Republic of the Philippines

CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

M. J. Cuenco Avenue Cor. R. Palma Street, Cebu
City, Philippines Website: http://www.ctu.edu.ph

Name of Student: JANETH B. COSTAÑOS Date: October 28, 2023

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
Exercise 5
The different types of research

In starting a research endeavor, it is important to know what type of research one

intends to be engaged in. Different literatures may have different ways of classifying study
types. Among these include the cohort (the best observational study) and the experimental
(best study to show causal evidence) studies. Major considerations in the selection of a
proposed study include uniqueness or importance, feasibility, availability of expertise, facility
and equipment, time, and financial capability. Limitations that are brought about by the
aforementioned considerations would certainly affect the conduct of the study. During the
conceptualization phase, It must be well thought of because crafting a research proposal that
will just be rendered useless during the conduct phase is meaningless and a waste of time. It
best that the researchers examine the study types of the previous conducted in relation to the
proposed study, and review the methods that are being employed in each study to assess
feasibility. It is best that the researcher search for a study that is similar to one’s proposed
study for baseline comparison. Moreover, it is highly recommended that the researchers must
have an access to a local expert who can help or advise them in the proposed research study.
Reading conducted studies and methods is still not a substitute for an expert adviser as
researchers can be well guided and given useful insights on the conduct of the study, including
the connections that maybe referred by the contacted expert or adviser.

Objectives:
1. To know the common research study types;
2. To give common examples of the different research study types; and
3. To identify the type of research study one intends to pursue.
Task(s) to Accomplish (Questions to answer):
1. What is the difference between the following studies:
a. Basic vs. Applied
Answer:
Basic Research
 Driven by curiosity
 More theoretical in nature and does not have specific applications and end goals in
mind
 Explanatory and analytical
 The scope of the study is quite wide and universal
 It is a theoretical study
 Subjective
 Also called fundamental, or pure research

Applied Research
 Driven by the urge to solve a problem
 Has a very clear goal and its findings have direct implications for society as a whole
 Practical-oriented
 Has a narrow and specific scope
 It is a practical study
 Action-oriented and synthetic
 Objective method

b. Observational vs. Non-observational

Observational Research
 This research is done by observing the specific person in their natural environment in
order for the researchers to learn their behavior and figure out how each person react
in different situations and identify what are the factors in the environment that affects
their actions.
 It is a broad term for various non-experimental studies in which behavior is carefully
watched and recorded.
 The goal of this research is to describe a variable or a set of variables. More broadly,
the goal is to capture specific individual, group, or setting characteristics.
 Since it is non-experimental and uncontrolled, we cannot draw causal research
conclusions from it. The observational data collected in research studies is frequently
qualitative observation, but it can also be quantitative or both (mixed methods).

On the contrary, non- observational Research or Non-participant research

involves observing participants without actively participating or interacting with the
participants. It is used to level out researcher biases in other methods and to reveal
differences between what people say and what they actually do.
 c. Retrospective vs. Prospective
 In prospective studies, individuals are followed over time and data about them is
collected as their characteristics or circumstances change.
 In retrospective studies, individuals are sampled and information is collected about
their past. This might be through interviews in which participants are asked to recall
important events, or by identifying relevant administrative data to fill in information on
past events and circumstances. In the case of historical cohort studies, people are
linked to existing historical information.

d. Qualitative vs. Quantitative

Qualitative research is more subjective in their results and interpretations.
Qualitative researchers seek to learn from details of the testimonies of those they are studying.
Over the course of a study, conclusions are drawn by compiling, comparing and evaluating the
participants’ feedback and input. Qualitative research is often focused on answering the “why”
behind a phenomenon, correlation or behavior. Qualitative research methods include gathering
and interpreting non-numerical data.
The following are some sources of qualitative data:
• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Documents
• Personal accounts or papers
• Cultural records
• Observation

