I.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the sessions the students are expected to:
 describe a research paper
 identify the research goals
 describe the characteristics of a good research
 discuss the purposes of research
 discuss the types and classifications of research

II. LEARNING CONTENT

- Definition of Research
- Goals of Research
- Purposes of Research
- Characteristics of Good Research
- Classifications of Research
- Types of Research
- The Scientific Method of Research

III. OVERVIEW

This instructional module provides maximum of eight hours’ worth of materials on concepts
relevant to the introduction of Research. Its purpose is to give the students a background on some
terms and concepts necessary for better understanding of Research. It is important that students
develop a clear picture of what research truly is, as well as its goals, purposes, characteristics,
classifications and types so that they may eliminate their prejudice of research. On successful
completion of this module, the students will be able to realize the learning outcomes stated. Since
this is an introductory module in Research, it will serve as a good foundation for the next modules.

IV. DISCUSSION: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

What is Research?
 There are almost as many definitions as there are authors writing about the subject. Fortunately, the
different definitions formulated by such authors have common elements. Sample of research definitions
follows:

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 o Good defines research as a “careful, critical, disciplined inquiry, varying in technique and
method according to the nature and conditions of the problem identified, directed the
clarification of resolution (or both) of the problem”
o Aquino has a more detailed definition of research. He says that “research is, simply, the
systematic search for pertinent information or data on a specific topic or problem, and after the
research worker has analyzed and interpreted the data, he eventually faces another essential
task – that of preparing the research report.”
o Research has been defined as “the process of gathering data or information to solve a particular
or specific problem in a scientific manner.”
o Parel defines research as “systematic study or investigation of something for the purpose of
answering questions posed by the researcher.”
o Treece and Treece claimed that “research in its broadest sense is an attempt to gain solutions
to problems. More precisely, it is the collection of data in a rigorously controlled situation for the
purpose of prediction or explanation.”
o Formulated in a more comprehensive form, research may be defined as a purposive, systematic
and scientific process of gathering, analyzing, classifying, organizing, presenting, and
interpreting data for the solution of a problem, for prediction, for invention, for the discovery of
truth, for the expansion or verification of existing knowledge, all for the preservation and
improvement of the quality of human life.
 A systematic approach must be followed for accurate data. Rules and procedures are an integral part of
the process that set the objective. Researchers need to practice ethics and a code of conduct while
making observations or drawing conclusions.
 Research is based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive and deductive methods.
 The data or knowledge that is derived is in real time from actual observations in natural settings.
 There is an in-depth analysis of all data collected so that there are no anomalies associated with it.
 Research creates a path for generating new questions. Existing data helps create more opportunities
for research.
 Research is analytical in nature. It makes use of all the available data so that there is no ambiguity in
inference.
 Accuracy is one of the most important aspects of research. The information that is obtained should be
accurate and true to its nature. For example, laboratories provide a controlled environment to collect
data. Accuracy is measured in the instruments used, the calibrations of instruments or tools, and the
final result of the experiment.

What research isn’t

o Research isn’t teaching.
 Don’t get it wrong – you can research teaching, just like you can research anything else.
However, teaching itself is generally regarded as the synthesis and transfer of existing
knowledge. Generally, the knowledge has to exist before you can teach it. Most of the time, you
aren’t creating new knowledge as you teach. Some lecturers may find that their students create
strange new ‘knowledge’ in their assignments, but making stuff up doesn’t count as research
either.
o Research isn’t scholarship.
 As it was said at the start, a literature search is an important aspect of the research process but
it isn’t research in and of itself. Scholarship (the process of being a scholar) generally describes

