Lesson 1: Research

Research – as a field of discipline, research is an investigation, study, exploration, or probe on anything

by applying systematic or scientific methods in gathering data in order to provide answers to
certain questions or problems that are aimed to improve the quality of life.

Research is important for it helps in developing innovative products, for discoveries and solutions
for relevant problems, and it enables society’s advancements.

Characteristics of a Good Research:

EMPRICAL – research is based on direct experience or observation by the researcher.
CRITICAL – research exhibits careful and precise judgement.
LOGICAL – research is based on valid procedures and principles.
METHODICAL – research is conducted in a systematic manner without bias.
CYCLICAL – research is a cyclical process because it starts with a problem and ends with a problem.
REPLICABILITY – research design & procedures are repeated to enable researcher to arrive at a valid &
conclusive results.
ANALYTICAL – research utilizes proven analytical procedures in gathering data, whether historical,
descriptive, experimental, or case study.

Characteristics of a Good Researcher:

INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY – a researcher undertakes a deep thinking and inquiry of the things and
situations around him.
PRUDENCE – the researcher is careful to conduct his study at the right time and at the right place wisely,
efficiently, and economically.
HEALTHY CRITICISM – the researcher is always doubtful as to the truthfulness of the results.
INTELLECTUAL HONESTY – an intelligent researcher is honest to collect or gather data or facts in order to
arrive at honest results.
INTELLECTUAL CREATIVITY – a productive and resourceful investigator always creates new researchers.

RESEARCH PROCESS

1. Identifying
the problem

8. Writing the report 2. Reviewing literature

3. Setting research questions,

objectives, and/or hypotheses
7. Processing and RESEARCH
analyzing the data
PROCESS

4. Choosing the study design

6. Collecting the data

5. Deciding on the
sample design
Lesson 2: Ethics of Research

ETHICS – generally considered to deal with beliefs about what is right or wrong, proper or improper,
good or bad. According to a dictionary definition (Webster’s 1968), to be ethical is to conform
to accepted professional practice.
– Ethics should be applied in all stages of research from planning, to gathering of data, to the
analysis, and interpretation and evaluation (oral examination) of the research.
– Research ethics provides guidelines for the responsible conduct of research. In addition, it
educates and monitors scientists conducting research to ensure a high ethical standard.

The following is a general summary of SOME ETHICAL PRINCIPLES:

HONESTY – honestly report data, results, methods, and publication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or
misrepresent data.
OBJECTIVITY – strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer
review, personnel decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of
research.
INTEGRITY – keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought
and action.
CAREFULNESS – avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and
the work of your peers. Keep good records of research activities.
OPENNESS – share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
RESPECT FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual
property. Do not use unpublished data, methods, or results
without permission. Give credit where credit is due. Never
plagiarize.
RESPONSIBLE PUBLICATION – publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just
your own career. Avoid wasteful and duplicative publication.
RESPONSIBLE MENTORING – help to educate, mentor, and advise students. Promote their welfare and
allow them to make their own decisions.
RESPECT FOR COLLEAGUES – respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY – strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through
research, public education, and advocacy.
NON-DISCRIMINATION – avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race,
ethnicity, or other factors that are not related to their scientific competence
and integrity.
COMPETENCE – maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through
lifelong education and learning; take steps to promote competence in science as a
whole.
LEGALITY – know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.
ANIMAL CARE – show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research. Do not conduct
unnecessary or poorly designed animal experiments.
HUMAN SUBJECTS PROTECTION – when conducting research on human subjects, minimize harms and
risks and maximize benefits; respect human dignity, privacy, and
autonomy.

