DALE JUSTINE MARINAS

BSED 3B ENGLISH
EED 101

Research pertains to any systematic investigation of any social or natural

phenomena where results and conclusions are aimed at generalizable knowledge and

it also requires that data should be collected, analyzed and interpreted in order to

understand, describe, predict, or control a phenomenon or a set of phenomena or to

empower individuals in particular context.

A research can only be scientific if it satisfies two requirements. First, if it

contributes to a body of science. Science refers to a systematic body of knowledge in

any area of inquiry that is using the scientific method. Second, if it follows the

scientific method. Scientific method refers to a standardized set of techniques for

building scientific knowledge, such as how to make valid observations, how to

interpret results, and how to generalize those results.

There are two ways in conducting scientific research, namely inductive and

deductive research.

Inductive research or Theory-building research also known as the Qualitative

research, follows a bottom-up approach in research, starting from specific

observations explored through in-depth data collection that lead to identification of

themes that becomes the basis of more general conclusions. It seeks to understand and

make sense of the world on how individuals experience and perceive it.

While Deductive research or Theory-testing research also known as the

Quantitative research, follows a top-down approach to research that tests general

principles by testing hypothesis that lead to more specific conclusions. It seeks to

generalisability through controlled, value-free (or value-mental processes).

In terms of purpose, scientific research can be either basic or applied.

 Basic or Theoretical research aims at existing theories or generating new theories

to advance knowledge or understanding. While Applied research uses knowledge

acquired through research in order to contribute directly to the understanding or

resolution of practical issues.

Depending on the purpose of research, research projects can be classified into

three types or category. First is exploratory research, this type of research investigate

under-researched aspect of social life. Second is descriptive research, it seeks to richly

describe an aspect of social life. And lastly is the explanatory research, wherein it

seeks to explain an aspect of social life.

Research usually begins with curiosity into a problem about any social, cultural

or natural phenomenon. Having the following questions may help you to have more

precised findings. (1), Is the research significant in relation to the current problems in

the world? (2), Will the research build upon the existing knowledge about the

phenomenon? And (3) Will the research apply, test, or develop theories?

These questions require you to conduct a literature review

A literature review has three-folded purpose, namely, (1) to survey the current

state of knowledge in the area of inquiry, (2) to identify authors, articles, theories and

findings in that area, and (3) to identify gaps in knowledge in that research area.(Ibid)

After formulating the research questions, begin to find for the answers, but

searching for the answer is like a journey to the unknown. So you must have a plan on

how to find the answers. In the language of scientific research, the plan is called the

research design.

The research design is the entire strategic plan of how to go about the finding the

answers of the research question. Also, it is a plan in collecting and analyzing

evidence that will make it possible to answer whatever questions were posed. Most
importantly, research design provides for the structure and form of the research.

It also acts as the blueprint of activities to take in order to satisfactorily answer

the research questions; it specifies the type of evidence or data needed to answer your

research questions as well as the procedures and techniques not only for obtaining or

accessing the data but also for analyzing and interpreting the data obtained or

accessed.

Students often mistakenly uses research design interchangeably with research

methodology as if they are the same, since both research design and research

methodology shares a lot of common feature. However research methodology is

broader than research design.

Research methodology usually includes the rationale for the research design.

Rationale provides the justification for your research design. It bridges your

antological and epistemological assumptions or positions to your choice of data

collection and analysis methods and procedures.

Research method are tools and techniques that researchers use to gather data.

Qualitative researchers use ethnography or field research, interview, focus group

discussion, case study, discourse analysis, content or textual analysis, grounded

theory, etc. While in the other hand, Quantitative researchers use social survey,

experiment, official statistics, structured observation, and content analysis.

Directions in implementing your research, first, you gather data, then you analyze

the data, and thereafter, you infer conclusions from patterns and themes in the data.

The data collected may be qualitative or quantitative, depending on the data collection

and analysis methods used.

The final stage of the research would be writing the research report wherein you

identify key findings and formulate recommendations based on the conclusions of

your research. The final stage also enables you to share your research report with a

wider public who may have the same research interest as yours or who are interested

to read about your research.

According to Bhattacherjee, 2012, a research can only be scientific if it satisfies

the two requirements, if it contributes to a body of science and if it follows scientific

method. Based on that, I can say that a research must follow a certain format in order

for it be more formal and be called scientific. For me, every time I hear the word

scientific, the first thing that pops out in my mind is that it is organized. That is why a

research must be in the most formal and disciplined format.