Methods of Research

ECEA109

“Characteristics of
Research”

Jennifer Chua-Dela Cruz, Ph.D, PECE,

ASEAN Eng, SMIEEE

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 What Research is Not
1. Research is not mere information
gathering.
2. Research is not mere transportation of
facts from one location to another.
3. Research is not merely rummaging for
information.
4. Research is not a catchword used to get
attention.

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 What Research Is

Research is a systematic
process of collecting,
analyzing and
interpreting information
in order to increase our
understanding of the
phenomenon about
which we are interested
or concerned.

Ohioguidestone.org

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 8 Distinct Characteristics of
Research
1. Research originates
with a question or
problem.
2. Research requires
clear articulation of a
goal.
3. Research requires a
specific plan for
proceeding.
4. Research usually
divides the principal
problem into more
manageable
subproblems.
https://solutionsreview.com/identity-management/files/2019/02/problem-
solving-mod.jpg

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8 Distinct Characteristics of Research (cont…)

5. Research is guided by
the specific research
problem, question or
hypothesis. https://miro.medium.com/max/714/1
*WYStOs6MB5Io1NDUC1Yu-w.png

6. Research accepts critical

assumptions.
7. Research requires the
collection and
interpretation of data in https://encrypted-

an attempt to resolve the tbn0.gstatic.com/image

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the research.
8. Research is, by its nature,
cyclical or more exactly, https://hsl.mcmaster.ca/site
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The Research Cycle

https://www.slideshare.net/kevingarysmith/02-introduction-to-research
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Tools of Research

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General Tools of Research

Array of means by which data can be collected

and made meaningful
▪ Library and its resources
▪ Computers and software
▪ Techniques of measurement
▪ Statistics
▪ Human mind
▪ Language

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Library and its resources

• Library catalogs
• Indexes and Abstracts
• Reference Librarian

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Computers and software

A computer is not a miracle

worker. It cannot do thinking for
you. It can, however, be a fast and
faithful assistant. When told
exactly what to do, it is one of a
researcher’s best friends.

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Take advantage of the Internet

• World wide web (W3)

• Email
• Newsgroups

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Measurement as a Research Tool
Measurement is limiting the data of
any phenomenon – substantial or
insubstantial – so that those data may
be interpreted and, ultimately,
compared to an acceptable qualitative
or quantitative standard.

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 Four scales of measurement
Measurement Characteristics Statistical Possibilities
scale

Non- Nominal - Measures in terms - Enables one to

interval of names or determine the mode,
scales designations of percentage values or
discrete units or chi-square
categories

Ordinal - Measures in terms - Enables one to

of values as “more” determine the
or “less” w/o median, percentile
specifying the size of rank, and rank
intervals correlation

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 Four scales of measurement (cont…)
Interval Interval - Measures in - Enables one to
scales terms of equal determine the mean,
intervals or std. deviation, and
degrees of product moment
difference but correlation; allows
whose zero point one to conduct most
is arbitrary inferential statistics
Ratio - Measures in - Enables one to
terms of equal determine the
intervals and an geometric mean, and
absolute zero percentage variation;
point of origin allows virtually any
inferential statistics

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Statistics as a Research Tool
Statistics gives us information about the
data, but a conscientious researcher is
not satisfied until the meaning of this
information is revealed.

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 Primary Functions of Statistics
Descriptive statistics – summarizes the general nature
of the data obtained

Inferential statistics - helps the researcher make

decisions about the data

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 Human Mind Research Tools
After using statistics,
human mind interprets
the data to arrive at a
logical conclusion
❑Deductive logic
❑Inductive reasoning
❑Scientific method
❑Critical thinking https://miro.medium.com/max/3840/1*EoOQRsUQ_cX3LvE7vjpT6A.png

❑Collaboration with
others

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 Language as a Research Tool
Learning the
specialized
terminology of your
field is indispensable
to conducting a
research study,
grounding it in prior
theory and research
and communicating
your results to others.
https://eng-
stage.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_banner_tall/public/soe_langu
age_v2.png?itok=lpBsSoYm

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Language as a Research Tool
1. Write exactly what you mean
2. Relate your discussion to your research problem
3. Give an overview of the topics to be discussed
4. Organize ideas with the use of headings and
subheadings
5. Provide transitional words
6. Give examples to illustrate an abstract idea
7. Use the correct punctuation
8. Present information in figure or table form as much as
possible
9. Revise your work several times over
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 Research Projects

Basic research Applied research

• projects which can

advance human beings’ • informs human decision
theoretical making about practical
conceptualization about problems
a particular topic • designed to solve
• purpose is not to invent practical problems
but to expand man’s • Innovation/application
knowledge
• Discovery/invention

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 Basic Research

• Basic (aka fundamental or pure ) research is driven by

a 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.

