SOUTHERN DE ORO PHILIPPINES COLLEGE

JULIO PACANA ST., LICUAN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, 9000

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

OBELLO, APRIL JANE P. Methods of Research

MAED 1 September 18, 2021

Activity no. 4

1. Discuss the Steps or process in a research undertaking.

STEPS IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Since the educational research is the application of scientific method to the study of
educational problems. The steps in educational research, therefore, are more or less
identical to those of scientific method. Following are the steps generally found in
educational research.

1. The research problem. Educational research starts with the selection of a problem.
Following are the fields in which one may look for problems for research:

a. The classroom, school, home, community and other agencies are the obvious
sources.

b. Social developments and technological changes are constantly bringing forth new
opportunities for research.

c. Records of previous research should also be consulted. This includes

encyclopedia of educational research, dissertations and similar publications.

d. Classroom discussions, seminars and exchange of ideas with the faculty members
and fellow scholars and students will suggest many stimulating problems to be
solved.

e. Consultation with an expert, researcher supervisor, researcher guide or a senior

scholar will also be helpful.

2.Formulation of hypothesis. Educational research should make the use of carefully

formulated hypothesis. This may be formally stated or implied. Hypothesis.
Hypothesis is the pre-assumptive statement of a proposition or a reasonable guess
based upon the available evidences, which the researcher seeks to prove through his
study.

3. Methods to be used. The selection of research method to be used is of utmost

importance in the research process. It refers to the general strategy followed in
collecting and analyzing the data necessary for solving the problem. The research
methods are generally classified in 3 categories: (1) Historical, (2) Descriptive, and (3)
experimental. The methods used in the study are decided by the nature of the
 problem and the type of data required for answering the
questions relating to the problem.
4. Data collection. Whereas the research method describes the overall approach to
the problem, this step is concerned with the procedures and techniques to be adopted
for data collection. It refers to the nature of the sample to be chosen for study, and
selection and development of data gathering devices such as tests, questionnaires,
rating scales, interviews, observations,
checklists and the like.

5. Analysis and interpretation of data. Good research is characterized by the care

taken in the analysis and interpretation of data. It includes the selection of appropriate
quantitative and quantitative techniques to be used for processing the data collected
for the study.

6. Reporting the results. This is the last and important step of the research process. It
is characterized by carefully formulated inferences, conclusions or generalizations.
The researcher must be able report his procedures, findings and conclusions with
utmost objectivity to others who may be interested in his study and its results.

2. A possible topic or problem I am thinking of researching is:

I am interested to conduct a Case Study regarding the Users of Open Educational

Platforms or OEP in Rural and remote areas.

3. The type of Research that seem most appropriate to this topic or problem
written in number 2.
Action Research. Since it may applied to programs or educational techniques that
are not necessarily experiencing any problems, but I simply want to learn mor about
and improve.

4. What question might a critical researcher raise with regard to your study?
A critical researcher might raise the following questions about my study: a. In
what way(s) does your research project contributes to knowledge? b. Did you
bridge any gap from your study?
c. What are the strongest point in your project?

5. How do you differentiate experimental from Historical Research methods? The

experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in
one variable cause changes in another variable. This method relies on controlled
methods, random assignment and the manipulation of variables to test a hypothesis.
On the other hand, Historical method is the collection of techniques and guidelines
that historians use to research and write histories of the past.

6. How do you characterize correlational and causal-comparative research

methods?

Correlational research is a type of non-experimental research method in which a

researcher measures two variables, understands and assesses the statistical
relationship between them with no influence from any extraneous variable. Our
minds can do some brilliant things. For example, it can memorize the jingle of a pizza
truck. The louder the jingle, the closer the pizza truck is to us. Who taught us that?
Nobody! We relied on our understanding and came to a conclusion. We don’t stop
there, do we? If there are multiple pizza trucks in the area and each one has a
different jingle, we would memorize it all and relate the jingle to its pizza truck.
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.
Typically, histories focuses on particular individuals, social issues and links between the old
and the new. Some historical research is aimed at reinterpreting prior historical works by
revising existing understandings and replacing them with new, often politically charged ones.
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.
Researches cannot accept historical data at face value, since many diaries memoirs,
reposts and testimonies are written to enhance the writer’s position, stature, or importance.
Because of this possibility, historical data has to be examined for its authenticity and
truthfulness. Such examination is done through criticism; by asking and researching to help
determine truthfulness, bias, omissions and consistency in data.

7. Briefly describe a survey method and give an example.

A survey is a research method used for collecting data from a predefined group of
respondents to gain information and insights into various topics of interest. They can have
multiple purposes, and researchers can conduct it in many ways depending on the
methodology chosen and the study’s goal. In the year 2020, research is of extreme
importance, and hence it’s essential for us to understand the benefits of social research for a
target population using the right survey tool.
The data is usually obtained through the use of standardized procedures to ensure that
each respondent can answer the questions at a level playing field to avoid biased opinions
that could influence the outcome of the research or study. The process involves asking
people for information through a questionnaire, which can be either online or offline.
However, with the arrival of new technologies, it is common to distribute them using digital
media such as social networks, email, QR codes, or URLs.
For example, suppose a researcher intends to learn about the eating habits of teenagers. In
that case, he/she will follow a sample of teenagers over a considerable period to ensure that
the collected information is reliable. Often, cross-sectional survey research follows a
longitudinal study.

References:
https://www.questionpro.com/blog/correlational-research/amp/

http://schools.yrdsb.ca/markville.ss/history/honours/

researchmethods.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.questionpro.com/blog/surveys