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 surveying existing knowledge. You might be looking for new results that you hadn’t read before,
or you might be synthesizing the information for your teaching practice. Either way, you aren’t
creating new knowledge, you are reviewing what already exists.
o Research isn’t encyclopaedic.
 Encyclopaedias, by and large, seek to present a synthesis of existing knowledge. Collecting and
publishing existing knowledge isn’t research, as it doesn’t create new knowledge.
o Research isn’t just data-gathering.
 Data-gathering is a vital part of research, but it doesn’t lead to new knowledge without some
analysis, some further work. Just collecting the data doesn’t count, unless you do something
else with it.
o Research isn’t just about methodology.
 Just because you are using mice, or interviewing people, or using a High Performance Liquid
Chromatograph (HPLC) doesn’t mean you are doing research. You might be, if you are using a
new data set or using the method in a new way or testing a new hypothesis. However, if you are
using the same method, on the same data, exploring the same question, then you will almost
certainly get the same results. And that is repetition, not research.
o Research isn’t repetition, except in some special circumstances.
 If you are doing the same thing that someone else has already done, then generally that isn’t
research unless you are specifically trying to prove or disprove their work. What’s the
difference? Repeating an experiment from 1400 isn’t research. You know what the result will be
before your start – it has already been verified many times before. Repeating an experiment
reported last year probably is research because the original result can’t be relied upon until it is
verified.

Why research important?

 Research is a key to progress. There can be no progress without research in almost if not all human
endeavors. In government, in education, in trade and commerce, and in all types and kinds of
industries, research is vital and essential. Therefore, the methods and techniques must be taught and
learned in graduate as well as undergraduate educational work. This is imperative because the people
who gave one through the college and graduate levels of education are the ones who are most
expected to undertake research activities (Calderon, 1993).
 Before research can be conducted, it must be understood. But before one can understand, one must
learn. If man understands, learns, and does research, progress becomes possible because research is
a contributing factor of progress. It moves such progress towards goals(Calmorin,1995),
 According to Agres, research is done in many different areas such as curriculum, learning,
management of people, medical and health services and public and private institutions, to mention a
few. It likewise takes place at many different levels, from the individual action research to large scale
projects in educational, business, cultural and industrial institutions.
 Regardless of level, all researches are directed toward these purposes: (a) extension of knowledge,
and (b) solution of a problem.

Goals of Research
 The definition of research says that it is purposive. The main or principal purpose and goal of research
is the preservation and improvement of the quality of human life. All kinds of research are directed

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 toward this end. “The purpose of research is to serve man,” and “ The goal of research is the good life”
(Good and Scates)
 For more specific purposes and goals of research, the following may be mentioned:
1. To discover new facts about known phenomena. (Alcohol is a known phenomenon and
research may turn it into a kind of fuel equal in quality to gasoline).
2. To find answers to problems which are only partially solved by existing methods and
information. (Cancer is a serious disease which is only partially cured by present methods but due
to intensive and continuous research, the disease may be eradicated later on)
3. Improve existing techniques and develop new instruments or products.( This goal envisages
the invention of new gadgets and machines, food products and others used by man).
4. To discover previously unrecognized substances and elements (previously, we had only 92
elements but due to research, we have now more than 100).
5. To discover pathways of actions of known substances and elements. (Due to research, we
come to know the dangers from the abusive use of unprescribed drugs and some poisonous
substances)
6. To order related, valid generalizations into systematized science. Schlofeldt. (Ibid.) (The result
of this purpose of research is the science we are now studying in school).
7. To provide basis of decision-making in business, industry, education, government, and in
other undertakings. One approach in decision making is the research approach. (Gore and
Dyson). (This is basing important decisions upon the results of research).
8. To satisfy the researcher’s curiosity. (Sanchez). (Edison was curious about how a hen hatches
her eggs and made a research on that and he invented the incubator).
9. To find answers to queries by means of scientific methods. One important question that may
be asked which can be answered only by means of research is: In what setting is life expectancy
higher, in the city or in the barrio?
10. To acquire a better and deeper understanding about one phenomenon that can be known
and understood better by research is why phenomenon that can be known and understood better
by research is why women are generally smaller than men.
11. To expand or verify existing knowledge. This usually happens when researchers are replicated.
Newly discovered facts may be found to expand knowledge gained from previous research or
verified if the same facts are found.
12. To improve educational practices for raising the quality of school products. Research surveys
often result in the revision of curricula and instructional innovations to maximize the effectiveness of
the learning process.
13. To promote health and prolong life. This purpose is very obviously demonstrated in
pharmaceutical, nutritional , and medical research
14. To provide man with more his basic needs- more and better food, clothing, shelter, etc. The
work of the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna is a good example of this
purpose.
15. To make work, travel and communication faster, easier, and more comfortable. Due to
research airplanes are made to fly faster, land vehicles to run faster, labor- saving machines have
been invented and improved, radio and television brings news immediately to the remote areas,
and more wonders of electricity are making life easier and better.

