Republic of the Philippines

BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL
City of Malolos, Bulacan

MOCK COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

METHODS OF RESEARCH IN EDUCATION

Name _______________________ Course ______________ Date _____________

Part I. TRUE OR FALSE: Write the word TRUE when the statement is correct and FALSE for
incorrect. Underline the word(s) that make(s) the sentence wrong and write the correct answer on the
space provided for.

FALSE, conceal for privacy 1. It is proper to divulge the identity of the participants or respondents
of the study for due recognition.

TRUE 2. A problem statement is an expression of predicament, gap or disturbing situation that

needs investigation.

TRUE 3. Open-ended questions allow participants or respondents to respond to question in their

own words.

FALSE, Quantitative Research is to test theories/Qualitative Research is to discover theories 4.

The primary aim of qualitative research is to test the theories.

FALSE, Before 5. After the data are collected, the researcher provides the participants with
information about the nature of the study and attempts to remove any misconception that may have
arisen.

FALSE, Quantitative Research 6. Researcher has no right to use a self-made research instrument,
only standardized instruments are allowed to use in Qualitative Research.

FALSE, systematic method and procedures 7. Research is conducted in a methodical manner

without bias using any method based on the whims and capriciousness of the researcher.

TRUE 8. The investigators always retain the responsibility for ensuring ethical practice in research.

TRUE 9. The null hypothesis is always shown to be highly unlikely by a significant result.

TRUE 10. In interpreting a significant negative correlation between data sets, it implies that one
data set is related to the other at better than chance levels.

Part II. FILL IN THE BLANK: Supply the missing word to complete the following statements.
Choose the correct answer from the choices below and write it on the space provided for.

RESEARCH 1. This is a systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations
that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles, or theories, resulting in prediction
and possibly ultimate control of events.

SAMPLING 2. This is the process of selecting a portion of a total population to represent the entire
population.
HYPOTHESIS 3. This is a tentative preposition or guess between two or more phenomena after
intellectualizing and observing relevant phenomenon.

PLAGIARISM 4. This is the offense committed by somebody when turning in someone else's work
as his/her own
PAST TENSE 5. This is the tense of verb that should be used for literature review.

INDEPENDENT/ VARIABLE 6. This is the variable that can be manipulated to see if it makes the
other variable changed. 

RESEARCHER 7. This is someone who conducts an organized and systematic investigation into
something.

NARRATIVE/TRADITIONAL REVIEW 8. This is a type of review which draws conclusion

about the topic, critiques and summarizes a body of literature.

PRIMARY SOURCES 9. This is a source of information written by person who actually carried
out the study.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH 10. This is a type of research that deals on inquiry into an
identified problem, based on testing a theory, measured with numbers, and analyzed using statistical
techniques. 

Part III. Write the appropriate statistical tool that should be used for the following research
objectives. Choose the answer from the given choices.

Paired t test 1. To determine whether there is a significant improvement in the reading

comprehension level of Dumagat pupils after using the contextualized, indigenized and localized
module entitled Bumasa Kitam Di. (paired if one group with pretest vs posttest design – with normal
distribution)

Frequency and % 2. To compare the mean of LAPG percentage score to 75% (level of
achievement is categorical)

Mean +/-SD 3. To describe the level of achievement of Grade 6 pupils in the NAT – describe one
group (level of achievement is quantitative with normal distribution

Pearson r 4. To establish the relationship of academic performance and nutritional status of Grade 5
pupils. (academic performance and nutritional status (BMI) are both quantitative – normal)

Mcnemar’s Test 5. To determine whether an anti-bullying program of Sta. Ines Elementary School
was successful. (paired groups and variable of interest is bullying experience (categorical since this
is defined as Yes vs No)

a. Frequency and %
b. Paired t test
c. McNemar's test
d. Pearson r
e. Mean +/- SD

Part IV.

1. Explain the process in conducting research.

Identify the problem area.
Survey the literature relating to the problem.
 Define the actual problem for investigation in clear specific terms.
Formulate hypotheses and define the basic concepts & variables.
State the underlying assumptions which govern the interpretation of results.
Construct a time-table showing different stages of research accomplishments.
Construct the research design to maximize internal & external validity.
Selection of subjects.
Control and/or manipulation of relevant variables.
Establish a criteria to develop outcomes
Instrumentation selection or development of the criterion measures.
Specify the data collection procedures.
Select the data analysis methodology- Execute the research- Evaluate the results and draw
conclusions  

