Quick Notes and Activity for Practical Research 1: Qualitative Research

Research – the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach
new conclusions.

Other definitions of research

 It is an inquiry process
 It is a formal process of problem solving
 It is a set of procedure and stages
 It originates with a question or a problem
 It is an iterative process

Significance of research

 To gather necessary information

 To make changes
 To improve standard of living
 For a safer life
 To know the truth
 To explore our history
 To understand the arts

Characteristics of research

 Empirical
 Systematic
 Controlled
 Employs hypothesis
 Analytical
 Objective
 Original work

Ethical Principles in conducting research

 Honesty, objectivity, integrity, carefulness, openness, respect for intellectual property,

confidentiality, responsible publication, respect for colleagues, social responsibility, non-
discrimination, competence, legality.

The Research process

1. Define research problem

2. Review the literature
3. Formulate hypothesis
4. Design research
5. Collect data
6. Analyze data
7. Interpret and report
Qualitative Research – primarily an explanatory research. It is used to give understanding of underlying
reasons and motivations. The investigation proves insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or
hypothesis for potential qualitative research.

Kinds of Qualitative Research Methods

1. Participant observation – demands immersion in the natural setting of the research participants.
2. Observation – entails the systematic noting or recording of events, behaviors and objects in the
social setting chosen for study.
3. In-depth interviewing – resembles conversations, but with predetermined response categories.
4. Focus group interviewing – involves 7-10, at times 6-8, people who are unfamiliar with one
another and have been selected because they share certain characteristics that are relevant to
the research inquiry or problem.
5. Content analysis – calls for systematic examination of forms of communication to document
patterns objectively as shown in letters, e-mails, minutes of meetings, policy statements and a
lot more.
6. Narratology – can be applied to any spoken or written story.
7. Films, videos and photographs – provide visual records of events.

Characteristics of qualitative research

1. Concern for context and meaning

2. Naturally occurring settings
3. Humans as instruments
4. Descriptive data
5. Emergent design

Qualitative Research in different areas

1. Education
2. Technical communication
3. Psychology
4. Advertising
5. Social Work
6. Marketing
7. International Business

Research topics and their sources (where to get research?)

1. Pressing issues
2. Reading/ film viewing
3. Social networking
4. Replication
5. Lectures, talks and seminars
6. Gray areas

Writing a research title

1. Be specific do not be broad

 a. Consider these points
i. Be clear, original and concise
ii. Say what you mean to say or ask what you want to ask
b. Examples of specific research titles
i. Lack of self-confidence in adolescents: root causes, manifestations and
intervention
ii. HIV: causes, prevention, treatment and care
2. Examine the literature
3. Talk over ideas with others
4. Apply to a specific context such as: time, place, people or groups of people.
5. Define the aim or desired outcome of the study

Activity for PR 1

Follow the instructions:

1. Group yourselves with each group having 4-5 members

2. Select a leader for each group submit the group list on February 24, 2021
3. Select a topic for your group, the topic must be for qualitative research.
4. Make a title for your research
5. Submission of research title will be on February 24, 2021
6. Gather in advance respondents with the age of 16 years old or current grade 10 students or
respondents that are aged 18 years old or current grade 12 students.
7. Gather information such as name, fb account, phone number, school attending, age, sex, birth
date
8. Each group must have at least a minimum of 50 respondents by the March 19, 2021
9. Identify respondents in advance to facilitate on data gathering for the later of your research.
GROUP NAME: _____________________________________

LEADER: __________________________________________

MEMBERS:

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Fill up this table for respondents’ information

NAME BIRTHDATE AGE SEX SCHOOL PHONE FACEBOOK

NUMBER ACCOUNT