While the quantitative research, data are analyzed numerically to develop a

statistical picture of a trend or connection. It requires different data collection methods
These methods include compiling numerical data to test causal relationships among
variables. Some forms of data collection for this type of study include:

 Experiments
 Questionnaires
 Surveys
 Database reports

e. Descriptive, Analytical (Correlational) vs. experimental(Intervention)
 Descriptive research is research designed to provide a snapshot of the current state of
affairs while analytical (correlational) research is a research designed to discover
relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present
knowledge. On the other hand, experimental research is research in which initial
equivalence among research participants in more than one group is created, followed
 by a manipulation of a given experience for these groups and a measurement of the
influence of the manipulation.

f. Prevalence vs. Incidence

Prevalence = the number of cases of a disease in a specific population at a particular
timepoint or over a specified period of time. When we talk about prevalence, we can either
refer to ‘point prevalence’ or ‘period prevalence’. Point prevalence is the proportion of people
with a particular disease at a particular timepoint. Period prevalence is the proportion of
people with a particular disease during a given time period.
Prevalence is a useful measure of the burden of disease. Knowing about the prevalence
of a specific disease can help us to understand the demands on health services to manage this
disease.

While Incidence = the rate of new cases of a disease occurring in a specific population over
a particular period of time.
Two types of incidence are commonly used: ‘incidence proportion’ and ‘incidence rate’.
Incidence proportion, risk or cumulative incidence refers to the number of new cases in your
population during a specified time period. Incidence rate incorporates time directly into the
denominator

g. Cohort vs case-control
Cohort study is concerned with frequency of disease in exposed and non-exposed individuals,
the case-control study is concerned with the frequency and amount of exposure in subjects with a
specific disease (cases) and people without the disease (controls).

h. Case study vs. Case series

A case study focuses on a single individual, event, or entity. It provides an in-
depth analysis of a particular case. It is often used to gain a deep understanding of a
unique or unusual case, exploring its complexities in detail. Data collection in a case
study is highly detailed and specific to the individual case. It often involves various
methods like interviews, observations, and document analysis. Findings from a case
study are often not easily generalizable to a broader population because of the unique
nature of the case. Analysis in a case study is usually qualitative and seeks to provide a
rich narrative and understanding of the case. It is often published as a standalone
report or article, providing an in-depth exploration of a single case.

Conversely, a case series involves the collection and analysis of information from
multiple cases that share similar characteristics or attributes. It aims to describe and
analyze a group of cases with common characteristics to identify patterns or trends.
Data collection is broader, focusing on a set of cases with similar attributes. It may
involve standardized measures or criteria. It provides information about a specific
group of cases, it may offer insights that can be applied to a larger population with
similar characteristics. Analysis can be both qualitative and quantitative, with a focus on
summarizing characteristics and patterns within the group. It is typically published as a
series of cases, where the common characteristics and trends among the cases are
highlighted.

i. Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis is a quantitative, formal, epidemiological study design used
to systematically assess the results of previous research to derive conclusions
about that body of research. Meta analyses are often used to take advantage of
the large amount of research already available on a topic. Meta-analysis is a
powerful tool for increasing the amount of participant data available to answer
a research question, increasing the reliability of the results, and providing
summative answers to much-debated research questions.

2. Give examples for each study type. Find a study in the

internet (use APA format).

a. Basic
Example:
Calo et al. (2021). Students’ Struggles and their Coping Mechanisms
in the New Normal.
https://www.scribd.com/document/523608434/Completed-Basic-
Research-Calofloresbustamante1-1

b. Applied

Example:
Lanigan, A.R.. (2015). A Systematic Review of Bullying Prevention Programs in Schools.
https://www.scribd.com/document/523608434/Completed-Basic-Research-
Calofloresbustamante1-1Catherine University repository website:
https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/479By

