QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH GUIDE

CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM

- Introduction:
1. What is the study all about (1-2 paragraphs)
2. What other authors say about the topic? (2 or more paragraphs)
3. What is the gap in knowledge (missing link/unknown)? (1-2 paragraphs)
4. How do you plan to address the gap (state your main rationale or purpose in this
part)? (1-2 paragraphs)

- Theoretical Background:
➢ Look for a theory that relates with the concept of the study
✓ Preferably a theory specific to the profession
✓ Can be borrowed theories for as long as the concepts are related
➢ Discuss the what the theory is all about
➢ Discuss how the theory, specifically its variables, are related to the variables or concepts
of the current study at hand
➢ Create a schematic diagram of the framework (variables in theory WITH the variables of
your present study). A box for recommendation is placed at the last/bottom part of the
schematic diagram
➢ The schematic diagram should be placed on a separate page, without any discussion

- The Problem:
Statement of the problem:
❖ Make a general problem statement (major problem)
❖ Usually reiterates the title and includes four important parts:
1. P- Purpose (what do you plan to study)
2. L- Location (where will you get your data)
3. O- Object (who are involved in the study)
4. T- Time frame (what is the time scope of your study)
❖ This is stated in declarative form
Sub-problems (Research questions)
❖ These are the specific questions of the study
❖ Stated interrogatively and should be related to the main problem
❖ Avoid questions on profiling—go directly to main points or problems
❖ Categories (or sub-variables) should be numbered as 1.1, 2.1, etc.
- Statement of Hypothesis:
➢ Make use of null hypothesis (represented by Ho)
➢ Can be used only for quantitative studies that predicts relationship (comparative and
correlational studies) and not for survey type topics
➢ One hypothesis is required for every sub-problem that denotes relationship (either
comparative or correlation)

- Significance of the Study:

Identify stakeholders who can benefit from the findings of the study (such as parents,
school heads, patients, administrators, nurses, etc)
Discuss how each of the identified stakeholder can benefit from the findings

- Operational definition of terms:

❖ Only important terms (particularly those in the title) in the study are defined
operationally and briefly, avoiding jargons and technical words
❖ Define the terms as they are used in the study; or as how they are measured; or as to
how the researcher means the terms in the paper

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES

Start with an introductory paragraph.
This chapter is omitted in qualitative studies (proceed right away to “research
methodology and procedures”)

-Related Literatures:
❖ These are taken from books, articles, encyclopedia, periodicals and other reference
materials (except research journals, thesis, and dissertations)
❖ Read the entire article then rewrite the review using your own words if possible. This
should not compromise the meaning of the original statements or article.
❖ Use references and citations within the last five years (most preferable) or those from
year 2000 and beyond (less preferable but still acceptable)
❖ Use both local and foreign reference articles.
❖ Take note of the following for your reference guide:
✓ Article title
✓ Author’s name
✓ Page number
✓ Name of the book
✓ Year the article was written
✓ Year the book was published (see cover)
 ✓ Edition number of the book
✓ Publishing press (with country)
✓ URL for internet references
✓ Date when internet references were retrieved
❖ Arrange related literatures by variable or topically. For every topical presentation,
arrange the articles in chronological order from the most current to the past.

-Related Studies:
❖ These are taken from research journals, theses and dissertations (either published or
unpublished)
❖ The reference should be related to the current study in terms of the:
✓ Study objectives
✓ Participants involved
✓ Methods (or designs) used
✓ General findings
✓ Conclusion
❖ Do not copy the whole study. Include only the five (5) important parts mentioned above
❖ Use both local and foreign reference articles
❖ Take note of the following:
✓ Name/s of the authors (enumerate even if they are too numerous)
✓ Title of the study
✓ Name of the journal or book (or any) where the study was published
✓ Year when the study was conducted
✓ Year when the study was published
✓ Publishing press and country of publisher
✓ Volume number; issue number; page number of reference
✓ URL for internet references
✓ Date when the internet references were retrieved
❖ Use references and citations within the last five years (most preferable) or those from
year 2000 and beyond (less preferable but still acceptable)
❖ Arrange related literatures by variable or topically. For every topical presentation,
arrange the articles in chronological order from the most current to the past.
General guidelines for citations (IN-TEXT CITATIONS):
For one author only:
a. Serad (2010) stated that…….----if the statement comes after the author
b. Research is a vital component…….(Serad, 2010)---if the author comes after the
statement. The period should be after the close parenthesis.
For two authors:
a. Serad and Tan (2010) stated that……
b. Research is a vital component of education and …….. (Serad & Tan, 2010).
For 3-6 authors (first occurrence):
a. Serad, Tan, and Lim (2010) stated that …………..
b. Research is life and it is the …….. (Serad, Tan, ……., & Lim, 2010).
For 3-6 authors (subsequent occurrence)
a. Serad, et. al. (2010) further stated that….
b. It is strictly practiced in the country (Serad, et. al., 2010).
For 7 or more authors (first and subsequent occurrences)
a. Serad, et. al. (2010) stated that…..
b. Divorce is strictly prohibited (Serad, et. al., 2010)

- Overall summary of the related literatures and studies:

➢ Site similarities and differences of references and citations presented in the chapter
➢ Make at least 2 paragraphs for similarities and at least 2 paragraphs for differences
➢ This is to be placed at the end of the chapter after the last related study.