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• For example, basic science investigations probe for
answers to questions such as:
❖How did the universe begin?
❖What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed
of?
❖How do slime molds reproduce?
❖What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly?

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 Applied Research
• Applied research is designed to solve practical
problems of the modern world, rather than to acquire
knowledge for knowledge's sake.
• One might say that the goal of the applied scientist is to
improve the human condition .

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• For example, applied researchers may investigate
ways to:
❖improve agricultural crop production
❖treat or cure a specific disease
❖improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or
modes of transportation

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The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process
• The problem or question
is the axis around which
the whole research effort
evolves.
• The statement of the
problem must be stated
with utmost precision ; it
should be divided into
more manageable
subproblems.
• Such approach clarifies
the goals and directions
of the entire research
effort.

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 In identifying a research problem,
keep in mind that
• The problem should address an important question
such that the answer can make a difference in some
way
• It should advance the frontiers of knowledge
Note:
• Some problems are not suitable because they lack
interpretation of data
• They do not elicit mental struggle

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UNSUITABLE RESEARCH
PROBLEMS

1. Research projects that simply inform about what is

already known
2. Problems whose only objective is to compare two
sets of data
3. Research that calculates a coefficient of correlation
between two sets of data to show a relationship
between them
4. Problems answerable with yes or no
“These lack the “interpretation of data”

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Finding a Legitimate Problem
1. Look around you.
2. Read the literature.
3. Attend professional conferences
4. Seek the advices of experts.
5. Choose a topic that intrigues and motivates you.
6. Choose a topic that others will find interesting and
worthy of attention.

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 Stating the Research Problem
1. State the problem clearly and completely.
2. Think through the feasibility of the project that the
problem implies.
3. Say precisely what you mean.
4. Review and edit your work.

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 DELINEATION OF THE RESEARCH

Stating the Hypotheses

– Hypotheses – tentative, intelligent guesses that would
guide the researcher toward suitable data
– Null hypothesis – tentative, educated guess stated in a
negative way
Significance of the Study
– The reasons for doing the study
– The use or good of the study
– The benefits or practical values the study has
Delimitations
– statements that indicate what is relevant and what is
not relevant to the research problem
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 Chapter 1: Introduction
The 6 paragraphs of a Research Introduction

Paragraph 1
• The setting or context or frame of reference
-This part gives general statement/s about a field of
research to provide the reader with a preview of the
problem to be reported

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2
• The Review of Previous Research
-This part continuous the contextual setting or frame of
reference given in paragraph 1 by including more
statements about the general aspects of the problem
already investigated by other researchers

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 3
• The Gap or Missing Information
-This part refers to the statement/s that indicate that
need for the study or the need for more investigation

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 4
• The statement of Purpose
-This part gives very specific statement/s pertaining to
the objective/s of the study.
Paragraph 5
• The statement of Value
-This part refers to the statement/s that gives the
significance of carrying out the study.

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 6
• The Scope and Delimitation
-This part indicates what the study covers or what it does
not or fails to cover

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 Research Paper's Format
5-single spaces from the top margin; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
TITLE
(centered, Times New Roman, size 20, bold font style)
8-single spaces; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
by
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style)
1-single space; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt
First Name Middle Initial Surname
(centered, Times New Roman, size 16, bold font style)
Program/Year
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style)
7-single spaces; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
A Research Proposal Submitted to the School of EECE
in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree
1-single space; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style, single space)
6-single spaces; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
Mapua University
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style, single space)
Month Year
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style)

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“Review of Related
Literatures”

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 Re-view

To look again what others

have done in the past,
that are similar, though
not necessarily identical
to one’s own area of
investigation.

https://cdn.diabetesselfmanagement.com/2020/09/dsm-product-review-4-
1000x806.jpg

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Benefits of a literature review
1. It can offer new ideas, perspectives, and
approaches that may not have occurred to
you.
2. It can inform you about other researchers
who conduct work in this area.
3. It can show you how others have handled
methodological and design issues in studies
similar to your own.

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Benefits (cont…)
4. It can reveal sources of data that you may not have
known existed.
5. It can introduce you to measurement tools that
other researchers have developed and used
effectively.
6. It can reveal methods of dealing with problem
situations that may be similar to difficulties you are
facing.

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Benefits (cont…)
7. It can help you interpret and make sense of
your findings, and ultimately, help you tie
your results to the work of those who have
preceded you.
8. It will bolster your confidence that your
topic is worth studying, because you find
others have invested considerable time,
effort, and resources in studying it.