Purposes of Research
 There are three purposes of research:

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 1. Exploratory: As the name suggests, exploratory research is conducted to explore a group of
questions. The answers and analytics may not offer a final conclusion to the perceived problem. It is
conducted to handle new problem areas which haven’t been explored before. This exploratory
process lays the foundation for more conclusive research and data collection.
2. Descriptive: Descriptive research focuses on expanding knowledge on current issues through a
process of data collection. Descriptive studies are used to describe the behaviour of a sample
population. In a descriptive study, only one variable is required to conduct the study. The three main
purposes of descriptive research are describing, explaining, and validating the findings. For
example, a study conducted to know if top-level management leaders in the 21st century possess
the moral right to receive a huge sum of money from the company profit.
3. Explanatory: Explanatory research or causal research is conducted to understand the impact of
certain changes in existing standard procedures. Conducting experiments is the most popular form
of casual research. For example, a study conducted to understand the effect of rebranding on
customer loyalty.
 To understand the characteristic of research design using research purpose here is a comparative
analysis:
Exploratory Descriptive Research Explanatory Research
Research
Research Unstructured Structured Highly structured
approach used
Research Asking research Asking research By using research
conducted through questions questions hypotheses.
When is it Early stages of Later stages of decision Later stages of decision
conducted? decision making making making

Characteristics of Good Research

 The characteristics of research may be summarized as follows:
1. Research is systematic. It follows an orderly and sequential procedure that leads to the discovery
of truth, solution of a problem, or whatever is aimed to be discovered.
2. Research is controlled. All variables except those that are interested or being experimented upon
are kept constant (not allowed to change or vary) so that the changes made on the subjects of the
study can be attributed only to the experimental variable. This is especially true in an experimental
research.
3. Research is empirical. All the procedures employed and the data gathered are perceived in the
same manner by all observers. For instance, one says there are five persons in the room, all agree
to the existence of the five persons. However, if one says that there are ghosts in the room, one or
none at all may believe it because not all people believe in ghosts. Ghosts are examples of data
that are not empirical.
4. Research is analytical. There is critical analysis of all data used so that there is no error in their
interpretation.
5. Research is objective, unbiased, and logical. All findings and conclusions are logically based on
empirical data and no effort is made to alter the results of the research.
6. Research employs hypothesis. This is to guide the investigation process. In experimental studies,
hypotheses are expressly stated but in descriptive studies, the specific sub problems or specific
questions serve as the hypotheses and the hypotheses are tested and not proved.

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 7. Research employs quantitative or statistical methods. Data are transformed from primary
measures and re treated statistically to determine their significance or usefulness.
8. Research is original work. Except in historical research data are gathered from primary sources
or first-hand sources and not from secondary sources (usually printed materials such as books or
theses, etc.)
9. Research is done by an expert. The researcher uses valid and carefully designed procedures,
valid data gathering instruments, and valid data. He subjects his data to expert scrutiny.
10. Research is accurate investigation, observation and description. In fact, every research
activity must be done accurately so that the findings will lead to formulation of scientific
generalizations. All conclusions and generalizations.
11. Research is patient and unhurried activity. This is to ensure accuracy. Research that is hurriedly
done or conducted carelessly due to racing against time may lead to shaky conclusions and
generalizations.
12. Researchers requires an effort-making capacity. No research can be conducted without the
exertion of much effort. No one without any effort-making capacity can conduct a research because
research involves much work and time.
13. Research requires courage. Research requires courage because the researcher oftentimes
undergo hazards, discomforts and the like. At times the researcher encounters public and social
disapproval. Also, disagreement with colleagues may arise.

