Lecture 1 - THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN INTRODUCTION

I. Objectives of the Module

At the end of the module, the student should be able to:

1. define and discuss the general characteristics of scientific research

2. cite and explain the purposes of research
3. mention and explain the steps involved in the research process
4. relate the steps in the research process to the parts of a written
research report

II. SUBJECT MATTER: Research I, Introduction to Research

Reference: Campbell, William Giles, Stephen Ballou, and Carole Slade. Form and Style: Thesis, Reports,
Term Papers. 6th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974.

Doronilla, Ma. Luisa. A Lecture on Research. Diliman, Quezon City: UPROBE, 1985.

Estolas, Josefina V., and Daisy T. Boquiren. Fundamentals of Research. Manila: G. Miranda and Sons,
1973.

Kerlinger, Fred N. Foundations of Behavioral Research. 2d ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
1973.

Materials: Handout
Value Integrity: Respect, Privacy

INTRODUCTION

activities as human beings can be summed up into a cycle of three stages: we act upon this
Our world, reflect upon our actions, and again act in a better way than before as a result of our
reflection. (Doronilla, 1985). For instance, we act when we devise and implement a strategy in teaching
anatomy; we reflect when we analyze the process and result of this strategy in terms of student’s learning;
and we act again when we, as a result of our reflection, innovate and implement a better strategy for teaching
anatomy. This cycle is true for all other activities, such as when we devise and implement an intervention for
alleviating pain among pediatric patients subjected to IV insertion.

This act of reflecting upon our actions is a normal act of any human being concerned with making
conditions, things, and processes newer and better. Hence, each of us is actually doing research because
research is an act of reflection. The difference lies in the manner in which reflection is done which may be
haphazard or systematic. When done systematically and in consonance with the accepted methods of
analysis, this reflection is considered scientific research, or simply research.

Now, you can begin to read.

 THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN INTRODUCTION

1. WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research has been defined in various but basically similar ways by different authors. Research is:

1. a systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the
presumed relations among natural phenomena (Kerlinger, 1973). .

2. a careful, critical, disciplined inquiry, varying in techniques and methods according to the nature
and conditions of the problem identified, directed to the clarification or resolution (or both) of a problem.
(Good, 1973).

3. a systematic search for understanding limited to a particular subject that, for purposes of
investigation, has been cast in a problematic form and formally defined. It is a purposive act of looking for
facts that are likely to be some solutions to a felt need or problem. (Estolas and Boquiren, 1973).

4. a systematic and refined technique, employing specialized tools, instruments, and procedures in
order to obtain more adequate solution of a problem than would be possible under ordinary means. It starts
with a problem, collects data or facts, analyzes these critically, and reaches a decision, based on actual
evidence. It involves original work instead of a mere exercise of personal opinion. It is quantitative, seeking
to know not only what, but how much, hence, measurement is a central feature of it. (Crawford, as cited by
Aquino, 1971).

5. a studious inquiry or examination, a critical and exhaustive investigation having for its aim the
discovery of news facts and their correct interpretation, the revision of accepted conclusions, theories or laws,
in the light of newly discovered facts, or the practical application of such new or revised conclusions, theories,
or laws (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, 1976).

6. an activity whose immediate aim is the quantitative formulation of verifiable general law, and
whose ultimate aim is the establishment of a system of concepts and relations in which all specific
propositions are deducible from a few general principles. It is concerned with discovery of knowledge (as in
the case of basic research). It uses carefully designed and well-controlled experiments whose conclusions
are rigorously tested for statistical significance. In the case of applied research (which is concerned with
finding practical solutions to improve existing conditions), it involves the collection and analysis of data that
will shed light about a difficulty which will serve as basis for recommendations to improve the existing
situation. The problems, data, and solutions tend to be ephemeral, not eternal (Ebel, 1969).

1.1. Characteristics of Research

There are commonalities in the definitions:

a. Being a systematic process, research follows an orderly and logical sequence of steps.
b. Being a refined process, it employs generally accepted methods, valid and reliable data
gathering instruments, acceptable data gathering procedures, and techniques (quantitative or
qualitative) of analyzing data and interpreting the results.
c. As a controlled process, the methodology is precisely and explicitly stated to enable those who
may wish to verify the findings and conclusions to repeat the same procedure as outlined.

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 THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN INTRODUCTION

d. Its empirical nature demands that our subjective or hypothetical beliefs about the relations of
things (such as difference, correlation or association, cause-and-effect relationships) - which are
derived from experiences or observations - must be checked against objective empirical data
from outside the researcher himself.
e. Its critical, careful and disciplined nature requires the researcher to be careful in stating his
problem(s), hypothesis(es), assumptions, theoretical framework, procedures, findings, and
conclusions as these have to be made available for examination and verification by external
readers from the scientific community.
f. As much as possible, research gathers new knowledge or data from primary or first hand
sources. It is not research when one merely restates or reorganizes what is already known or
what has been written about a problem.
g. It is expert not only because the researcher has the capability to do the research but also
because he knows (as evidenced by a comprehensive and up-to-date Review of Related
Literature and Studies) what has already been written about his problem at hand. He proceeds
from this point, carefully planning his procedure from data collection to data analysis and
interpretation of findings.
h. Research is carefully recorded and reported. The report follows acceptable form and style. (See
subsequent module on Writing the Research Report). Every term is carefully and operationally
defined (in the Definition of Terms). All procedures are described in detail (in the chapter on
Research Design). All limiting factors are recognized (in the Scope and Delimitation). All references
cited are carefully documented and all the findings and conclusions are cautiously arrived at.

