METHODS OF RESEARCH

1. Differentiate the following

1.1 Research and Research Problem
Answer: In simple language Research means searching for knowledge. The Merriam-Webster online
dictionary expands this definition as a “careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about
something”. Authors of research textbooks, meanwhile distinguish the world as a “systematic inquiry that is
designed to collect, analyzed, and interpret data to understand, describe, or predict phenomenon. In a strict
sense, Research is a systematic application of the scientific inquiry in order to find solutions to problems and
contribute to knowledge.
A Research Problem is an area affected by the identified topic or trend in the field that you would like to
address, investigate, or study, whether historically, descriptively or experimentally (de Guzman, 2015). It is
the focus or reason for engaging in your research. It is typically a topic, a phenomenon, or a challenge that you
are interested in and with which you are at least somewhat familiar.
1.2. Test and Measurement
Answer: A Test can be considered an observation or experiment that determines one or more characteristics
of a given sample, product, process, or service. The purpose of testing involves a prior determination of
expected observation and a comparison of that expectation to what one actually observes.
Measurement is the process of observing and recording the observations that are collected as part of a
research effort.
1.3 Assessment and Evaluation
Answer: Assessment is the process of objectively understanding the state or condition of a thing, by
observation and measurement.
Evaluation is the process of observing and measuring a thing for the purpose of judging it and of determining
its “value,” either by comparison to similar things, or to a standard.

1.4 Population and Sample

Answer: Population in research is the totality of individuals or objects that are the focus of the study. A
population includes all members from a specified group, all possible outcomes or measurements that are of
interest. The exact population will depend on the scope of the study.
A sample consists of some observations drawn from the population, so a part or a subset of the population.
The sample is the group of elements who actually participated in the study.
1.5 Hypothesis and Assumption
Answer: Hypothesis is a logical supposition, reasonable guess, and educated conjecture that is based on the
extensive review of the extensive review of literature. The role of hypothesis is to provide a tentative
explanation to these questions which serves as basis of the solutions of the identified problems in the
investigation.
An Assumption is a realistic expectation which is something that we believe to be true. However, no
adequate evidence exists to support this belief. In other words, an assumption is an act of faith which does not
have empirical evidence to support. Assumption provide a basis to develop theories &research instrument &
therefore, influence the development & implement of research.
1.6 Variable and Variate
Answer: Variate is a quantity having a numerical value for each member of a group, especially one whose
values occur according to a frequency distribution. Variate is not a variable nor even a type of variable. It is in
fact a value that a variable takes.
Variable is a factor or quantity able to assume different numerical values.
1.7 Bibliography and Footnote
Answer: Footnotes and the Bibliography contain essentially the same information; however, there are some
stylistic differences.
In the footnote:
1. The author’s name appears with the first name first and the last name second followed by a comma.
2. The first line is indented.
3. There are parentheses around the publication information.
4. Specific page numbers are included.
5. Footnotes are numbered. (Numbers are NOT repeated.)
6. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page.

In the bibliography:
1. Author’s name appears with the last name first followed by a comma, then the first name followed by
a period.
2. The second line is indented.
3. There are NO parentheses.
4. There are NO page numbers.
5. The entire bibliography appears on a separate page at the end of the paper. It should be the last page
of your paper.
6. The bibliography is arranged in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
7. The bibliography is NOT numbered.
8. Single space WITHIN an entry.
9. Double space BETWEEN entries.

Example:
Ball, Philip. Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
2001.
Bird, Kai, and Martin J. Sherwin. American Prometeus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert
Oppenheimer. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

1.8 Related Literature and Related Studies

Answer: Related literature is composed of discussions of facts and principles to which the present study is
related. The materials are usually printed and found in books, encyclopedias, professional journals,
magazines, newspapers, and other publications.
A Review of Studies is done to compare and sometimes collate the results of a set of substantially similar
controlled/laboratory simulations/experiments that were done on the same topic, by different research groups,
at different ties.
1.9 Theoretical Framework and Conceptual Framework
Answer: Theoretical Framework serves as a basis as to how the study will be investigated. It refers to the
theory, principle or model that the researcher chooses to guide him in the conduct of the study. Therefore, it
involves the application of theory, principle or model, to explain an event, or shed some light on a particular
phenomenon or research problem.
Conceptual Framework plays an important role in every research study. This is where the researchers defend
and justify their hypotheses and variables. Conceptual Framework is a tentative theory regarding the topic
under investigation usually shown in a diagram (Punch, 2009). It explains the hypothesized relationship
among the variables thus making it easy to understand the arguments advanced by the study.
To illustrate in a diagram, there is a need to associate shapes with the elements of the conceptual framework,
namely: (1.) the type of variable under investigation grouped according to how readily it can be measured and
(2.) the hypothesized relationship between any two variables.
1.0. Conceptual Definition and Operational Definition
Answer: Conceptual definition tells what a concept means in abstract or theoretical terms while an
Operational definition links a concept to the concrete world by telling you how to observe and / or measure
the concept.

