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Applications and Practice of Research for Senior High

School:
Inquiries, Investigations, and Immersion

MODULE
1 Student’s Name
_

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 PREFACE
“In much of society, research means to investigate something you do not know or
understand.”

-Niel Alden Armstrong (1930-2021)

The statement of American astronaut Neil Armstrong conveys the essence of

research writing. To conduct research means to investigate what society does not
know or understand. This definition places importance on a culminating course on
research writing for the senior high school students.

Through the modular approach, it simplifies the complex and challenging steps
in research writing. Students will be able to apply what they have learned from their
previous courses on research methods through a step-by-step approach to research.
Students must perform each step in the research process to produce an output,
which becomes part of their research paper.

The module offers students a comprehensive yet simple and systematic

approach to the practice of actual research. Students are to generate a research
topic, develop a research proposal, conduct a review of related literature, establish a
research design and research methodology, gather data, analyze and interpret data
results, report research findings, draw conclusions, provide research
recommendations, draft and revise the final research paper, and present the
research output (application of research). At the end of the semester, students are
expected to write, present, and submit a quality research paper.

The module has eight parts. The first module is a review of the basics of
research. It explains the nature of research and its importance in understanding
questions about the social world. The second module provides students with tips
and guidelines on choosing an appropriate topic for research. At the end of the
module, students are tasked to propose a suitable topic for a research paper. The
third module teaches students how to write the research introduction. At the end of
the module, they are expected to outline the background of the study, state the
research problem, develop a conceptual framework, formulate a research hypothesis,
define terms, assess the significance of the study, and define the scope and
limitations of the study. The fourth module hepls students to conduct a review of
related literature. At the end of the module, they are expected to write the review.

In the fifth module, students will learn how to develop a research design and
determine the most appropriate research methodology for their research. At the end
of the module, they are expected to produce the research design and methodology
that explain the data collection procedure of the study, and to identify the data
analysis and interpretation techniques that will be used for the paper.

The sixth module requires students to execute the research methodology of the
paper. At the end of the module, they are expected to collect data and produce
outputs needed to answer the research problem, to analyze and interpret the data
results and to write an outline that summarizes the data results and the analysis
and interpretation of data results.

In the seventh module, students will learn how to discuss the research findings,
draw conclusions and give recommendations based on the data results, analysis and
interpretation. Also, they will study how to cite sources and make a bibliography for
their research paper. At the end of the module, students are expected to write the
research findings, conclusion, recommendations, and bibliography. Finally, the
eighth module requires students to produce the research paper. They will also be
tasked to present the results of their research to an audience.

The modules contain a list of research activities, performance tasks, and

expected outputs. Both students and teachers will find them very useful and
informative. Through this module, it is my hope that the foundations of research
culture will develop. The skills andlessons that the senior high school students will
imbibe and learn in this course will serve as essential tools as they venture into the
rigorous world of tertiary level research and education.

-Senior High School-

The Author

Module 1
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 The Research Process: An Introduction
Week: 1 & 2

Specific Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:
a. identify what is research;
b. analyze the nature of research and social research;
c. understand the uses and purposes of research; and
d. analyze a sample research paper that examine the nature, use, and purpose of the scholarly work.

Introduction
The first module reviews the basics of research. It explains the nature of research and its importance in
understanding questions about the social world. It explains the uses of research, the different examples of research, and
the purpose and steps followed in the research process.

Guide Questions

 What is research?
 What is social research?
 What are the uses of research?
 What are the different examples of research?
 What is the purpose of research?
 What are the steps in the research process?

 Nature of research and social research

 Uses of research
 Purpose of research
 Steps in the research process

Nature of Research and Social Research

Every time your teacher assigns you to report on or write a paper about a specific topic, you are being asked to
conduct research. What then is research?

To research is to find answers to questions. All professionals and practitioners in various fields of study conduct
research to determine answers to their inquiries. They gather data to answer questions and seek solutions to problems
about the social world. Ardales (2001) defines research as:

A systematic, objective, and comprehensive investigation of certain phenomenon which involves accurate
gathering and recording, and critical analyses and interpretation of all facts about the phenomenon for theoretical or
practical ends. (p. 3)

Research, therefore, is a systematic inquiry conducted to understand a phenomenon. It can be done through the
gathering, analysis, and interpretation of facts. In the social sciences, a specific type of research focuses on understanding
and learning about the changes and developments happening in the social world to produce new knowledge. It is called
social research. According to Neuman (2007, 2) social research is “a process in which a researcher combines a set of
principles, outlooks, and ideas with a collection of specific practices, techniques, and strategies to produce knowledge.”
The researcher conducts a systematic study of theories and facts to answer different questions about the social reality. To
answer a research question, he or she must apply and use the most appropriate technique or methodology to address the
problem. After conducting the study, the researcher must communicate and share his or her findings to others.

