 Research is a careful, critical, and

basic concepts
exhaustive investigation to discover
new facts which will test a hypothesis,

LESSON 1: DEFINITION OF
RESEARCH
 Research is viewed as a tool for global revise accepted conclusion or
solution of man’s problem. contribute to society in general.
 Endeavour to expand understanding of
different situations + give positive 3. Best (2001)
answers to problems.  Research is a more formal,
o Why do individuals engage in systematic, intensive process of
crime? carrying on the scientific method of
o Which issues would be feasible analysis.
to tackle with the resources
available and to a certain 4. McGratch and Watson (2001)
extent, what shortcomings  Quoted Griffith – Research is a
contributed to the deterioration method of inquiry in a process by
of the economy? which one ascertains the truth with the
 To come to a solution, we must have a matter.
variety of measuring instruments,
research tools and approaches to 5. Day (2001)
employ.  Research is characteristic of time and
 Research methods are valuable. arrangement of both which suggest or
o Used to gather information inhibits behaviour.
which would benefit society
either through direct application 6. Blurton (2000)
of findings to the solution of  Research seeks to understand the
social ills or through the use of range of behaviour in which people
findings to test theoretical naturally engage in.
issues in research.
7. Jacob (2000)
 Research as traditions which
1. Willis (2002) manifests drawing discipline based on
 Research can mean the process of historical domains.
discovering new knowledge— o Whereupon it stresses that the
knowledge that has been previously interaction of the person and
unknown, or that has been ignored for the environment caused
a long time. changing solutions to a
 Research methods is an approach problem.
whereby it is experimented upon in
order to achieve a variety of methods.
LESSON 2: NATURE OF
2. Mac Gratch (2001)
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
 Searching for a theory, testing a
theory, or for solving a problem.
o It means a problem exists and
has been identified + a solution
is necessary.
o The problem is not ordinary +
the solution is here and now.
 Scientific Research – is controlled
unlike ordinary problems (which may
be solved cursorily)
o So planned that every step of
the way does not involve guess
or controlled evidences.
o Exact and precise outcomes
are expected due to the control
employed in the research.
LESSON 3:
CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
 Certain terms are commonly used in
research.
o Success of any research
depends on these terms.
o Determine whether a research
is scientifically and ethically
correct.
o They are called the
characteristics of the
research.
1. Reliability
 A measure of repeatability or
replicability.
o The repeatability of research,
research instrument, tool, or
procedure.
 There are instruments that can
estimate the reliability of any research
instrument.
 Reliable research – if any research
yields similar results each time it is
undertaken with a similar population
and with similar procedures.
 Reliability adds to the consistency and
predictability of research.
 Research conducted on “Effects of
single parenting on the class
performance of elementary school
age children”.
o If the results conclude that is
causes low grades in class,
these results should have to be
reliable for another sample
taken from a similar population.
2. Validity
 The strength of which we can make
research conclusions, assumptions, or
propositions true or false.
 Determine the applicability of the
research.
 Validity of the research instrument can
be defined as the suitability of the
research instrument to the research
problem.
o How accurately the instrument
measures the problem.
 Validity and reliability are so co-
related.
 Validity is more important than
reliability.
o Without it, research goes in the
wrong direction.
o To keep research on track:
define your concepts in the
best possible manner so that
no error occurs during the
measurement.
 2 Types of Validity
a. Internal Validity
b. External Validity
o The researcher needs to make
sure that both are strong.
3. Accuracy
 It means that each process in the
research has been undertaken
accurately.
 The degree to which research
process, instrument, and tool is related
to each other.
 It measures whether research tools
have been selected in the best
 possible manner + research  In quantitative research, it is easier to
procedures suit the research problems achieve that.
or not.  In qualitative research, generalizability
 Choosing the best data collection tool is more concerned to a smaller group
improves the accuracy of the research. to which the results are applicable.
 Research conducted on
transgender people. 6. Empirical
o Several data collection tools  It means that the research has been
can be used depending on the conducted following rigorous scientific
research problems. methods and procedures.
o If the population is less o Each step has been tested for
cooperative (giving biased accuracy + based on real life
answers / not returning the experiences.
questionnaires), the best way is  Quantitative research is easier than
to observe them. qualitative research.
o Qualitative research – biases
4. Credibility and prejudices are easy to
 It comes with the use of the best occur.
source of information + best  There are tools that can improve the
procedures in research. trustworthiness of qualitative research.
 Second-hand information makes the o The researcher should know
credibility of the research how to control biases and
questionable. subjectivity.
o Secondary data has been
manipulated by human beings. 7. Systematic
o Not valid to use in research.  The research should have one main
o A certain percentage of approach.
secondary data can be used if  The systematic approach helps the
primary source is not yet researcher understand the steps to be
available. taken and in what order to take each
 Credibility increases when accurate step.
references in the research are given.  Research should follow a procedure.