2. Discuss HOW of the following methods of research.

2.1 Stating a Problem
Answer: In stating the research problem the problem itself, is stated clearly and with enough contextual detail
to establish why it is important. The method of solving the problem, often stated as a claim or a working
thesis. The purpose, statement of objective and scope of the project being proposed. These elements should be
brief so that the reader does not get lost. the statement of the problem should clearly indicate what is to be
investigated. The actual statement may be in a declarative or in question form. The statement should indicate
the variables of interest and the specific relationship between the variables that are to be studied.
2.2. Making a specific problem
Answer: The specific problems give the details of the research. These are generated from the general problem.
These problems are usually stated in the question form. Specify your research objectives, review its context or
environment, explore its nature and determine variable relationships. In writing research problems, be guided
with the timeframe of the study so that it can be finished within the given allotted time and availability of the
participants.
2.3. Writing the research title
Answer: Writing the research title may seem to be simple task yet it is the important determinant of
readership. Readers come across each research paper titles in searches through internet database and
references sections of the library. They deduce what the paper is all about and its relevance to them based on
the title. A good research title sums up all the variables you want to study in your research and usually the
research title reflects the statement of the problem. It must be able to summarize what the paper is all about
into 12 or less substantive words. A lengthy title may seem unclear to the readers as they may not be able to
capture the relevant ideas conveyed by the researcher. At the same time, it should be able to differentiate the
research from previous researchers in the same field.
3. Compare and contrast the following methods of research.
3.1 Historical Method
Answer: Historical research method is a systematic collection and evaluation of data to describe, explain, and
understand events that occurred in the past. Historical research is conducted to be aware of what happened in
the past in order to come up with the best decisions in the present. For instance, you maybe interested to
conduct a research on the highlights of previous curriculum in order to find out why the present curriculum us
revised. Moreover, historical research is also performed to test relationships, trends, and patterns. In turn, this
will help you in predicting relationships or trends.
3.2. Descriptive Method
Answer: Descriptive research is defined as a research method that describes the characteristics of the
population or phenomenon studied. This methodology focuses more on the “what” of the research subject than
the “why” of the research subject. The descriptive research method primarily focuses on describing the nature
of a demographic segment, without focusing on “why” a particular phenomenon occurs. In other words, it
“describes” the subject of the research, without covering “why” it happens.
Descriptive research can be either quantitative or qualitative. It can involve collections of quantitative
information that can be tabulated along a continuum in numerical form, such as scores on a test or the number
of times a person chooses to use a-certain feature of a multimedia program, or it can describe categories of
information such as gender or patterns of interaction when using technology in a group situation. Descriptive
research involves gathering data that describe events and then organizes, tabulates, depicts, and describes the
data collection
3.3 Experimental Method
Answer: Experimental Method is basically a collection of research designs, guidelines for using them,
principles and procedures for determining statistical significance, and criteria for determining the quality of a
study for some researchers, the experimental method is the premier method, all others being ‘ground clearing’
operations, that is, preliminary data collection and interpretation exercises to prepare for a formal experiment.
Experiments are generally conducted in order to test the strength of relationships between variables. We also
saw that when the researcher is testing the influence of one variable on another, the variable doing the
influencing is called the independent variable, while the other being influenced is called the dependent
variable. Example: “In a study of the effect of two different methods forteaching grammar, the teaching
method would me the independent variable, and the students’ performance on a test of grammar knowledge
would be the dependent variable”.
In the strict sense, experimental research is what we call a true experiment. This is an experiment where the
researcher manipulates one variable, and control/randomizes the rest of the variables. It has a control group,
the subjects have been randomly assigned between the groups, and the researcher only tests one effect at a
time.
4. Mention at least five (5) sampling techniques or procedure and discuss each briefly.
Answer:
1. Probability Sampling and Non- Probability Sampling – is the method of drawing sample where every
member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected. It requires the presence of a
complete list of members of the target population. Non-Probability Sampling does not ensure that every
member of the target population is given an equal chance of being selected. Thus, the non-probability
sampling is less precise. It is usually used when just an approximation is required.
2. Random Sampling – no particular order is used in the actual selection of sample. Each member of the
target has an equal chance of being included, since the samples are just chosen at random. This is
normally used when the target population is small. An example is the process of drawing winning
numbers in raffles.
3. Systematic Sampling – is an improvement of the random sampling process where a pre-selection
system is in place to complement the randomness of the selection process. This technique also requires a
complete list of the members of the target population in the sampling frame. The K value is computed
by dividing the population size by the desired sample size, and is used to determine the kth element to be
taken from the population. Example, to study the attitude of the students in a school towards
involvement in extra-curricular activities, the total population of the school is divided by the desired
sample. The students in the school are then assigned control numbers. Assuming that the K-value is 74,
then every 74th is he list taken as a sample.
4. Stratified Sampling - This is done to make sure that the samples selected are not from one stratum or
group only, and that the results are representative of the target population. To illustrate, a study is to be
conducted on the performance of high school graduates in the entrance examination of a university, the
target population may be divided into two groups; graduates of a public school and graduates of a
private schools. After determining the strata, all graduates of a particular type of school are grouped as
one. Sampling is done on the two groups so that four hundred samples are needed, two hundred may be
selected from each group.
5. Cluster Sampling Technique – is used when the population is dispersed over a wide geographic region,
and it is costly to gather a complete list of the members of the population. It is similar to stratified
sampling in that the population is first divided into group of clusters, and then the clusters are randomly
chosen, and from these clusters, samples are taken. However, it requires a larger sample to be as
efficient. For instance, a study is to be made on the buying capacity of the Filipinos for the purpose of
marketing a particular product. To have better assessment, since the country is divided into regions, we
first randomly select a certain number of regions in the country to be used as target population. After the
regions are selected, samples are taken from each of these regions.