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Uses and Purposes of Research

The four important things that a researcher must consider in conducting a specific type of research are (1) the use
of the research, (2) the purpose of the study, (3) the time dimension of the study design, and (4) the data gathering method
or technique to be used.

A. Use of Research

Social research has two main uses. First, it is usually done to develop and produce new knowledge about the
social world. Second, it is conducted to address a specific issue and concern and provide an answer or solution to
a problem affecting a person, group, community, and the society in general.

1. Basic Research

Basic research focuses on the advancement and production of new knowledge. This form of
research is used by academicians and scientists, the primary consumers, of such research. According to
Neuman (2007), basic research has the following characteristics:

a. Its goal is to refute or support theories that explain how the social world works, what causes
things to occur, why society changes, and why social relations operate in that manner.
b. It lacks practical application.
c. It provides a foundation for the advancement of knowledge in remote extra space various fields of
study and policy areas.
d. It provides explanations and is a source of methods, theories, frameworks, and concepts to
understand the causes of how people act or think.
e. It is bounded by scientific method and requires the highest degree of academic scholarship.
f. The research problems and topics are varied and diverse.
g. The results are usually published in scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications
or presented in academic conferences.

2. Applied Research

Applied research focuses on addressing a specific concern or usually offers a solution to a social
problem. Unlike basic research that emphasizes the testing and development of theories to advance and
produce new knowledge, applied research is a small-scale study that introduces practical results that can
be used in the short term. This form of research is usually done by practitioners in the business sector,
government, health care sector, social service organizations, political organizations, and educational
institutions. The results of applied research are used in the decision-making process of the company or
organization. The primary consumers of applied research are counselors, social workers, and decision-
makers in government or companies like managers, agency administrators, and government officials.
Neuman (2007) gives the following characteristics of applied research:

a. Research conducted is part of the job.

b. Research problems are very specific according to the demands of the superiors.
c. Rigors and standards of scholarship depend on the issue of the research results.
d. The goal of research is to provide generalizations to areas of interests of the sponsors.
e. Success is determined when the sponsors used the research results in decision-making.
f. Applied research results are not publicly disseminated or published in journals and are usually
made available to only a few decision-makers, practitioners, or research sponsors.

Examples of Applied Research

1. Evaluation Research Study

An evaluation research study is done to assess the effectiveness of a program, policy, or campaign. This type
of applied research is commonly conducted by organizations such as businesses, schools, and government and
nongovernmental organizations to analyze the effectiveness of their programs. In this type of applied research,
decision-makers and researchers define the scope and objective of the study. Most evaluation research studies do not
undergo a peer review process. The data gathered during the research are seldom communicated to the public and
focus of study is narrowed down because the inputs and outputs used are also limited or selective (Neuman, 2007).

2. Action Research Study

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 Action research study is a type of applied research that “treats knowledge as a form of power and abolishes
the division between creating knowledge and using knowledge to engage in political action” (Neuman, 2007, 14). The
five major characteristics of an action research study are the following:

a. The people being studied are actively participating in the research process.
b. The study includes ordinary or popular knowledge.
c. The research focuses on power issues.
d. The study wants to raise consciousness of people about issues.
e. The research is connected to a plan or program of action.

3. Social Impact Assessment Research Study

A social impact assessment research study gives the possible effects or outcomes of a planned intervention
(e.g., projects) or probable changes that might happen in the future. This form of applied study can be an
environmental assessment report of a program or project. In the study, the possible changes that a project or an
intervention causes in the social environment are predicted. Also, it provides solutions as to how those changes
that might affect people can be prevented.

B. Purposes of Research

Researchers conduct studies for different reasons. Social research has different purposes, the most common
of which are exploration, description, and explanation.

1. Exploratory Research

Most social research studies are conducted to explore a topic. A research looks into a new area to identify
a specific question that can be addressed in future research. It is usually the first stage in a series of studies
conducted by a researcher. According to Earl Babbie (2013), exploratory research has the following purposes;

a. To satisfy the researcher’s curiosity and desire for better understanding

b. To examine the viability of undertaking a more extensive study
c. To develop the methods to be used in future studies

Through exploratory research, researchers become familiarized with the facts, setting and concerns. They
create a general picture of the conditions. Also, they produce new ideas and hypotheses.

