Week 1: What Is Research?

Definition of Research

Over the years, many experts have given their own definitions of the word
“research”.

Different perspectives on the subject have been adopted that resulted in the
following definitions:

1. Research follows a step-by-step process of investigation that uses a

standardized approach in answering questions or solving problems (Polit &
Beck, 2004).

2. Research plays an important role in tertiary education. Though there are

many problems confronted by higher education, developments are realized
through research. After all, its main purpose is to answer a question or to
solve an issue (Palispis, 2004).

3. Research is a continuous undertaking of making known the unknown

(Sanchez, 2002). It entails an investigation of new facts leading to the
discovery of new ideas, methods, or improvements. It is an attempt to
widen one’s outlook in life. It always proceeds from the known to the
unknown. Thus, the end of research is to arrive at a new truth.

4. Research is an investigation following ordered steps leading to a discovery

of new information or concepts (Sanchez, 1999).

5. Research is a very careful investigation of something that purports the

contribution of additional or new knowledge and wisdom (Bassey, as cited
by Coleman & Briggs, 2002).

6. Research is a tested approach of thinking and employing validated

instruments and steps in order to obtain a more adequate solution to a
problem that is otherwise impossible to address under ordinary means
(Crawford, as cited by Alcantara & Espina, 1995).

Characteristics of Research

The abovementioned definitions of research lead to the following common

characteristics of research:

1. The research should be systematic. There is a system to follow in

conducting research as there is a system for formulating each of its parts.
There is a big system (macro) and under it are small systems (micro). In
research writing, what is referred to as the “system” is composed of the
chapters and their elements. The macrosystem is composed of chapters that
are organized in a logical and scientific manner. On the other hand, the
microsystem consists of the detailed contents of each chapter The contents
are further divided into elements that are organized following a systematic
procedure.

2. The research should be objective. Research involves the objective

process of analyzing phenomena of importance to any profession or to
different fields or disciplines (Nieswiadomy, 2005). A researcher should
objectively look at the basis on which the work is founded. He or she must
never produce results out of nowhere; the results of the research should be
validated. These results must never be based from biases. It is very
important for the researcher to clarify indicators and boundaries within
which the research is confined because these factors could affect objectivity.

3. The research should be feasible. Any problem of extraordinary nature

that directly or indirectly affects any profession is a feasible problem to
study. In settings like in the community, school, or workplace, unusual
phenomena may happen and can turn into potential problems.
4. The research should be empirical. There should be supporting pieces of
evidence and accompanying details for every variable used in the study.
References and citations of facts and information that the researcher has
gathered in his or her paper must be included. Plagiarism constitutes
claiming another person’s idea or intellectual property as one’s own.
Through proper attribution, the researcher states that the knowledge being
shared through the study was taken from the study of other experts.

5. The research should be clear. The choice of variables used in the study
should be explained by the researcher. This can be done by enriching the
review of literature or by discussing the different theories on which the
selection of the variables is based. Therefore, there must be sufficient
indicators for each variable. These variables can be gathered from different
published and unpublished materials.

Outline of the Research Paper

A research paper is divided into chapters which are then subdivided into
various components of the research study. The following is the conventional
outline of an academic research paper:

Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

a. Introduction, Background of the Study

b. Statement of the Problem

c. Scope and Delimitation

d. Significance of the Study

Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework

a. Review of Related Literature

b. Review of Related Studies

c. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework

d. Hypothesis of the Study

e. Assumptions of the Study

f. Definition of Terms

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

a. Research Design

b. Respondents of the Study

c. Instrument of the Study

d. Validity and Reliability

e. Statistical Treatment

Chapter 4: Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data

a. Presentation of Data

b. Analysis

c. Interpretation

d. Discussion
Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations

a. Summary of Findings

b. Conclusion

c. Recommendation

Various institutions often prescribe research outlines that are variations of

the outline presented above. It is therefore important for the researcher to
familiarize himself or herself with the standards and conventions of research
that is implemented within a certain field or discipline.

