F.L.

VARGAS COLLEGE
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
GRADUATE SCHOOL

COURSE INFORMATION AND SYLLABUS IN METHODS OF RESEARCH

I. Course Title : Methods of Research

Course No. : Res. _____
Credit Units : 3
Pre requisite : Statistics

II. Course Description:

This is an introductory course intended to equip the students with concepts, principles in research
starting from an overview of the major phases of the research process. The course includes
discussions on the formulation to dissemination of the research findings, and focus more on the
formulation of a research problem to the selection of the research design, sampling procedure,
research instruments for data gathering and appropriate statistical tools for data analysis.

This course will require the students to present a research proposal in a colloquium to apply
knowledge and demonstrate skills and attitude in the conceptual, design and planning stages of
the research process.

III. Desired Learning Expectations of the Course:

At the end of the semester, the students will be able to:

 Enable learners develop interest in writing research paper;

 Help learners learn the processes involved in research writing;
 Provide learners the needed motivation to write their own research paper;
 Know how to identify and clarify research problems;
 Know and able to design a report format for presentation; and
 Write a research project.

IV. Course Requirements:

1. Submission of research output per chapter within the semestral period

2. Submission of research output based on timetable
3. Able to pass the final paper critiquing
4. Completion and Submission of a Research Proposal

V. Course Outline:
CHAPTER I - THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction:
 presentation of the problem (what is the problem all about)
 existence of unsatisfactory condition (felt problem) that needs a solution
 reason/s of the study
 historical background (conditional)
 a desire to discover something to improve the condition or to solve the existing
problem
 geographical condition of the locale of the study
 Studies and literatures being reviewed can be integrated in the background to
strengthen the need to investigate the problem at hand.
 a sentence or two to link the Introduction and the Statement of the Problem
 Statement of the Problem:
 A research problem suggests a specific answer, hence, it must be specific & written in
quantifiable or measurable terms
 This should be narrowed down into specific questions/ specific objectives of the study
 This can be done by identifying the key variables/aspects of the subject matter which
shall emanate from the research topic

Significance of the Study:

This section describes the contribution of the research to the discovery of knowledge. It
discusses the following:
 benefits derived from the investigation
 worthwhile contribution to generation of new knowledge
 general relevance of the study to the readers

Scope and Delimitation:

 This part specifies the boundaries of the study as to the parameters to be studied,
the subject and the locale.
 It emphasizes what are and are not included, with explanations as to why some
areas/aspects were not taken into consideration.

Definition of Terms:

 Key variables, constructs, and principal terms used need to be defined. Operational
definitions are required, and may used in conjunction with conceptual or “dictionary”
definitions.
Generally, the terms to be included are the following:
 Concepts and variables found in the title of the study.
 Concepts and variables found in the specific questions and research paradigm.
 Terms that were often used in the study.
 Operational definitions are specific and devoid of ambiguity.
 The operational definition gives an idea of how the variable is measured.
 Conceptual definitions should be documented as to source.
 A term may start with its conceptual definition after which the operational definition
follows.
 The terms to be defined should be alphabetically arranged.

CHAPTER II - REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

 Introductory paragraph should be presented

 This includes brief and topical presentation of relevant published or unpublished
researches, conducted locally or foreign which have relationship or similarity with the
present study.

Related Literature:
 It is an abstract of the readings of the Researcher logically woven using a well-
organized topic outline.
 Reference should be “in-text” (Turabian style) throughout the paper rather than
through footnotes.
 A well-founded study should have a good number of pages for this chapter.
 Although, the more critical consideration is the comprehensiveness of the review
relative to the problem rather than the number of pages.
 Related Studies:
 The order of presentation will be in accordance with the topic outline in the review of
related literature and arranged from the most recent to the least recent findings.
 These studies should be discussed and integrated with the conceptualization of the
study.
 The review concludes with a synthesis of the significant findings, which is an input to
the theoretical/conceptual framework.

