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel
decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research where objectivity is expected
or required. Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception. Disclose personal or financial interests that may
affect research.

3. Integrity
Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action.

4. Carefulness
Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and the work of
your peers. Keep good records of research activities, such as data collection, research design, and
correspondence with agencies or journals.

5. Openness
Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.

6. Respect for Intellectual Property

Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use unpublished data,
methods, or results without permission. Give proper acknowledgement or credit for all contributions to
research. Never plagiarize.

7. Confidentiality
Protect confidential communications, such as papers or grants submitted for publication, personnel
records, trade or military secrets, and patient records.

8. Responsible Publication
Publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career. Avoid
wasteful and duplicative publication.

9. Responsible Mentoring
Help to educate, mentor, and advise students. Promote their welfare and allow them to make their
own decisions.

10. Respect for colleagues

Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.

11. Social Responsibility

Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through research, public
education, and advocacy.

12. Non-Discrimination
Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other
factors not related to scientific competence and integrity.
13. Competence
Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong education and
learning; take steps to promote competence in science as a whole.

14. Legality
Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.

15. Animal Care

Show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research. Do not conduct unnecessary
or poorly designed animal experiments.

16. Human Subjects Protection

When conducting research on human subjects, minimize harms and risks and maximize benefits;
respect human dignity, privacy, and autonomy; take special precautions with vulnerable populations;
and strive to distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly.

Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research

Research can be classified as either qualitative or quantitative. The differences between qualitative and quantitative
research have often been exaggerated in the past (Hancock, et al, 2007). The table below summarizes some of the
ways in which qualitative and quantitative research do differ:
 Quantitative research
By definition  A type of educational research in
which the researcher decides what
to study.
Characteristics  Ask specific narrow Qs.
 Collects data from participants.
 Analyzes numbers using statistics.
 Conducts the inquiry in unbiased,
objective manner.
In identifying  Description of trends or an
problems explanation of variables’
relationships.
Reviewing  Major role through suggesting the
Literature RQ to be asked.
 Justifying the R problem and the
need for the direction of the study.
Specifying the  Be specific and narrow.
Purpose of the  Seek measurable, observable data
Research on variables.
Collection of  Collecting data using instruments
Data with preset Qs and Res.
 Collecting info from a large number
of individuals.
Analysis of Data  Data analysis tends to consist of
statistical analysis.
 Describing trends, comparing group
differences, relating variables.
 Interpretation tends to consist of
comparing results with prior
predictions and past research.
Reporting and  Tend to use standard fixed structure
Evaluating and evaluation criteria.
Research  Take an objective and unbiased
approach.
Qualitative research
 A type of educational research in
which the researcher relies on the
views of the participants.
 Ask broad, general Qs.
 Collecting data consisting largely of
words (text) or image (picture).
 Descriptions and analysis of words for
themes.
 Conducts inquiry in subjective, biased
manner.
 An exploration in which little is known
about the problem.
 A detailed understanding of a central
phenomenon.
 Minor role in suggesting SRQ to be
asked.
 Justify the importance of studying the
research problem.
 Be general and broad.
 Seek to understand the participants’
experiences.
 Collecting data using forms with
general, emerging Qs to permit the
participant to generate responses.
 Gathering word(text) or
image(picture) data.
 Collecting info from a small number
of individuals or sites.
 Text analysis.
 A description of themes.
 Stating the larger meaning of
findings.
 A flexible, emerging structure and
evaluative criteria.
 Take a subjective and biased
approach.