UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

J. P. Rizal Ext., West Rembo, Makati City

HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK
DEPARTMENT OF MATH AND SCIENCE/RESEARCH
Course Title Title
Module
4B Quantitative Research:
No.
Practical Research 2 The Process, Writing, and Ethical Standard (Part 2)
Prepared by Prof. Junlor C. Dacsa I
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
Learning Objectives 1. describe the background of research; and
2. state the research questions and hypothesis.

INTRODUCTION
Research questions/hypotheses are the heart of your research study. Asking irrelevant research questions/hypotheses can
lead to difficulty in conceptualizing your research study. In addition, research questions/hypotheses are your guides in
writing the background of the study in your research paper. Take note of the key research variable/s in each research
question/hypothesis because this will also help you look and search background information about your study.

After reading and understanding this module, you are expected to answer the assessment and assignment.

CORE CONTENT

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
After stating your research problem or research objectives, the next step is to formulate research questions. The
number of key research variables can determine the number of research questions. Example, if the researcher identified
two (2) key research variables, there could be two (2) or three (3) research questions: one question for the first key
research variable, one research question for the second variable, and/or another research question relating the two (2)
research variables. The table below depicts the difference between the research problem/objective and research questions.

Description

Ø It is considered a professional situation on need of

improvement, change or solution.
Ø According to Houser (2012) as cited in Almeida,
Gaerlan & Manly, 2016, research problem is
Research Problem/Objective considered to be the “why”.
Ø It is also the purpose your study and can be stated in
question form or declarative form.
Ø It investigates how key research variables are studied
in a setting and population.
 Ø These are specific questions that the researchers want
to know the intent of the study.
Ø Research questions direct the data to be collected for
the study (Polit & Beck, 2012 as cited in Almeida,
Gaerlan & Manly, 2016).
Ø It guides the literature search.
Ø It helps in narrowing down the cope and focus of the
literature review.
Research Question Ø It guides the researchers on what quantitative research
design to use.
Ø It is important in analyzing and presenting data.
Ø limits the scope of the study and prevents the study
from going off in different directions.
Ø It usually starts with “what” or “how”.
Ø It composes of what is being studied, explored or
investigated (key/research variables), the participants
and location of the study (who and where).

COMMON TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS IN QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

These are the common types of research questions in quantitative research.

Types of Research
Description Example
Questions
What are the factors that influence
Filipino college students to strive for
Ø seeks to objectively describe particular academic honors?
Descriptive Research
characteristics or attributes of a person,
Question
group, institution, or phenomenon. How each error committed by
students in solving word problems in
Conic Sections be described?

Does the recent initiative of certain

elementary public schools to give
Comparative Research Ø compares two or more characteristics or
free lunch to its students have an
Question attributes
impact on the students’ academic
performance?

Is there a relationship between a

Ø seeks to understand the relationship
locally-elected politicians’ ability to
Relational Research between two or more aspects or
bring development to their
Question characteristics of one or more persons,
constituents and their family’s
groups, institutions, or phenomenon.
political history?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Descriptions of Research Hypothesis

Ø A research hypothesis is defined as a wise guess or tentative answer that is formulated and temporarily adopted to
explain the observed facts covered by the study.
Ø It serves as a guide toward designing the research methodology.
Ø Research Hypothesis serves as the tentative answer to the posed research questions at the beginning of the inquiry
process. Literature review may help the researcher to formulate research questions and hypothesis.
Ø Research hypothesis directs the researcher to the data gathering procedures to be used in the study as well as the
data analysis that can be employed to interpret findings of the study.
 Ø Research hypothesis is stated in declarative sentence and is always based from specific research problem.
Ø There are two types of research hypothesis: Null and Alternative.
Ø Research hypothesis is always stated in null hypothesis.

Types of Research Hypothesis for each Quantitative Research Design

Types of Research Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis Alternative Hypothesis
Description

Ø It is a denial of an existence of a trait Ø Is an affirmation of the existence of observed

characteristic, quality, value, correlation or phenomena.
difference of the result. Ø It is stated with a phrase: “There is a
Ø It is stated with a phrase: “There is no significant…”
significant…”

The research hypothesis for a casual comparative study will read as follows:
Causal-Comparative

For two groups

(1) There is no significant difference between [define the two groups] on [dependent variable].