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework:
 The theoretical framework shapes the justification of the research problem/ research
objectives in order to provide the legal basis for defining its parameters.
 It presents an integrated set of propositions (theory) expressed by an individual or
group, which is already universally recognized.
 Conceptual framework, on the other hand, is the tentative theoretical scheme
advanced by the researcher regarding his problem, in the absence of an existing
theory.
 It is presented in symbolic form in a diagram, usually referred to as the Research
Paradigm

Research Paradigm:
 It explains diagonally the relationship of variables.
 It concretizes the meaning of framework in the study.
 It supports the meaning of the operational framework.
 It presents the scheme in which the meaning of research variable is simplified.
 It serves as skeletal explanation of the framework of the study.

CHAPTER III - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 Introductory statement/paragraph should be presented

Research Design:
 This section identifies the type of research.
 From these varied research designs, whichever the researcher opts to use should be
adequately explained and justified.

Locale of the Study:

 This section discusses where the study is conducted and consequently, where the
conclusions could be generally applicable.

Subjects/Respondents of the Study:

 Subjects are the individuals in a group on whom the conclusions will be applied,
respondents are those who provide information.
 The subjects of the study may not necessary be the respondents. (an example is a study to
find out the competencies of teachers of the FLVC. The subjects of the study are the
teachers. To get valid results, three respondents would be identified: the teacher himself,
his subject coordinator or dean or a group of students).
 This is important for the statistical analysis because the subject of the study is the unit of
analysis.
 A table should be presented to clearly show the actual number of people involved in the
study relative to the population size.

Sampling Procedure:
 The procedure in selecting the sample should be identified and explained.
  Limitations should also be discussed. This includes considerations of sample size.
 Techniques in selecting other respondents (other than the subjects of the study) should be
also identified and thoroughly explained.
 To warrant the use of statistical tests, randomization should be employed, either simple or
combination with other sampling techniques like cluster sampling, stratified sampling or
systematic sampling.
 The size of the sample should be systematically determined using accepted procedures
such as Slovin’s formula.

Research Instruments:
 Data gathering tools are explained in detail in this section, including what specifically
they seek to measure and they type of data to be gathered.
 The manner the instrument was developed is also discussed.
 This section also explains in detail the methods used to validate the research instrument,
and the measures taken to improve its reliability and validity.

Data Gathering Procedure:

 The description of the procedure explains the steps in gathering data which is either or a
combination of survey questionnaires, interviews, observations, etc.

Methods of Analysis:
 For every specific problem presented in Chapter I, the corresponding procedure for
analyzing the data should be specified. This refers to both the descriptive and the
inferential questions.
 If data have to be organized first before the answers to the questions could be derived, the
manner of organizing these data should be adequately explained.
 For experimental studies where alternate hypotheses or research hypotheses are used in
Chapter I, the corresponding null hypotheses are presented first.

CHAPTER IV - PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

 Introductory statement/paragraph
 Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data will be in tabular and textual form

CHAPTER V - SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

- Introductory statement/paragraph
- Summary of Findings should be structured in summary form based on the
sequence of your statement of the problem
- Conclusion should bear only the immediate answer to your main problem
- Recommendations should be based only on the findings of the study. Personal
opinion or suggestions should be avoided.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

- books
- publications
- professional journal
- unpublished studies
- arrange alphabetically

CURRICULUM VITAE

- Name
- Date of Birth
- Address
- Educational Preparation
APPENDICES/(Attachments)

VI. Suggested References:

Books

Ariola, Mariano, Ph.D. Principles and methods of Research. Manila City: Rex Book Store,
Inc. c 20
Adanza, Estrella, Methods of Research . Manila City, Rex Book Store, Inc. c 2010

Sevilla C. G. et al., Research Methods, Manila City: Rex Book Store, ed. 2002

Electronic Sources

http//www.google
http//www.yahoo.com

___________________________________________________________________________________

Prepared by: Approved by:

DANTE P. PASICOLAN, Ph.D WILFREDO JAUCIAN, MBA, MPA

Professor Program Head