II.

The Research Process

BASIC STAGES IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Problem Idetification

Review of Related Literature

Objectives Formulation

Formulation of Hypotheses and Assumptions

Theoretical / Conceptual Framework Construction

Research Design Selection

Data Collection

Data Processing

Data Analysis and Interpretation

Report Writing

III. Research Problem, Objectives and other concepts

A. A research problem is exactly that a problem that someone would like to research.

CRITERIA OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM

1. It should express a relationship between two or more variables.;
2. It should be stated clearly ad unambiguously, usually in question form;
3. It should be feasible to carry out such operations or activities.

PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED

1. Those that deal with ethical or moral questions.
2. Questions that do not require a mental struggle.
3. Questions whose answers are already known or available, or can be answered by “yes” or “no”. This does not
need to be interpreted.
4. Metaphysical questions where it is impossible to collect publicly verifiable data and information in order to
answer the question.
5. Comparison problems are not research.

A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM

1. A research problem should be of great interest to the researcher.
2. A research problem should be relevant and useful to a specific group of people.
3. A research problem is good when it is novel in that it possesses the element of newness or freshness.
4. A good research problem should be well –defined or specified.
5. A good research problem should be measurable.
6. A good research problem is time-bound.
7. A research problem is good if it does not cause ethical or moral violations.
8. A research problem is good if the study of it will contribute to the refinement of certain important concepts,
creation or improvement of research instruments and analytical systems, and will permit generalizations.
9. A research problem is good if it is manageable.

B. Research Objectives – refers to the statements of purpose for which the investigation is to be conducted.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. General Objective - is a broad statement of purpose which uses abstract and non-measurable concepts.
2. Specific Objective – is a statement of purpose which uses well-defined and measurable concepts the
formulation of which should be based on and logically flow from the general objective.
 GOOD RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
1. they should be stated in simple language;
2. they are measurable concepts;
3. they are attainable;
4. they are result-oriented and
5. they are time-bound.

How are Research Objectives Stated

Declarative form : To find out the level of administrative competence of school administrators
in the Province of Iloilo.

Question form : ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

C. The Hypothesis – is a suggested answer to the problem.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HYPOTHESES
1. It is a conjectural statement of the relation between two or more variables.
2. They are always in declarative sentence form, and they relate, either generally or specifically,
variables to variables
3. They carry clear implications for testing the stated relations.

CATEGORIES OF HYPOTHESES
1. Null hypothesis – is a statement of denial of an existence, attribute, relationship, difference or an effect. As
such, it is expressed in the negative form of a statement. Ex. There is no significant difference between the
academic achievement of students coming from rural areas and that of students who live in urban areas.
2. Alternative hypothesis – it is a formal affirmative statement predicting a single research outcome, a tentative
explanation of the relationship between two or more variables. Ex. There is a significant difference between
the incomes of people in the urban and in the rural areas.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD HYPOTHESES

1. It should be reasonable in that they are offshoots or results of critical though tentative judgment or explanation
of a phenomenon.
2. It should be stated in such a way that it is testable and found to be probably true or probably false.
3. It should conform with known facts or theories.
4. It should be stated in the simplest possible terms.

D. Variable – a variable is a concept-noun which stands for variation within a class or objects such as sex, age.
- is a property that takes different values. It is a symbol to which numerals or values are
assigned.

TYPES OF VARIABLES
1. Independent variable – is the stimulus variable. They are the object of manipulation or control by the
researcher in the attempt to determine their relationship to observed phenomena. Ex. An investigator wants to
determine the effect of NCEE percentile rank (independent variable because it is the stimulus variable that is
manipulated ) on achievement. (dependent variable – because it changes when the independent variable
varies).
2. Dependent variable - This is the response variable which is observed and measured to determine the effect of
the independent variable.
3. Moderate variable – This is a secondary or special type of independent variable chosen by the researcher to
ascertain if it alters or modifies the relationship between the independent and dependent variable. Ex. If an
investigator is enthusiastic to determine the effects of the independent variable A on the dependent variable B,
but suspects that a third factor C, alters or modifies the relationship between A and B, then C is considered the
moderator variable.
4. Control variable – This is a variable controlled by the researcher in which the effects can be neutralized by
eliminating or removing.
5. Intervening variable – This is a variable which interferes the independent and dependent variables but its
effects can either strengthen or weaken the independent variable and dependent variable.