For more than two groups

(2) There is no significant effect of [independent variable] on [dependent variable]

Example:
(1) There is no significant difference between males and females on examination malpractice.
(2) There is no significant effect of socio-economic status on examination malpractice.

The research hypothesis for an experimental or quasi-experimental study will read as follows:
Experimental

Experimental
or Quasi-

There is no significant effect of [treatment] on [dependent variable].

Example:
There is no significant effect of hybrid fertilizers on the number of leaves of tomato plant.
The research hypothesis for a correlational study will read as follows:
Correlation

There is no significant relationship between [variable 1] and [variable 2].

Example:
There is no significant relationship between time spent in playing games and grades of students.

WRITING THE BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Description on Background of Study

Ø The background of study is a part of a research under the introduction section of the paper.
Ø The background of study is a compilation of adequate information that is based on the analysis of the problem or
proposed argument, the steps and methods needed to arrive at the design and the implementation of the results
achieved and feasible solutions.
Ø The background of study includes the following:
1. A review of the area being researched;
2. Current information surrounding the issue;
3. Previous studies on the issue;
4. Relevant history on the issue; and
5. Effectively set forth the history and background information on the problem.
Ø The purpose of background of study is to help the researchers to prove the relevance of their research questions
and/or research hypothesis and to further develop your research paper.
 Ø In summary, the background of research provides a brief explanation on how the study was conceived, how will
it be conducted and the possible contribution it may give to the society.

Stages of Writing the Background of Study

STEP 1
Ø Visit a library, check the Internet and other electronic databases to find relevant
CONDUCT PRELIMINARY
information from the reputable sources.
RESEARCH
STEP 2
Ø You should take notes and also keep an accurate track of the sources of
READ AND GATHER THE
information you have used up to this point.
INFORMATION
STEP 3 Ø Use research questions/hypothesis or research statement as your guide in
COMPLETE YOUR RESEARCH developing your background study.

Ø Create five different sections that have the key issues, major findings, and the
STEP 4
controversies that are surrounding your research question/hypothesis or research
WORK ON STRUCTURE
problem and also a section that provide evaluation and a conclusion.
STEP 5 Ø Identifies further studies need to be done and put them in a conclusion section.
FURTHER STUDIES NEED TO BE Mention possible solutions to the issue that have not been put into consideration
DONE in the past.
STEP 6 Ø Do a revision and editing of the background of study. You can ask someone to
PROOFREAD help you go through it.

Writing Format in Background of Study

o Begin by giving a general overview of your research topic and introduce the main ideas you will be making use
of throughout your research study.
o Then, give the detailed and precise information about all the methodologies used in the research. This can take up
several paragraphs depending on the individual and research question/hypothesis or research topic.
o Cite your sources where necessary to avoid plagiarism.
o Then you can introduce the purpose of your study by describing your choice of methodology instead of others and
the objective of the methodology.

Citing Sources of Information using APA Reference Style

Ø APA stands for American Psychological Association.
Ø APA Reference Style / Citation uses Author-Date.
Ø When quoting directly or indirectly from a source, the source must be acknowledged in the text by author name
and year of publication. It is called in-text citation.
Ø To cite information directly or indirectly, there are two ways to acknowledge citation:
1. Make it part of a sentence; or
2. Put it in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.
Ø Direct quotation – use quotation mark around the quote and include page number.
Ø Indirect quotation/paraphrasing/summarizing – no quotation mark
Ø Citations from secondary source – a process of taking information not from original source either the researcher
have no access to the sources or the original source cannot able to find.
Examples of Citations from Secondary
Direct Quotation Indirect Quotation
In-Text Citation Source
Cohen and Lotan (2014) argues According to Cohen and Lotan Gould’s (1981) research “raises
that “many different kinds of (2014), professional knowledge fundamental doubts as to
abilities are essential for any alone does not make someone a whether we can continue to
Part of a sentence profession” (p. 151). very capable professional. think of intelligence as
unidimensional” (as cited in
Cohen & Lotan, 2014, pp. 151-
152).
“Many different kinds of abilities Professional knowledge alone Intelligence cannot be believed
At the end of the are essential for any profession” does not make someone a very to consist of one single entity
sentence (Cohen & Lotan, 2014, p. 151). capable professional (Cohen & any more (Gould, 1981, as cited
Lotan, 2014). in Cohen & Lotan, 2014).
 ASSESSMENT
Practice Exercises 4B.1: Research Questions and Research Hypotheses
Below are the purposes of research studies. For each purpose write in column 2 the type of research and in column 3 the
matching research question or hypothesis.