5. Generalizability 8. Controlled
 The extent to which research findings  There are tools that can help the
can be applied to a larger population. researcher in achieving some control
 If the research findings can be applied over how the research goes on.
to any sample from the population and
the same results are obtained.
When a researcher conducts a study, LESSON 4: GOALS OF
he/she chooses a target population. From
this target population, he/she takes a
RESEARCH
small sample to conduct the research. The methodical study of
This sample is representative of the whole information and experimentation done in
population. order to discover new ideas and come to
conclusions.
 External validity improves research
generalizability. 1. Describe
o Strong external validity =
strong generalizability.
 Create techniques for measurement
that enable clear and exact
descriptions of behaviour.
 Large group = generalizations
 Single person/phenomenon
 Systematic and precise
 Only relevant information
 Basis for prediction
 Vocabulary
o Description: using methods to
define, classify and categorize
the relationships between
subjects.
o Operational Definition: A 3. Control
definition that characterizes
events, qualities, and concepts
in terms of observable
operations, or procedures used
to measure them.
o Average Performance: General
trends in behaviour of a group
of subjects in a scientific study
 Examples
o A psychologist surveys
subjects to be able to describe
how the amount of time a
person sleeps affects their level
of stress.
o A psychologist observes
children to attempt to describe
what young kids do when
meeting a new person.
2. Predict
 Educated guessing about what will
happen in an experiment.
 Sometimes in the form of hypothesis.
 Not always accurate.
 Supported by descriptions.
 Vocabulary
o Correlation: Two variables that
trend in a related direction
within an experiment (either the
same or opposite directions)
- One variable can be
used to predict the
other.
o Variable: A measurable factor
in an experiment that changes
based on the conditions of the
test.
 Examples
o Researchers predict that
people who eat faster weigh
more based on a study about
eating habits.
o Researchers hypothesize that
individuals whose parents are
divorced are more likely to get
a divorce themselves after
observing separated families.
 Be able to influence the subjects in
order to get them to behave a certain
way.
 A person’s behaviour is permanently
changed by the actions of a
psychologist.
 Examples
o Pavlov’s dog experiment
o Parents give a child a cookie
when they do the right thing so
the child will do it again.
4. Explain
 Answers “why does it occur?” and
“how would it occur again?”
 Conduct an experiment to answer.
 Identify the cause(s) of phenomena.
o Co-variation of events
o Proper time-order sequence
o Elimination of plausible
alternative causes.
 Vocabulary
o Co-variation of Events:
Variables are clearly correlated
and could not be related due to
chance.
o Proper Time-order Sequence:
The cause must occur before
the effect of the experiment.
o Elimination of Alternative
Causes: Be sure there is not
another cause for any
discoveries made in the
experiment.
 Examples
 o A psychologist figures out the
scientific reason why people
who have been in a car
accident react badly to loud
noises.
o A psychologist tries to
determine under what
circumstances a serial killer
would want to kill again.
LESSON 5: PURPOSE OF
RESEARCH
 Its purpose is to enhance society by
advancing knowledge through the
development of scientific theories,
concepts, and ideas.
 A research purpose is met through
forming hypotheses, collecting data,
analysing results, forming conclusions,
implementing findings into real-life
applications, and forming new
research questions.
 Its purpose is to further understand the
world + learn how this knowledge can
be applied to better everyday life.
 An integral part of problem solving.
1. Exploratory
 The first research to be conducted
around a problem that has not yet
been clearly defined.
 Aims to gain a better understanding of
the exact nature of the problem and
not to provide a conclusive answer to
the problem itself.
o Enables us to conduct a more
in-depth research later on.
2. Descriptive
 Expands knowledge of a research
problem or phenomenon by describing
it according to its characteristics and
populations.
 Focuses on the “how” and “what” but
not the “why”
3. Explanatory
 Casual research
 Conducted to determine how variables
interact.
 Identify cause and effect
relationships.
 Deals with they “why” of research
questions.
 Often based on experiments.
LESSON 6: IMPORTANCE
OF RESEARCH
 Improve way of life by continuing the
search for truth.
 From the past up until now, man has
harnessed natural forms and forces in
order to meet his/her increasing needs
+ enhance his environment to facilitate
his/her consumable goods.
o Achieves this through using the
brain, physical efforts, time and
money.
o Results:
- Transportation (land,
air, water)
- Communication
(telephone, cablegram,
social media platforms)
- Mass media
 Research has become evident at
home.
o Chores are easier because of
many appliances.
 Medicine: intensive search for cures
and remedies.
 Business and industry: maintain the
quality of their products and services.
 Farming: improvement of products in
quantity and quality.
 There came about a number of
systematic searches for the most
lucrative and attractive ways of
entertaining people: animated
cartoons, movies, video games.
 Education: research on ways of how to
improve instruction and develop the
 student into a useful, enlightened
patriotic citizen.
o Research studies later on can
prove the need to assist
schools in developing materials
for continued research and
series of experiments.
 Humans must not only be a recipient
to the advantages of research, but
also active participants.
o Can be done if he/she engages
in research.
 With the continuous progress,
problems arise: rapid multiplication of
population, pollution, drug addiction,
uneven wealth distribution, etc.

 Research is important because of the

following:

1. It is needed in tapping the immense

natural resources and in harnessing
them.
2. Necessary in enhancing production to
cope with the needs of the increasing
population.
3. Helps in determining the manpower
needs of the country and the ways to
meet those needs.
4. Enables the businessmen to forecast
the direction in which business will
take or to explore the possibilities of
new industries.
5. Enables the planners of education,
industry, or government to make
projects so that steps can be taken to
be ready for the future.
6. Maintains good health + remedy
illness.
7. An instrument of modernization –
promote the progress of a country.
8. Urgently needed for energy production
and regulation of its use.
9. Needed in improving the quantity and
quality of major crops – processing
them and transforming them to
different forms of marketable goods.