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 Strategies for Locating Related Literature

Major starting points:

✓ Library catalog
✓ Indexes and abstracts
in the library’s
reference section
✓ Online databases

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 Using the Library Catalog
✓ A good textbook can give you a good
general overview of a topic, including
important concepts, theoretical perspectives,
and critical references.
✓ Use only books with recent copyright dates
(typically last 5 years).
✓ The most effective way to locate helpful
books is through the library catalog.

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 Other strategies:
https://static.thenounproject.com/png/2404544-200.png

✓ Looking at
government
publications
✓ Surfing the net
✓ Using the citations and
reference lists of those
who have gone before
you

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 Synthesizing the Literature
✓ In a good literature review, the researcher
doesn’t merely report the related literature.
He/She evaluates, organizes, synthesizes
what others have done.
✓ As you read about others’ work and evaluate
their methods and conclusions, never take
other people’s conclusions at face value;
determine whether their conclusions are justified
based on the data presented.

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Techniques for Writing a Cohesive
Review
1. Be clear in your thinking.
2. Develop a plan.
3. Emphasize relatedness.
4. Give credit where credit is due.
5. Review the literature. Don’t reproduce it.

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Techniques (cont…)
6. Summarize what you said.
7. Remember that your first draft will almost certainly
NOT be your last draft.
8. Ask others for advice and feedback.

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 Works cited samples

Scholarly Project
• The Avalon Project: Articles of Confederation, 1781. Co-Directors
William C. Fray and Lisa A. Spar. 1996. Yale Law School. 2 Dec. 2003
<www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/artconf.htm>.
• Kim, J. M., Hong, J. H., Kim, N. J., & E. J. Cha, T.-S. L. (1970, January 1).
Two Algorithms for Detecting Respiratory Rate from ECG Signal.
Retrieved September 28, 2019, from
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-36841-0_1030.
• Karlen, W., Garde, A., Myers, D., Scheffer, C., Ansermino, J. M., &
Dumont, G. A. (2015). Estimation of Respiratory Rate From
Photoplethysmographic Imaging Videos Compared to Pulse Oximetry.
IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, 19(4), 1331–1338.
doi: 10.1109/jbhi.2015.2429746
• Prochazka, A., Kukal, J., & Vysata, O. (2008). Wavelet Transform
Use for Feature Extraction and EEG Signal Segments Classification.
2008 3rd International Symposium on Communications, Control
and Signal Processing. doi: 10.1109/isccsp.2008.4537317
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 Works cited samples

Professional Site
• Guide to Grammar and Writing. Capital Community College. 4
April 2004
<www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/>.
Personal Site
• Jascot, John. Home page. 1 Dec. 1997. 38 Jan. 2004
<www.ccc..commnet.edu/faculty/~jascot/jascot.htm>.
Course Website
• Darling, Charles. Introduction to Literature. Course Website. Jan.
2004–May 2004. Dept. of Humanities, Capital Community College.
20 May 2004
<www.webct.ctdlc.org>.

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 Research Methodology

The specific methods used

to collect and analyze data
related to the research
problem

https://miro.medium.com/max/1000/1*bwhgJ19iXhcyDJR1uH4-kw.png

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 General Criteria

1. Universality – a feature of
having a research project that
can be done by a competent https://theaggie.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/researchcrisis_ar_KIYOMI_WATSON_AGGIE-1.png

person
2. Replication – a feature of
having a possibility to repeat the
research project
3. Control – a feature of
assigning a factor that is central
to the research problem
4. Measurement – a feature of
limiting research data to reveal
their meaning

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 Research Design
• A general strategy in solving a research
problem
• Research design is the framework of research
methods and techniques chosen by a
researcher. The design allows researchers to
hone in on research methods that are suitable
for the subject matter and set up their studies
up for success.
• The design of a research topic explains the type
of research (experimental, survey, correlational,
semi-experimental, review) and also its sub-
type (experimental design, research problem,
descriptive case-study).
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 Types of Research Design

Data collection, measurement, and analysis.

The essential elements of the research design are:
1. Accurate purpose statement
2. Techniques to be implemented for collecting and analyzing research
3. The method applied for analyzing collected details
4. Type of research methodology
5. Probable objections for research
6. Settings for the research study
7. Timeline
8. Measurement of analysis

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 “ All research converge in one
destination, the enhancement of
human knowledge.” LEEDY

Majority of the content of this lecture is lifted from the book of Leedy

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Thank you!!!
Jcd 05/25/21

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