Classifications of Research
 There are many kinds of research which are classified according to their distinctive features. Some of
the classifications are as follows:
1. According to purpose. Trow identifies three broadly different kinds of research, namely: predictive,
directive, illuminative.
2. According to goal. According to goal, research may be classified as basic or pure research and
applied research.
3. According to the levels of investigation. French categorizes research according to the levels of
investigation into exploratory research, descriptive research, and experimental research.
4. According to type of analysis. According to analysis, Weiss classifies research into analytic
research and holistic research.
5. According to scope. Under this category is action research. This type of research is done on a
very limited scope to solve a particular problem which is not so big. It is almost problem- solving.
6. According to choice of answers to problems. Ackoff divides research that is concerned with
finding answers to problems into evaluation and developmental research.
7. According to statistical content. Under this type may be mentioned quantitative research and
non- quantitative research.
8. According to time element. According to time element, Best classifies research as historical,
descriptive, and experimental.
a. Historical research describes what was
b. Descriptive research describes what is
c. Experimental research describes what will be

Types of Research
 Following are the types of research methods:
 Basic research: 

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  A basic research definition is data collected to enhance knowledge. The main motivation
is knowledge expansion. It is a non-commercial research that doesn’t facilitate in
creating or inventing anything.
 For example: an experiment to determine a simple fact.
 Applied research: 
 Applied research focuses on analyzing and solving real-life problems. This type refers to
the study that helps solve practical problems using scientific methods. Studies play an
important role in solving issues that impact the overall well-being of humans.
 For example: finding a specific cure for a disease.
 Problem oriented research: 
 As the name suggests, problem-oriented research is conducted to understand the exact
nature of a problem to find out relevant solutions. The term “problem” refers to multiple
choices or issues when analyzing a situation.
 For example, revenue of a car company has decreased by 12% in the last year.
The following could be the probable causes: there is no optimum production,
poor quality of a product, no advertising, or economic conditions.
 Problem solving research:
 This type of research is conducted by companies to understand and resolve their own
problems. The problem-solving method uses applied research to find solutions to the
existing problems.
 Qualitative research: 
 Qualitative research is a process that is about inquiry. It helps create in-depth
understanding of problems or issues in their natural settings. This is a non-statistical
method.
 Qualitative research is heavily dependent on the experience of the researchers and the
questions used to probe the sample. The sample size is usually restricted to 6-10
people. 
 Open-ended questions are asked in a manner that encourages answers that lead to
another question or group of questions. The purpose of asking open-ended questions is
to gather as much information as possible from the sample.
 The following are the methods used for qualitative research:
1. One-to-one interview
2. Focus groups
3. Ethnographic research
4. Content/Text Analysis
5. Case study research
 Quantitative research: 
 Qualitative research is a structured way of collecting data and analyzing it to draw
conclusions. Unlike qualitative methods, this method uses a computational and statistical
process to collect and analyze data. Quantitative data is all about numbers.
 Quantitative research involves a larger population — more people means more data.
With more data to analyze, you can obtain more accurate results. This method
uses close-ended questions because the researchers are typically looking to gather
statistical data.
 Online surveys, questionnaires, and polls are preferable data collection tools used in
quantitative research. There are various methods of deploying surveys or
questionnaires.
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  Online surveys allow survey creators to reach large amounts of people or smaller focus
groups for different types of research that meet different goals. Survey respondents can
receive surveys on mobile phones, in emails, or can simply use the internet to access
surveys.

The Scientific Method of Research

 One of the characteristics of good research is that, it is systematic. It follows the scientific method of
research which includes the following sequential steps:
1. Determining (recognizing) the problem;
2. Forming a hypothesis;
3. Doing the library search;
4. Designing the study;
5. Developing the instruments for collecting data;
6. Collecting the data;
7. Analyzing the data;
8. Determining implications and conclusions from the findings; and
9. Making recommendations for further research.
 It should be borne in mind that the research goes through all the nine steps when he does in his
research and when he writes his research report.

V. REFERENCES
 Methods of Research and Thesis Writing By Calmorin & Calmorin
 Understanding and Doing Research: A Handbook for Beginners by Fely David
 Fundamentals of Research by Gaudencio Aquino
 Conducting Research: A Practical Application by Juliet Catane
Websites:
 http://www.personal.psu.edu/wxh139/research_talk.htm
 https://www.questionpro.com/blog/what-is-research/
 https://researchwhisperer.org/2012/09/18/what-is-research/