2. Descriptive Research

Social research studies provide descriptions. They aim to describe situations and events. They answer the
questions what, where, when, and how. In descriptive research, the researcher observes and then provides a
description of what he or she has observed. The function of such research is to present a social setting or a
picture of a specific situation. Anthropological studies like ethnographies are descriptive in nature;
anthropologists observe in the field and document their observations as part of their research. Neuman (2007)
provides the following functions of descriptive research:

a. Provides a detailed and accurate picture of the situation

b. Clarifies a sequence of steps or stages
c. Documents a causal process or mechanism
d. Reports on the background or context of a situation

3. Explanatory Research

The third purpose of social research is to provide explanations. In explanatory research, the researcher
answers the question “why?” It identifies the sources of social behavior, beliefs, conditions, and events. It
documents causes, theories, and reasons for the existence of an event or situation. According to Neuman (2007),
explanatory research has the following goals:

a. To test the predictions or principles of a theory

b. To elaborate and expand the explanation of a theory
c. To extend or develop a theory to new issues or topics
d. To support or contradict an explanation
e. To connect issues or topics with a general principle or theory
f. To determine which of the explanations is considered the best answer

Steps in the Research Process

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 Social research follows a sequence of steps to find answers to questions about the social world. The research
process has seven basic steps.

1. Selecting a topic. The research process starts with the identification of a topic.
2. Identifying the research questions. In this step, the topic is narrowed down and focused to a specific research
question that can be answered. In narrowing down and developing a research question, a review of related
literature is necessary to broaden the researcher’s knowledge about the books and other scholarly literature
written about the topic. Developing a hypothesis and applying a theory are also important in this step.
3. Developing a research design. In this step, the researcher develops a detailed research plan to show how the
study will be done. The researcher decides on the methodology and other important things to be considered before
the collection of data.
4. Gathering or collecting data. The researcher implements the research design and gathers the data needed using
a particular research methodology.
5. Carrying out a data analysis. The researcher identifies and examines the patterns found in the data collected.
6. Interpreting data. In this step, the researcher explains the meaning of the patterns in the data.
7. Communicating research findings and results. The researcher communicates the findings by writing a report or
paper, publishing the research, or presenting the results in a conference.

Steps in the Research Process

Selecting
a topic

Communicating
Identifying
research
the research
findings
question

Interpreting Developing a
data Research
design

Gathering
Analyzing or collecting
data data

Source: W. Laurence Neuman, Basics of Social Research: Qualitative

And Quantitative Approaches (2007), 10.

The steps in the research process will be discussed in the other modules of the book. Your ultimate task then is to
conduct social research and produce an output for each step of the research process. At the end of the course, you should
be able to write a research paper about a particular topic or question about the social world.

Source: Arleigh Ross D. Dela Cruz, PhD, Applications and Practice of Research for Senior High School:
Inquiries, Investigations, and Immersion (2017)
http:/wesamuels.net/pdfs/social_emotional_learning.pdf

End of Module

Evaluation

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Name: _____________________________________________________________ Strand: ________________

Teacher: _______________________________________________________

Weekly Output:

- Compile it on a portfolio/folder and submit to your Course Facilitator during the receiving of the 2 nd
module on the following week.

Date of Submission:

Activity I: On the circles of the concept map below, write all the terms or concepts that you can relate to the
word “research”. 2 points each.

Research

Activity II: Answer the following questions. 2 points each.

1. What is research?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Cite the 4 important things that a researcher must consider in conducting a specific type of research.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

3. Enumerate the 2 main uses of Social research.


4. What are the 2 types of Social research?

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 

5. Cite the examples of Applied research.

6. What are the common purposes of Social research?

 ’

Activity III: Write the steps in the research process on the concept map below. 15 points.

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Activity IV: Read the attached research paper on “Social Emotional Learning: Developing Emotional and Social
Intelligence in Students with Incarcerated Parents” then analyze its content and format by answering the
questions in the table. 5 points each question.

Questions Answers

1. What is the title of the research document?

2. Who authored the work?

3. What is the topic of the research?

4. Classify the research based on its usage. Is it

basic or applied research? Explain your
answer.

5. Classify the research based on its purpose. Is

it exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory?
Explain your answer.

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