Research Misconducts
FABRICATION – making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
FALSIFICATION – manipulating research materials, or changing or omitting data or results such that the
research is not accurately represented in the research record.
PLAGIARISM – the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words, without giving
appropriate credit.
 The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or R.A. 8293 contains provisions regarding
published works and copyright ownership. The term “published works” means works which, with the
consent of the authors, are made available to the public in such a way that these works can be sourced
from a place and time individually chosen by them.
Lesson 3: Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
– It is explaining phenomenon by
collecting numerical data that are
analyzed using mathematically
based methods (in particular
statistics).
– It is quantifying the problem by way
of generating numerical data or data
that can be transformed into usable
statistics.
– It uses measurable data to formulate
facts and uncover patterns in
research.
– Quantitative data collection methods
include various forms of surveys-
online surveys, paper surveys, mobile
surveys and kiosk surveys, face-to-
face interviews, telephone
interviews, longitudinal studies,
website interceptors, online polls
and systematic observations.
Quantitative
DEFINITION:
a formal, objective, systematic process for
obtaining information about the world. A method
used to describe, test relationships and examine
cause and effect relationships
GOAL:
To test relationships, describe, examine cause
and effect relations
CHARACTERISTICS:
• Hard Science
• Focus: concise and narrow
• Reductionist
• Objective
• Logistic, deductive reasoning
• Basis of knowing: cause and effect,
relationships
• Tests theory (Theory Testing)
• Control
• Highly structured methods: Data
gathered through the use of tools,
equipment, questionnaires, etc.
• Instruments
• Asks closed-ended questions that give
quantifiable answers
• Data is in the form of numbers and
statistical results
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
– is concerned with non-statistical
methods of inquiry and analysis of
social phenomena
– It draws on an inductive process in
which themes and categories emerge
through an analysis of data collected
by such techniques as interviews,
observations, videotapes and case
studies.
– It provides insights into the problem
or helps to develop ideas or
hypotheses for potential quantitative
research. It is also used to uncover
trends in thought and opinions, and
dive deeper into the problem.
– It is an inductive, subjective process
of inquiry done in a natural setting in
order to build a complex, holistic
picture, described in words, including
the detailed views of the informants
are reported in informal, personal
language.
Qualitative
DEFINITION:
a systematic subjective approach used to
describe life experiences and give them meaning
GOAL:
To gain insight; explore the depth, richness and
complexity inherent in the phenomenon
CHARACTERISTICS:
• Soft Science
• Focus: complex and broad
• Holistic
• Subjective
• Dialectic, inductive reasoning
• Basis of knowing: meaning and
discovery
• Develops theory (Theory Emergent)
• Shared interpretation
• Methods: less structured; Data gathered
through interviews, observations,
content analysis, etc.
• Communication and observation
• Asks open-ended questions in an effort
to explore
• Data provided as a narrative, pictures, or
objects
 • Basic element of analysis: numbers
• Statistical analysis
• Results are documented using
objective language
• Generalization
• Basic element of analysis: words
• Individual interpretation
• Results may be presented subjectively –
may reveal biases, values or experiences
that impact how the results are
interpreted
• Uniqueness

Quantitative Qualitative
Hard science Soft science
Concise and narrow Complex and broad
control Shared interpretation
instruments Communication and observation
objective subjective
logistic dialectic
Deductive reasoning Inductive reasoning
Theory testing Theory emergent
Close-ended questions Open-ended questions
generalization uniqueness
reductionist holistic
numbers words
Seeks to confirm hypotheses Seeks to explore phenomena
Highly structured Less structured
Cause and effects relationships Meaning and discovery
Statistical analysis Individual interpretation

➢ Qualitative data collection methods vary using unstructured or semi-structured techniques.

➢ A quantitative design is a deductive and objective process of inquiry which uses mathematical
procedures to make generalizations and reported in formal language.
➢ Qualitative research is primarily exploratory research.
➢ Quantitative design asks objective questions that give quantifiable answers.

Lesson 4: Types of Research | Strengths and Limitations of Qualitative Research

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

• Descriptive research is defined as a research method that describes the characteristics of the
population or phenomenon studied. This type of research accurately describes a research
problem without asking why a particular event happened
• Descriptive research is called an observational research method as none of the variables in the
study are influenced during the process of the research.
• Descriptive research is an appropriate choice when the research aim is to identify characteristics,
frequencies, trends, and categories.
• Goals:
– To describe a phenomenon and its characteristics.
– Give a verbal/numerical picture of the situation
– Present basic background information
• Characteristics:
– Quantitative research
– Uncontrolled variables
– Cross-sectional studies
– The basis for further research
• Methods:
– Observation, case studies, surveys
 • Application:
– As a tool to analyze participants
– Designed to measure data trends
– Scope of comparison
– Conducting research at any time

CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH

Correlational research is a non-experimental research technique that helps researchers establish

a relationship between two closely connected variables. This type of research requires two different
groups. There is no assumption while evaluating a relationship between two different variables, and
statistical analysis techniques calculate the relationship between them.