Purposes of Research Studies Types of Research Matching Research Question or

Hypothesis
1. Determine the frequency that
university students engage in
examination malpractice.
2. Determine if there is a relationship
between intrinsic motivation and
social studies achievement test scores.
3. Identify differences between
trained and untrained teachers in their
dedication to teaching.
4. Examine the effect of signing an
academic honesty pledge on
university students' cheating
behaviors.

Performance Task 3: Writing An Introduction in a Research Paper

A. Research Questions/Hypotheses
Write the research questions and/or research hypotheses study of your research paper. Use the template, Appendix C:
Writing An Introduction of a Research Paper. To fill in the template Appendix C, follow the following instructions:
1. Write your research title in Research Title Box.
2. Write your research problem in Research Problem Box.
3. Write your research objective in Research Objective Box.
4. Write the key research variable/s related to your research topic in Research Variable/s (What) Box.
5. For each research variable to be measured from Research Variable/s (What) Box, compose a research question
and/or research hypothesis using the Research Questions Box.

B. Introduction and Background of Study

Write the introduction and background of study of your research paper. Use the template, Appendix D: Writing an
Introduction of a Research Paper. To fill in the template Appendix D, follow the following instructions:
1. Write your research title in Research Title Box.
2. Write your research gap in Research Gap Box.
3. Write the statement of the problem that includes research objective and research questions/hypothesis in
Statement of the Problem Box.
4. Start writing the introduction and background of the study by using the “Introduction and Background of Study
Box”. Use guidelines in writing the introduction and background of study that you learned from this module.

ASSIGNMENT
Reflective Learning Journal
Create one to two paragraphs of reflecting learning journal on the things you have learned in this module. To
create an effective reflective learning journal, you should answer the following questions:
o What I have learned? (Explain in your own words)
o What did I read/watch but did not understand? (Bullet form)
o How will I apply the topic I learned in real life? (Bullet Form)
o What question do I still have in my mind in relation to this topic/lesson/module? (Bullet form)
 o From #4, What are my own strategy/ies to answer this question that I still have in mind? (Bullet
form)
o How do you rate (1-Poor, 2-Good, 3-Satisfactory) your learning of this topic? Explain why you
chose that rating? (Bullet form)
Use the Activity Sheet in writing your weekly reflective learning journal. Submit it on Moodle on specified date

REFERENCES
1. McLeod, S. A. (2019, July 30). Qualitative vs. quantitative research. Simply Psychology.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/qualitative-quantitative.html.
2. Bhat, A. (n.d). Quantitative research. QuestionPro. https://www.questionpro.com/blog/quantitative-research/
3. Torneo, A. and Clamor-Torneo, H. (2017). Practical research 2: An introduction to quantitative research. SIBS
Publishing House, Inc. | Quezon City, Philippines.
4. Almeida, A., Gaerlan, A., & Manly, N. (2016). Research fundamentals. Adriana Publishing Co., Inc. | Quezon
City, Philippines.
5. Calmorin, L. & Calmorin, M. (2017). Research method and thesis writing: Second Edition. REX Book Store, Inc.
Quezon City, Philippines.
6. Pulmones, R. (2016). Quantitative research. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. | Quezon City, Philippines
7. Olawale, J. (2020). Background of the study in research: How to write one (2020). Retrieved from
https://www.legit.ng/1174941-background-study-research-write-2020.html