The Basic and Fundamental Concepts of Research

Terms used in Research

1. Introduction: Presents the rationale of your Study and clearly indicates why it is worth doing.
2. Research Locale: Briefly describes the research locale where to conduct the study. In doing
this, you can cite major characteristics of the locale that has something to do with the
investigation.
3. Framework of the Study: States the anchor point of the study. This serves as the framework
of the investigation. This could be in the form of conceptual or theoretical framework. Identify
the key independent and dependent/major and minor variables of your investigation (If
needed/any). Explain the relationships of these variables in a clear and systematic way.
4. Statement of the Problem: States the general and specific research problem, which is often
referred to as the purpose of the study.
5. Assumption/Hypothesis: Provides introductory statement. State your assumptions or
hypothesis.
6. Scope and Limitation: Sets the limitation or boundaries of your research in order to provide a
clear focus.
7. Significance of the Study: Provides the context and sets the stage for your research question
in such a way as to show its necessity and importance.
8. Definition of Terms: Identifies and defines key terms found in the research.

Kinds of Research
a. Pure Research. This is also called “basic research” or “fundamental research”. It aims
to discover the basic truths or principles. This is intended to add to the body of scientific
knowledge. It is concerned with knowledge for sake of theory. Its design is not controlled
by the practical usefulness of the findings.
Basic research is designed to advance knowledge with no application to existing
problems in view. The audience for basic research consists almost exclusively of scholars
or researchers interested in learning about phenomena. There is virtually no basic
research done in library science and only a small amount in information science.
 Basic research is driven by scientist’s curiosity or interest in a scientific question. The
main motivation is to expand man’s knowledge, not to create or invent something. There
is no obvious commercial value to the discoveries that result from basic research.

Pure Researches
These are researches which do not use empirical or direct data, but are researches where
the laboratory is the human mind and are geared towards the resolution or simplification
of a problem or derivation of a concept or a theory or even a formula.
Example:
Thesis and dissertation of students for Master of Science degree in Mathematics,
Statistics, or Physics.

b. Applied research. This is the application of scientific knowledge to the solution of a

problem. There is a development of a new system or procedure, new device, or new
method in order to solve the problem. In this type of research, the problem is identified
and new system or method is applied in order to solve the problem. It is concerned with
showing how the findings can be applied to or summarized in some type of teaching
methodology.

Applied research is designed to help solve particular, existing problems so there is a

much larger audience eager to support research that is likely to be profitable or solve
problems of immediate concern. Much medical research on diseases with considerable
impact is a good example.

Applied research is designed to solve practical problems of the modern world, rather than
to acquire knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Its goal is to improve the human condition.
For example, applied researchers may investigate ways to a) improve production of
crops, b) treat or cure a specific disease or illness, or c) improve the efficiency of energy
consumption at homes, offices or modes of transportation.

Applied Researches are those that probe into the unknown using directly the results to a
current problem.
Examples:
 studies on rice substitutes
 modern methods for gall bladder operation
 different contraceptives for birth control
 modern techniques of tooth treatment
 use of native plants to serve as gasoline

c. Action research. This is a decision-oriented research where it involves the application of

the steps of scientific method in response to an immediate need for improvement of the
existing practices. It is inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the
quality of an organization and its performance. It is typically designed and conducted by
practitioners who analyze the data to improve their own practice. Action research can be
done by individuals or by teams of colleagues. The team approach is called collaborative
inquiry.

Action research has the potential to generate genuine and sustained improvements in
schools. It gives educators new opportunities to reflect on and assess their teaching; to
explore and test new ideas, methods, and materials; to assess how effective the new
approaches were; to share feedback with fellow team members; and to make decisions
about which new approaches to include in the team’s curriculum, instruction, and
assessment plans.

Kurt Lewin, then a professor at MIT, first coined the term “action research” in about
1944, and it appears in his 1946 paper, “Action research and Minority Problems”. In that
paper, he described action research as “comparative research on the conditions and
effects of various forms of social action and research leading to social action” that uses “a
spiral of steps, each of which is composed of a circle of planning, action and fact-finding
about the result of the action.”

The purpose of action research is to develop new approaches to solve questions or

problems that are directly related to everyday life. It is aimed towards applications of the
research results through a constant exchange between the researcher and the people or
events being researched.
Action research differs from most research approaches in that changes often occur in the
original research methodology when these changes are documented as a part of the
results.
A useful way to look at the relationship among these three research types is illustrated in
the diagram below. Each of the three different types of research contributes to the other in
helping revise and frame the research from each category.
Basic Researches are those that deal with the process of objects and things, or
information about different topics with no concern for a direct pay-off. Among these are
studies on relationships, comparative analyses, trends and projections.

Examples:
a. Relationship between emotional quotient and leadership skills
b. Relationship between GPA and science grades of Grade 6 Pupils
c. The intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors of students to enroll in Information
Technology courses
d. The interaction of age and gender on the Thurstone Mental Ability Test
e. Cost benefit analysis of contractual workers in manufacturing cars

Empirical Researches- are more specific than basic researches, but imply their nature
from the use of data, whether quantitative or qualitative.

Basically, they have the following important characteristics:

 based upon observations and experiences;

 derived from direct data;
 deal with population samples; and
 generally use estimations and hypothesis testings.

Problems that involve differences and relationships of behavior or measurable

characteristics are generally empirical researches.

Classification of Research

1. Library research. Research is conducted in the library in such a way that answers to
be specific questions/ problems of the research study are available in the library.
Historical research is an example of library research because the study is focused in
the past where the primary and secondary sources are available in the library.

2. Field Research. Research is conducted in a natural setting. There are no changes in

the environment. Field research is both applicable to descriptive and experimental
methods.

3. Laboratory Research. Research is conducted in artificial or controlled conditions by

isolating the study in a rigorously specified and operationalized area. The purposes of this
research are
a) to test the hypothesis derived from a theory,
b) to control variance under research conditions, and
c)to discover the relations between the dependent and independent variables.

Types of Research

a. Historical research involves studying, understanding and explaining past events. It is

envisioned to assess the meaning and the message of past happenings or occurrences
that may help to explain present events and anticipate future ones. In order that
historical research will not degenerate into a “treasure hunt”, data gathering should be
guided by a hypothesis. (Good in Fonollera, 1993:8)

It is a process of selecting the area or topic to write the history about, collecting data
about events that occurred in the area or about topic, collating the data, sifting the
authentic from non-authentic, and making an interpretative narrative about or critical
inquiry into the whole truth of the events. (Calderon and Gonzales,1993:41)

Historical Research must be interpretative, that is, it describes the present situations in
terms of past events.

Historical investigations help broaden our experiences and make us more

understanding and appreciative of our human nature and uniqueness. By knowing our
past, we will know the present conditions better. Although we may not be able to
predict accurately using the facts in history, it can familiarize us with what attempts
were done before.

The purpose of historical research is to reconstruct past events. This can be

accomplished by collecting and interpreting data in an objective or unbiased way.
Data can be from primary sources (research observes directly) or from secondary
sources. If secondary sources are used for the purpose of data collection, these
sources must be evaluated for accuracy and bias.

Historical research is a procedure supplementary to observation in which the

researcher seeks to test the authenticity of the reports or observation made by others.
(http://www.okstate.org).

b. Descriptive Research describes what is. It involves the description, recording

analysis, and interpretation of the present nature, composition or processes of
phenomena. The focus is on prevailing conditions, or how a person group or thing
behaves or functions in the present. It often involves some type of comparison or
contrast. (Manuel and Mendel in Calderon,1993:61)
Descriptive Research is fact-finding with adequate interpretation. The descriptive
method is something more and beyond just data gathering; the latter is not reflective
thinking nor research. The true meaning of the data collected should be reported from
the point of view of the objectives and the basic assumption of the project under way.
(Aquino, 1971:6-8)

Descriptive Research describes and interprets what is. It is concerned with conditions
and relationships that exist; practices that prevail; beliefs, processes that are going on;
effects that are being felt, or trends that are developing.

The process of descriptive research goes beyond mere gathering and tabulation of
data. It involves the elements or interpretation of the meaning or significance of what
is described. Thus description is often combined with comparison and contrast
involving measurement, classification, interpretation and evaluation. (Calderon and
Gonzales,1993:61)

c. Experimental research is a method or procedure involving the control or

manipulations of conditions for the purpose of studying the relative effects of various
treatments applied to members of a sample, or of the same treatment applied to
members of different samples. (Good in Calderon and Gonzales,1993:83)

Experimental research looks at cause –and –effect relationships by comparing two or

more similar groups, usually chosen by random selection. This is accomplished by
including an experimental group undergoing a new treatment approach and a control
group receiving the treatment. In this way, the two groups are compared and the
effectiveness of the new approach can be evaluated.

Types of Experimental Research

1. Laboratory experiment is a research study in which the variance of all or nearly

all of the possible influential independent variables not pertinent to the immediate
problem of the investigation is kept at a minimum. This is done by isolating the
research in a physical condition apart from the routine of everyday living and by
manipulating one or more independent variables under rigorously specified,
operationalized and controlled conditions.

The laboratory experiment isolates the experiment from the lives around the
laboratory by eliminating the many extraneous influences that may affect the
independent and dependent variables.

2. The field experiment is a research study in a realistic situation in which one or

more independent variables are manipulated by the experiment under a carefully
 controlled condition as the situation will permit. Field experiments operate with less
control. Field experiments are recommended to social psychologists, educators, and
sociologists because they are admirably suited to many social and educational
problems. Because the independent variables are manipulated and randomization is
used, the criterion of control can be satisfied- at least, theoretically. The experimenter
is almost always faced with the problem that his independent variables are
contaminated because of the natural, often lose situation.

Sources of Problems

One of the most common complaints of students in research is that they have no problem.
But actually, there are so many problems around us. Some problems are easy to solve, but
problems in research need more time and intensive effort.

Subjects in the Classroom

Some research problems spring from the different problems in class discussions, which
one may find in the different interactions with classmates.

Examples:
a. Achievement of a certain subject and the factors that influence or affect it
b. The interaction of age and gender on the Process Method of Science Teaching
c. The effects of teacher enthusiasm on the learning of academic subjects
d. Study habits and motivation of third year high school students on academic
achievements
e. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors of students take computer courses
f. Intelligence theories and academic performance
g. Predictive factors of teacher success in teaching

Work Experiences
Experiences:
a. Interpersonal relations with co-workers
b. Communication flow in the three processes
c. Instructional leadership skills of principals and their relationship with organizational
effectiveness
d. An empirical investigation of Holland’s Theory on the work environment of
personnel in a certain company
e. The relationship between management styles of school managers and faculty
empowerment
f. The implementation of TQM as an OD intervention for Organizational Effectiveness
g. Causes of faculty mobility in a certain university
h. Structure of loci decision-making of managers and effects on work performance of
personnel
i. Relationship between academic preparation and nursing licensure examination
j. Attitudes of people towards AIDS, fraudulent elections, Cha-Cha

Theories which need Empirical Support

a. Motivation – hygiene theory with job satisfaction
b. Intelligence theories on learning and teaching
c. Cost-benefit of hiring contractual workers
d. Holland’s theory with occupational preference

Technological and Science Researches

Examples:
a. Quality of life among people living on the riverbanks of a certain region
b. Drug addiction
c. Issues on pollution, global warming, tsunami, tornadoes, earthquakes, and others
d. Use of computers for aids in navigation
e. Quality health care

Off-shoots of Other Researches (recommendations from other researches)

Questions on values, opinions, and policies of different organizations found in the

recommendation may also be continued in another research.

Suggestions from Friends or Administrations

Suggestions regarding feasible topics for research may also be solicited.

Specializations

a. This concerns specialized areas of psychology, special education, quality, health care
and services, management, anthropology, logic, and philosophy, among others.
b. One may go into the use of psychological incapacity for annulment of marriage, and
the issue of battered wives.
c. Questions that may affect quality of production in business companies, using quality
statistical methods.
d. Feasibility studies in agribusiness, meat processing, fruit preservation, and fattening
animals.

Programs
One can gain insights on topics about medicine, psychology, teaching, management,
economics, and other fields that are published in official organs government or private
institutions.

Instructional Programs Pursued

Some graduate schools issue a list of researchable topics that are feasible or tenable in
different areas of knowledge. Some schools which have research units provide a research
agenda which the students can pursue and select a topic from. Research agendas are
generally comprehensive, and have plenty of topics to choose from.

Characteristics of a Good Problem

The characteristics of a good problem are the following:
1. Firstly, it should be of interest to the researcher himself; one can be eloquent on a
subject matter which one knows and is interested in.
2. It should have practical value to the researcher, the school, and the community.
3. It is current and novel issue.
4. More importantly, it can be finished within allotted time, depending on the subject,
which is a requirement.
5. It should not carry moral or legal impediment, nor should it be controversial.
6. The data are available.
7. The variables are clear, separable, and updated.
8. It shall incur expenses affordable to the researcher.