• Correlational research design investigates relationships between variables without the

researcher controlling or manipulating any of them.
• A correlation reflects the strength and/or direction of the relationship between two (or more)
variables. The direction of a correlation can be either positive or negative.

• When to use correlational research:

– To investigate non-causal relationships
– To explore causal relationships between variables
– To test new measurement tools
• Methods:
– Surveys
– Naturalistic observation
– Secondary data

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

• Experimental research establishes a relationship between the cause and effect of a situation. It is
a causal design where one observes the impact caused by the independent variable on the
dependent variable.
• The variables that can be tracked, computed, and compared, as well as the researcher the most
crucial thing is that experimentation is carried out in a controlled setting. The researcher gathers
information and the findings will either support or refute the theory. This study approach is
known as a deductive research approach or hypothesis testing.
• Experimental research focuses on understanding the nature of relationship between independent
and dependent variables involved under a particular field of study.
• The independent variables are manipulated to monitor the change it has on the dependent
variable. It is often used in social sciences to observe human behavior by analyzing two groups.
 FEASIBILITY STUDY

A feasibility study is an analysis that considers all of a project's relevant factors—including

economic, technical, legal, and scheduling considerations—to ascertain the likelihood of completing the
project successfully

• A feasibility study is the first stage of any project or plan's design. It is an analysis of a proposed
project to determine whether the suggested idea is feasible. Feasibility studies can be used in a
variety of ways, but they are most commonly used to evaluate potential commercial initiatives.
• A feasibility study aims to rationally assess the potential of a business or venture, its practicality,
and uncover the strengths and weaknesses of a proposed plan or existing business.
• To assess the financial viability of a plan and whether it will be a success or failure.

HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Historical research enables you to explore and explain the meanings, phases and characteristics
of a phenomenon or process at a particular point of time in the past. We differentiate historical research
as a research strategy from the research of history, which refers to research in the discipline of history.

• Historical research involves studying, understanding and interpreting past events. The purpose
of historical research is to reach insights or conclusions about past persons or occurrences.
Historical research entails more than simply compiling and presenting factual information; it also
requires interpretation of the information.
• The main emphasis in historical research is on interpretation of documents, diaries and the like.
Historical data are categorized into primary or secondary sources.
– Primary sources include first-hand information, such as eyewitness reposts and
original documents.
– Secondary sources include secondhand information, such as a description of an
event by someone other than an eyewitness, or a textbook author’s explanation
of an event or theory.
• Primary sources may be harder to find but are generally more accurate and preferred by
historical researchers. A major problem with much historical research is excessive reliance on
secondary sources.

Strengths of Qualitative Research

1. Issues can be examined in detail and in depth.

2. Interviews are not restricted to specific questions and can be guided/redirected by the
researcher in real time.
3. The research framework and direction can be quickly revised as new information emerges.
4. The obtained data based on human experience is powerful and sometimes more compelling
than quantitative data.
5. Subtleties and complexities about the research subjects and/or topic are discovered that are
often missed by more positivistic inquiries.
6. Data usually are collected from a few cases or individuals so findings cannot be generalized to a
larger population. Findings can however be transferable to another setting.

Limitations of Qualitative Research

1. Research quality is heavily dependent on the individual skills of the researcher and more easily
influenced by the researcher’s personal biases and idiosyncrasies.
2. Rigor is more difficult to maintain, assess, and demonstrate.
3. The volume of data makes analysis and interpretation time consuming.
4. It is sometimes not as well understood and accepted as quantitative research within the
scientific community.
5. The researcher’s presence during data gathering, which is often unavoidable in qualitative
research, can affect the subject’s responses.
6. Issues of anonymity and confidentiality can bring/result to problems when presenting findings.
7. Findings can be more difficult and time consuming to characterize in a visual way.