Roles of the Researcher

According to Nieswiadomy (2005), the researcher serves different roles in a

study. These are as follows:

1. As principal investigator.

2. As member of a research team.

3. As identifier of researchable problems.

4. As evaluator of research findings.

5. As user of research findings.

6. As patient or client advocate during study.

7. As subject/respondent/participant.
Importance of Research

Research is as important as any field of study. Its significance cuts across all
disciplines engineering, architecture, medicine, arts and sciences, education,
management, tourism, among others. It also benefits all strata of society -
people with diverse jobs, different income rates, varying financial status, or
distinct social and political capabilities.

As such, following are the importance of research:

1. Research provides a scientific basis for any practice or methodology in

any field or discipline. This is important since an entire system or operation
and all the stakeholders of an institution or organization are at stake.
Without scientific basis, someone may be affected or may suffer. For
example, in the field of medicine, a new drug must first be tested determine
its efficacy in curing sickness before it can actually be prescribed.

2. Research is undertaken for the continuous development and further

productivity in any field. Any system that will be utilized in any organization
must first be tried to determine value and it must be better than the
previous system used. Simply, research of advancing knowledge from the
past.

3. Research helps develop tools for assessing effectiveness of any practice

and operation such as psychological tests, intelligence quotient tests,
psychological assessments, among others. This importance of research is
observed in behavioral science, physical science and others as well.

4. Research provides solutions to problems concerning almost all issues

encountered different areas of work. Some issues include the tardiness of
employees, incentives given to the staff, sportsmanship among school
athletes, and implementation of a “clean and green” program in school. This
also applies to higher level problems.
5. Research impacts decision-making. It is a common mistake for people to
make decisions without solid information to back them up. It requires
time, effort, and sometimes money to gather the evidence needed for
making a sound decision. For example, for a teacher to change his or her
teaching methodology for the first-period and last-period classes, he or she
must conduct a study considering the time element, enthusiasm to teach,
academic standing of the students, instructional aides used, and several
other factors.

6. Research develops and evaluates alternative approaches to the

educational aspects of any discipline. This enables the students to gain
broad knowledge and specialized skills for safe practice. For example,
research can help determine whether lecture is a better method than
experiment in teaching science.

7. Research aims to advance the personal and professional qualifications

of a practitioner.

Goals for Conducting Research

Research is a scientific endeavor which serves many goals in different fields

(workplaces, profit or non-profit organizations, governmental or non-
governmental entities), educational disciplines (medicine, engineering,
sciences, arts, humanities, and information technology), and even in the
personal life of the researcher. Some of the goals for research are as follows:

1. To produce evidence-based practice. Every discipline or institution must

provide the best practice of operation based from research studies. In the
health profession, for example, a professional nursing practitioner must
ensure that he or she is able to give proper health care to his
or her patient. To do this, only the best clinical practices as proven by
nursing research should be provided. The principles on which the tasks and
functions of a nurse are based can be formulated through research. The
different standard operating procedures in hospitals, such as admission,
release, assessment, and diagnosis of patients must be dealt with
accordingly. The results of the research must be published in books and
journals for other health practitioners to access and adopt for use in their
respective communities.

Research findings can also be utilized in seminars, workshops, or trainings so

that new knowledge or methods in the delivery of more effective health
care can be shared. This can also be applied by practitioners of other fields
of study. Effective and efficient practices or operations are results of
research.

2. To establish credibility in the profession. A profession is defined by the

body of knowledge and discipline it employs. In line with this, research is
essential for a profession in producing new procedures, programs, and
practices. This continuous improvement leads to distinctiveness which can
only be achieved when there are special practices and peculiarity of services
in a given area or field. This sense of individuality contributes to the
credibility of a profession.

3. To observe accountability for the profession. Every action conducted by

a professional must have a rationale. There are principles that justify why a
nurse has to wash his or her hands regularly, why a teacher has to prepare a
lesson plan, why a manager need to plan ahead, why a businessman needs
to conduct feasibility studies, and many more. The nurse, teacher, manager,
or businessman must be accountable for each task he or she performs. All
tasks must be carried out with the circumspect care and awareness that
everything has to be done efficiently.
4. To promote cost-effectiveness through documentation. The findings of
research must be shared with and utilized by the individuals, group, and
community for which the study is intended. They are useless if these results
are not made known publicly. These results, however; must first satisfy the
researcher’s goals before he or she can share them with other researchers
and professionals who may find these findings beneficial. Anybody who is in
the same condition as the subject/s of the study may also utilize the
findings, thus saving on expenses for doing the same research again.