Research: Its Nature, Types & Role in Development

What is Research?

 It is a careful, systematic study in the field of knowledge that is undertaken

to discover or establish facts or principles (Webster, 1984).
 It is a systematic process of collecting and analyzing data to find an
answer to a question or a solution to a problem, to validate or test an
existing theory (David, 2000).
 It is a systematic inquiry that uses disciplined methods to answer
questions or solve problems.
 Its ultimate goal is to develop, refine, and expand a body of knowledge.

Functions of Research

 It helps us answer questions, solve problems and make decisions.

 It enables us to see and understand how and why a situation or a problem
exists.
 It helps us discover new things and ideas.
 It allows us to validate existing theories or generate new ones.
 It helps us identify and understand the causes and effects of a situation or
a phenomenon

The Role of Research in Improving Quality of Life

The connection between research and the improvement of man’s welfare

is is illustrated in the following diagram:
Uses of Research as a Scientific Process

 Determine/ describe an existing situation (situation analysis),

 Describe a population (people, objects, institutions, etc.)
 Compare two conditions or groups of population,
 Determine existence, degree, or nature of relationship between two or
more factors,
 Evaluate add/or compare effectiveness of an intervention, treatment or
exposure, and
 Predict the value of a certain characteristic

Role of Research in Development

 Analyzing existing social and economic problems or conditions

 For planning and designing a program/ project/ activity intended to address
the problem
 Data on the background and needs of target clients of a proposed
program/ project are needed in the preparation of the intervention
 Program managers or project implementers should continue collecting,
analyzing and using relevant data to determine if, or to make sure that a
project/ program is being implemented.
 Project implementation should be closely monitored to check progress and
quality of implementation.
 Upon completion of a program/project, its performance or impact needs to
be evaluated.

General Types of Research

1. Descriptive Research
 This type of study finds answer to the questions who, what, when,
where and how.
 Describes a situation or a given state of affairs in terms of specified
aspects or factors

2. Explanatory or Correlation Research

 This type of research goes beyond description of the problem or
situation.
 It attempts to explain the possible factors related to a problem which
have been observed in a descriptive study.
 This type of study answers the questions why and how?
 The research investigates relationships between factors or variables

3. Intervention or Experimental Research

 This type of research evaluates the effect or outcome of a particular
intervention or treatment
 It studies the cause and effect relationship between certain factors on a
certain phenomenon under controlled conditions.
 Subjects of the study are randomly assigned to the experimental and to
the control group and both groups are exposed to similar conditions
except for the intervention/ treatment.
Other Dichotomies of Research

1. Pure basic vs. Applied Research

2. Exploratory vs. Explanatory Research
3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative

Research Methods

1. Experimental Method

 This is used to determine the effectiveness of a treatment or an

intervention or the “cause and effect” relationship of a certain
phenomena under controlled condition.
 Subjects of the study are randomly assigned to similar conditions
except for the intervention/ treatment.

2. Survey Method

 It obtains data to determine specific characteristics of a group.

 The purpose of a survey is to get a general picture of the
characteristics of a study population at a particular time.
 The use of the survey approach is appropriate for most descriptive and
correlation studies.

3. Historical Method

 Used to determine the growth and development of a group,

organization or institution.
 The description is based on information about some past aspects of
the group, organization or institution.
 Most of the data used in this method are collected from secondary
sources, such as records, documents, written materials, accounts, etc.

4. Content Analysis

 Used when the intention of the researcher is to ascertain the quality of

message or information found in a document or in mass media.
 It is used to test the level of readability of certain books
 Content analysis is also used in determining authenticity of documents
and in literary research
The Research Process

The research activities are outlined in the following diagram: