At the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

choose appropriate quantitative research design;

describe sampling procedure and sample;
construct an instrument and establish its validity and reliability;
describe intervention (if applicable);
plan data collection procedure;
plan data analysis using statistics and hypothesis testing (if
appropriate); and
present written research methodology.

LESSON 1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research methodology is a way to systematically

CHAPTER solve
4 –the research problem. ItDATA
UNDERSTANDING may be
31 understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically. In it, the study of the
AND WAYS TO SYSTEMATICALLY COLLECT DATA
various steps are generally adopted by a researcher in studying his research problem along with
the logic behind them. It is necessary for the researcher to know not only the research
methods/techniques but also the methodology. Researchers not only need to know how to
develop certain indices or tests, how to calculate the mean, the mode, the median or the standard
deviation or chi-square, how to apply particular research techniques, but they also need to know
which of these methods or techniques, are relevant and which are not, and what would they mean
and indicate and why. Researchers also need to understand the assumptions underlying various
techniques and they need to know the criteria by which they can decide that certain techniques
and procedures will be applicable to certain problems and others will not. All this means that it is
necessary for the researcher to design his methodology for his problem as the same may differ
from problem to problem. For example, an architect, who designs a building, has to consciously
evaluate the basis of his decisions, i.e., he has to evaluate why and on what basis he selects
particular size, number and location of doors, windows and ventilators, uses particular materials
and not others and the like. Similarly, in research the scientist has to expose the research
decisions to evaluation before they are implemented. He has to specify very clearly and precisely
what decisions he selects and why he selects them so that they can be evaluated by others also.
 Research Design
The research design refers to the overall strategy that the researchers choose to integrate
the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby, ensuring you will
effectively address the research problem; it constitutes the blueprint for the collection,
measurement, and analysis of data (De Vaus. The function of a research design is to ensure that
the evidence obtained enables you to effectively address the research problem logically and as
unambiguously as possible.

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.

Characteristics of descriptive research

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32 The term descriptive research then refers to research questions, design of the study, and
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data analysis conducted on that topic. We call it an observational research method because none
of the research study variables are influenced in any capacity.

Respondents
Respondents are those persons who have been invited to participate in a particular study
and have actually taken part in the study. 

The Instrument
This refers to the questionnaire or data gathering tool to be constructed, validated and
administered.
 If researcher-made, it must be tested for validity and reliability.
 If adopted, the student should indicate its description as to its items, scoring and
qualification.
 The researcher must explain its parts, and how the instrument will be validated. The
instrument to be used should be appended.
 A survey questionnaire is a commonly used type of instrument in research that lists
questions about a topic with spaces for responses.
 Types of Questions

____Yes/___No
Do you consider research to be important?

Recognition
Which of the following do you consider in buying a phone?
___ brand name
___ price
___ specs
___ others, please specify

Completion
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33 When I hear my phone ring, I ___________
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Coding
I use my phone during class.
___ 4 Always
___ 3 Often
___ 2 Seldom
___ 1 Never

Subjective
How do you feel when you leave your phone at home accidentally?
 LESSON 2 DATA COLLECTION

Describe whose permission will be sought and what arrangements need to be made to administer
instruments.
After all permissions have been granted, discuss how the samples will be contacted and explain
the process of administering the questionnaires.
State how the questionnaires will be retrieved.
The process for gathering the needed data in the study is described in the following steps.
The researcher shall seek the permission of the authors of the instruments that will be adapted in
this study.
A permission to conduct data collection will be sought from the concerned officials of the school
as well as the head of the office where the study is to be conducted.
Upon approval, the questionnaires shall be distributed to the selected samples.
As much as possible, questionnaires shall be retrieved from the respondents the same day as they
were given to ensure a higher return percentage of questionnaires.

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34
Data Analysis AND WAYS TO SYSTEMATICALLY COLLECT DATA

This section indicates how the data will be analyzed and reported; it should specify the
qualitative and/or quantitative methods that will be used in analyzing the data gathered for the
research.
Describe analysis to be done for each research question, following sequence in Statement of
Problem.
State if tests of hypotheses will be done and for what purpose.
Add scoring system for instruments.
To answer the questions presented under the Statement of the Problem, the following statistical
tools will be employed:
Percentages will be used to present and analyze data regarding the demographic profile of the
respondents.
Weighted mean will be computed to represent the responses of each respondent to the
questionnaire and their attention span score while standard deviation will be used to determine
the degree of variability in these values. This mean shall be interpreted as follows:
 The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient will be used to determine the degree of
relationship between social media use and attention span. The correlation coefficient will be
interpreted as follows (Dela Cruz, 2005)

Instructions: Write the research methodology of your study. Submit the output on the given
schedule.

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35
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