6. Give at least (5) methods or techniques used in data collection and explain each with examples.
Answer:
1. Observation – it is a qualitative data collection technique in which a researcher observes the
participants. Observation entails the systematic noting and recording of events, behaviors, and artifacts
(objects) in the social setting chosen for the study. This helps ensure accurate, complete, and honest
descriptions. The observational record is frequently referred to as field notes. Field notes are simple,
detailed notes of the researcher while conducting observations in the field. This is the written account of
what the researcher has seen, experienced, felt, or thought during the actual observation.
2. Interview – is used as data collection technique both in qualitative and quantitative research. By
definition, an interview is a conversation between two or more people where the interviewer asks
questions to gather information from the interviewee. It is an oral exchange of questions and answers,
where the researcher will take down notes in the questionnaire. It may be done face-to-face or through a
focus group discussion. This method allows flexibility on the part of the researcher to make follow-ups
on answers given by the participants. This may be costly for the researcher, but the researcher will be
more certain that he/she got the data needed for the study.
3. Questionnaire – the most common method in collecting data is through questionnaire. Questionnaire
maybe handed personally, or sent through email or other forms of technology such as social media.
Questionnaire may be researcher developed, adapted or adopted. Researcher-developed or adapted
instruments used in researcher should undergo validity and reliability tests. A common drawback of this
method is the low response rate as people tend to set aside questionnaire received. A low response rate
may affect the validity of the results of the study.
4. Experiment – can also be done to gather or collect data. It allows the researcher to make manipulations
required by the experimentation process. It is only time-consuming, it is also expensive.
5. Focus Group Discussion – this is another method of collecting qualitative data. It is a free-flowing
discussion with a small group of six to ten people in order to generate different ideas and opinions in a
 certain issue moderated by a skilled moderator. A focus group is not a debate or a session that resolves
conflict or problem; instead, it is an opportunity to gain insights from the participants on a certain topic.
6. Document Method – it is commonly used in quantitative research, where data previously gathered and
stored may be availed by the researcher. These may be historical data or data that were stored by other
individuals or institutions. To use this method, it is imperative that the researcher knows what the
available data are, where are they stored, and how accessible are they to the researcher.

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