2. PURPOSES AND USES OF RESEARCH

While research has many purposes and uses, the leading ones are the following:

2.1. Decision-making and planning. Good decisions and plans are usually based on research
results. This is the purpose of applied research.

2.2. Discovery of knowledge. Research makes discoveries and expands the frontiers of
knowledge. This is the purpose of basic (also called: pure or fundamental) research. Specifically, good
research:

a. clarifies concepts; initiates, reformalizes, and refocuses theories

b. sheds light on assumptions
c. discovers principles or laws
d. tests the soundness or a theory or hypothesis on the relations of certain factors
e. tests the conclusions reached by a previous research or a conclusion arbitrarily stated without
supporting evidence.

2.3. Solution of some recognized difficulties or felt needs. Research ascertains facts useful in
solving a felt need or difficulty, improving present conditions (as in the case of applied research).

3. STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

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 THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN INTRODUCTION

3.1. Problem identification and development. The formulation and development of a research
problem is usually preceded by a survey of related literature and studies which enables the researcher to
determine what is already known in a particular subject field or area of research. Based on any one of the
three (3) general purposes of research, as discussed earlier, the researcher:

a. identifies a research topic (to be embodied in the title page)

b. develops the theoretical framework
c. formulates the general statement of the problem and the specific problems (or purposes)
d. formulates the hypothesis(es) as needed
e. states the reasons for conducting the study
f. states the other aspects of the problem (e.g., assumptions, scope and delimitation,
definition of terms)

3.2. Collection and analysis of data. This involves the:

a. development of the plan (design) for the collection and analysis of data – including the
appropriate research method(s), sources of data (total population or sample), data gathering
instruments, data-gathering procedure, and analysis (quantitative and / or quantitative) of data.

b. actual analysis and interpretation of the data according to the plan or the design. Actual analysis
involves classification of data, analysis of data using descriptive and inferential statistics(if
quantitative), presentation of the data in summary tables, and the textual interpretation and
discussion of the findings.

3.3. Formulation of generalizations (or conclusions) and recommendations. This is the

inductive phase of the interpretation of findings. It involves the formulation of generalizations or conclusions
based on the specific findings. It also involves the formulation of specific recommendations (or doable
actions) based on the findings.

3.4. Reporting and implementation of the findings. The research must be embodied in a written
research report (usually called a thesis or dissertation which is the final requirement for an academic degree).
The report must be prepared according to acceptable standards of format and style (for example, Campbell’s
Form and Style).

The implementation of the recommendations (though not necessarily a part of the research process)
completes the research process cycle. After the implementation of the recommendations, it is possible that
the problematic situation would be improved. The implementation of the recommendations (i.e., both the
process and the results) could be the object of another research later.

The following diagram illustrates this research process cycle:

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 THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN INTRODUCTION

Review of

Rel.
Collection
Lit. and Stud. Formulation of:
The Problem - Implementati
- Discovery of and
knowledge on
-Solution of a
difficulty
Analysis - Conclusions

Theoretical
of the
of
and Analytical
- Recommendations
Framework Feedback
Data
Recommende
Figure 1 : Diagram of the Research Cycle
d

The diagram shows that a research problem can have any of two general purposes: (a) the discovery
of knowledge – as in the case of basic, fundamental, or pure research; and (b) the search for solutions to a
difficulty or felt need – as in the case of applied and action research surveys. A research problem is often
identified as a result of an extensive survey of related literature and studies – the purposeActionsof which is to
determine what areas of research need to be studied or reinvestigated and to avoid unnecessary duplication
of researches, which usually results from lack of or inadequate literature survey. Usually the related literature
and studies help in the formulation of a theoretical and analytical framework which serves as the basis of and
guide for the study. The collection, analysis and interpretation of data follows. The findings of the study serve
as the bases for the formulation of generalizations or conclusions and recommendations. The study has to
be documented in the form of a research report.

Although the implementation of the recommendations is not often the obligation of the researcher,
the results of the implementation (feedback) serve as basis for determining what possible areas of research
can be further investigated. These feedbacks could be the beginning of another research, whether totally
new, or an extension of the research with a different dimension.

REFERENCES FOR FURTHER READING

Campbell, William Giles, Stephen Ballou, and Carole Slade. Form and Style: Thesis, Reports, Term
Papers. 6th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974.

Doronilla, Ma. Luisa. A Lecture on Research. Diliman, Quezon City: UPROBE, 1985.

Estolas, Josefina V., and Daisy T. Boquiren. Fundamentals of Research. Manila: G. Miranda and Sons,
1973.

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 THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN INTRODUCTION

Kerlinger, Fred N. Foundations of Behavioral Research. 2d ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
1973.