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Present an introductory paragraph for this chapter

-Design:
➢ This is method used in the study.
➢ Common designs are the following:
o For quantitative studies:
- Descriptive Correlational
- Descriptive Comparative
- Experimental
- Quasi-experimental
- Survey designs and evaluations
❖ Discuss the research design or method of choice
❖ Discuss how the design will be applied in the current study
- Environment:
❖ Presents the setting where the study will be conducted and include a deeper description
of such setting
❖ Include discussion on mission-vision; history; practices; services; people among others
❖ May provide a schematic diagram to be appended at the back of the study

- Participants:
❖ Present who will be involved in the study from whom you will acquire your data
❖ Describe the participants
❖ How many participants are involved? How is the number computed or determined? And
how are they selected (discuss sampling technique that will be used)?

Sampling Techniques:

PROBABILITY SAMPLING/RANDOM SAMPLING (Every one is given equal chance to be selected):

1. Simple Random- follows the concept of lottery/raffle draw/draw by lots
2. Stratified Random- groups will divided into strata before simple random is applied.
3. Cluster Random- applicable for more groups in medium size population.
4. Multi-stage Random- applicable for numerous groups from large populations.
5. Systematic Random- every nth participant in the group.

NON-PROBABILITY/NON-RANDOM SAMPLING:
1. Convenience Sampling- accidental or based on available respondents.
2. Snowball Sampling- based on referral or networking.
3. Consecutive Sampling- based on time lapse or time frame.
4. Purposive Sampling- based on specified set of criteria.
5. Quota Sampling- based in a target or computed number or size.
6. Self-Selection- based on whoever a unit or group or organization wish to send as
participants.

- Instrument:
❖ Discuss what research tool will be used
❖ If it is a questionnaire (for survey purposes), discuss where it was taken or where it was
based. Discuss also how the questionnaire is formulated
❖ How will the items in the questionnaire be answered or scored?
❖ What validation methods are used to validate the questionnaire?
Validation by Experts: Instrument is checked by at least three experts on the subject
matter/ field of discipline on face validation/content validation/criterion validation
 ❖ For qualitative studies, use a scheduled interview guide.
❖ Discuss what are the bases for the questions in the interview guide
❖ Discuss how the questions in the interview guide will be asked for every participant
❖ NOTE: Please formulate your questionnaire before the design hearing and bring it to the
panel for evaluation and revision during the design hearing.

- Data Gathering Procedures:

❖ Discuss transmittals to target participants and location
❖ Discuss how the data will be collected (before, during, and after data collection)
❖ Discuss how the questionnaires will be retrieved
❖ For interviews, discuss how the interview will be done and how the data will be
recorded.
❖ Discuss what will be done after the interview (transcriptions, coding, theme
formulation, among others)

-Data Analysis:
❖ This will depend on the types of data to be collected and the nature of the problem
❖ The Center for Research and Development will help you out on this. While doing
your paper for proposal (design hearing), you may send me a copy of your complete
manuscript including your questionnaire at joelserad@gmail.com so that I can help
you decide what statistical treatment to use.
❖ For qualitative studies, you may also do the same (send me a copy of your
manuscript) so that I can help you decide what qualitative data analysis method will
be used for your study.

Ethical Considerations…
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Chapter 4: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

PRESENTATION OF DATA:
- Data can be presented using tables, graphs, or other figures.
- An introductory paragraph should be written before data is presented.
- Tables should be clear and complete. Factor means should be provided in needed.
- No vertical lines. Only top, 2nd, and bottom horizontal lines.

ANALYSIS OF DATA:
- This is the objective analysis of data.
 - Data should be explained and discussed based on its context.

INTERPRETATION OF DATA:
- This is the subjective explanation of the data.
- Data should be discussed based on what the researcher thinks about the findings,
meaning, it can be opinionated and based on researcher’s perception.
- Implication of the findings should also be written on this part.
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CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY of FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:
- This provides a summary of the results and presented by variable or problem.
- This is presented in paragraph form per variable or problem.
- Figures or numbers should not anymore reflect in this portion.

CONCLUSION:
- This is the generalization of the findings of the study.
- The researcher transcends the findings into one general statement.
- The conclusion is then related to the theory if it supports or negates the latter.
- Note: Do not repeat the findings in this part.

RECOMMENDATION:
- This provides the researcher’s proposals or suggestions based on the findings.
- Recommendations are “should” statements and indicate the need to do something
based on the findings of the study.
- This targets the findings that need attention or are low or weak.
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REFERENCES
APPENDICES
CURRICULUM VITAE