2. Explain the characteristics of a good research problem.

Related to a theoretical framework. –some body of knowledge that relates to the area of study
•Builds on, but also offers something new to, previous research. – confirming/reinforcing,
disconfirming/challenging, discovering/exposing.
•Has the potential to suggest directions for future research - it provides a new starting point for
further development of the work.
• Has a purpose or question that the researcher is sincerely (passionately) interested and/or
invested in and is current
Addresses directly or indirectly some real problem in the world.
• It takes ethical, moral and legal issues into consideration.
• The question is clear. – It clearly states the variables or constructs to be examined. (single
interpretation so that people cannot get
• Not biased in terminology or position. – Don’t infer or predict answers but test possibilities.
• Has multiple possible answers. – There must be more than one
3. Differentiate quantitative and qualitative research.
Qualitative Research (SOCIAL SCIENCE)- is a process of naturalistic inquiry that seeks
in-depth understanding of social phenomena within their natural setting. IT focuses on the
"why" rather than the "what" of social phenomena and relies on the direct experiences of
human beings as meaning-making agents in their everyday lives. Rather than by logical and
statistical procedures. Qualitative Research is based directly on how or why things or
phenomena occurs in a certain situation, data is gathered from interviews, questionnaires and
generally observations from the processes done by the researches which ended in to
understanding the concepts, opinions, or experiences of the ones involved. Its focus is to
gather non-numerical data that is basically non-generalizable in nature because it only
focuses on a non-statistical result rather that what quantitative research aims for. Also,
qualitative research has only minimal or small number of respondents that make it not
suitable for general conclusions – it may lead to a discovery of knowledge or theory but can’t
and will never can interfere with the testing of that theory or hypothesis. It also uses the
fields of social sciences as the basis of conducting the research.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH (APPLIED SCIENCE) on the other hand, is based on

what the things had caused to the public providing a statistical or demographical
representation of results that can be generalize in nature as it requires higher number of
respondents which ensembles also a higher rate of credible and reliable conclusions or
findings. It can be used to make predictions, and is aimed to test a theory generated from
a careful analysis of real-world problems. It is done systematically, statistically,
empirically and scientifically in its processes. It has to deal with the used of the fields of
applied sciences especially in testing the theories for generating a factual result.
4. Name the types of qualitative and quantitative research then explain each
methodically.

Qualitative research
 Narrative Research- Telling stories about stories. Exploring identity and
conflict. Examining the structure of experience. Focusing on how people create
meaning in their lives. Exploring the interaction of individual stories with
cultural narratives. As this mainly defined to be about stories, its focus rely on
the voluntary participation of the respondents in giving-off his/her stories to the
researches – this allows the respondents to share their experiences verbally or in
a written form, and from that experiences raw data are formed.
 Case Study Research- good for showing how something happens/works in a real
life situation (Explore - Describe - Explain - Prescribe ). Case study specifies a
certain focus of problem that ensembles how or something works in the real life
basis, it is commonly be defined as in-depth, close-up and detailed assessment of
a particular problem to generate knowledge about something. For example, a
case study on education may require the researchers to assess the strategies
conducted by teachers, professors, admins or institution in facilitating their
domains or classes.
 Ethnographic Research- ethnographers try to show how actions in one world
make sense from the point of view of another world.“learning from people”
the researcher frequently lives with the people and becomes a part of their
culture ACCUMULATION AND ACCULTURATION OCCURS. This type of
research requires the researchers to live on or be engage on a particular culture
so they can present or generate knowledge from their experiences – this type of
research also requires the researchers to explore or gather information or details
about the problems/phenomenon faced by that certain cultural foci.
 Grounded Theory - an approach for developing theory that is "grounded in data
systematically gathered and analyzed" (THERE IS DATA THAT IS GIVEN
AND FROM DATA THE RESEARCHER SHOULD DEVELOP OR
DISCOVER THEORIES IN RELATION TO THE PROBLEM THROUGH A
CAREFUL AND THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THAT RESULTS)
 Phenomenological Approach (OBSERVATION OR SIMPLY USING THE
FIVE SENSES- FOLLOWING ANYONE WITHOUT KNOWING IT )- This
design makes the researcher follow a research method that will let you
understand the ways of how people go through inevitable events in their lives.
These experiences are called lived experiences. These approach also entails a
non-visible character of the researcher as this requires an observation from afar
rather than engaging from behind, beside or near the respondents.
 MIXED METHODS - It involves quantitative and qualitative data analysis, it
can used the method of both quantitative and qualitative depending on the
frequency or depth of approaches needed and is required on a specific area of
concern [e.g combination of open and close ended questions in assessing ones
experience/opinions and assessing the individual’s knowledge or perception over
something]

Quantitative Research
  Descriptive Research- gives meaning to the quality and standing of facts that
are going on.
 Experimental Research- Manipulation of the IV (experimenter changes
something for the treatment group which is different than the control group)
 Causal Comparative Research- it does not (or at least try not to) influence any
variables but only measure them and look for relations (correlations) between some
set of variables, such as blood pressure and cholesterol level.
 Correlational Research - They are used to determine the extent to which two or
more variables are related among a single group of people (although sometimes each
pair of score does not come from one person…the correlation between father’s and
son’s height would not). there is no attempt to manipulate the variables
(random variables)
 Meta Analysis Research- meta-analysis refers to the analysis of analyses…the
statistical analysis of a large collection of analyses results from individual studies
for the purpose of integrating the findings”
-BEYOND ANALYSIS- RESEARCHER SHOULD EITHER DEBUNK OR
SUPPORT THE PREVIOUS RESULT OF ANOTHER RESEARCH

1. Enumerate and explain the different parts of quantitative research from Chapters I to V

Qualitative Research – from Chapters I and the subsequent chapters.

Part V.

Choose one topic below and prepare a thesis proposal.

1. Relationship of Pupils’ Academic Performance and Nutritional Status

2. The Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Land and Products
3. Motivation, Benefit Received and Work Participation, of Contractual Employees of the
Provincial Government in the Province of Bulacan
4. School Heads’ Management Skills, Teachers’ Performance and Students’ Academic
Achievement
5. The Challenges and Triumphs of Coastal Schools in the Province of Bulacan