c. Observational
Example:
Bui et al. (2021, February 2). Workplace Stress and Productivity: A Cross-Sectional
Study. Retrieved from https://journals.ku.edu/kjm/article/view/13424
d. Non-observational
Example:
Aguti, S. (2015). School inspection and its influence in the quality development of
inclusive education practices in Uganda. Retrieved from
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/30827618.pdf

e. Retrospective
Example:
Onen et. al.(2023, February 23). Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Their Control Strategies: An
Overview Focused on Green Synthesized Plant-Based Metallic Nanoparticles. Retrieved from
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Onen+H&cauthor_id=36975906

f. Prospective
Example:
Canova, C., & Cantarutti, A. (2020, August 17). Population-Based Birth Cohort Studies in
Epidemiology. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432312/

g. Qualitative
Example:
Yi, Y., Cornelius, L.F. (2004). Students’ Perceptions towards the Quality of Online Education: A
Qualitative Approach. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED485012.pdf.

h. Quantitative
Example:

Riddel, C.M. (2018). The Dignity For All Students Act: A Quantitative Study Of One Upstate
New York Public School Implementation. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED591309.pdf

i. Descriptive

Example:

Aydin, S. (2017). A Descriptive Study on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners’

Perceptions of Facebook. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED575005.pdf

j. Analytical (Correlational)

Example:

Sahoo et al., (2018) An Analytical Study on the Publication Pattern and Impact of Top
Research Papers: A Case Study of Information Processing and Management.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Top-ten-countries-of-T25-HA_tbl5_329610438
 k. Experimental(Intervention)

Example:

Hommelhoff et al., (2021). Conducting Experiments and Intervention Studies to

Understand Age and Work. Age and work: Advances in theory, methods, and practice
(Eds. H. Zacher & C. W. Rudolph). SIOP Organizational Frontiers Series.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352641597_Conducting_Experiments_and_
Intervention_Studies_to_Understand_Age_and_Work

l. Prevalence

Example:

Gomes et al. (2020). A population-based study of the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in

Espírito Santo, Brazil: methodology and results of the first stage.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.13.20130559v1

m. Incidence

Example:

LeBlanc et al. (2009). Incidence and Risk Factors of Insomnia in a Population-Based

Sample.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26784597_Incidence_and_risk_factors_in_a
_population-based_sample

n. Cohort
Example:
Khalid et al. ( 2016). Nationwide Study on the Risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in
Patients With Psoriasis.
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/ATVBAHA.116.307449

o. case-control
Example:

Lopez et al. (2021). A Case–control Study of Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection
among Healthcare Workers in Colombia. BMC Infectious Diseases volume 21,
Article number: 878 (2021).
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-021-06581-y
 p. Case study

Example:

Castro et al. (2016). A Case Study on How Language Learning Strategies are Fostered in
an EFL Chilean Classroom Context.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288828066_A_Case_Study_on_How_Langu
age_Learning_Strategies_are_Fostered_in_an_EFL_Chilean_Classroom_Context

q. Case series
Example:
Azevedo et al. (2013). A Case Series of Gastrointestinal Tuberculosis in Renal Transplant
Patients. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crin/2013/213273/

r. Meta-analysis
Example:
Matysiak, A., & Vignoli, D. (2006). Fertility and women’s employment: a meta-
analysis. https://www.demogr.mpg.de/papers/working/wp-2006-048.pdf

3. State the title of the proposed study. Give the specific research study
type and explain answer.

Proposed Study: Technology in the Classroom: Teachers and Technology—A

Technological Divide.

Research study type: Non-observational research or Covert Non-participant Research.

I prefer to use Non-observational research or Covert Non-participant Research because I think

this is the best method to use in observing research subjects without them knowing that they
are being observed at all. Like I, as a researcher pretends to be customer or passer-by or any
way possible. This method minimizes the risk of people being affected by the presence of a
researcher. Setting aside potential ethical concerns, it is also often the method of choice if
people are unwilling to participate in your research.