RMA MIDTERMS REVIEWER
● SPECIFIC - specifically stated problem
RESEARCH METHODS - VARIABLE
● Quantity or characteristic that has two or
more mutually exclusive values of properties
● TYPES OF VARIABLES:
○ Independent Variable
■ Stimulus variable which is
chosen to determine its
relationship to an observed
phenomenon
○ Dependent Variable
■ Response variable that is
observed and measured to
determine the effect of the
independent variable
○ Moderate Variable
■ Secondary or special type of
independent variable chosen
to ascertain if it alters or
modifies the relationships
between the independent
and dependent variables
○ Control Variable
■ Controlled by the researcher
■ Effects can be neutralized by
elimination or removing the
variable
○ Intervening Variable
■ Variable which interferes with
the independent and
dependent variables
■ Effects can either strengthen
or weaken the independent
and dependent variables
RESEARCH PROCESS COMPONENTS
1. Problem/objectives
2. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
3. Assumptions
4. Hypotheses
5. Review of Related Literature
6. Research Design
7. Data Collection
8. Data Processing and Statistical Treatment
9. Analysis and Interpretation
10. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
QUALITY OF RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM
1. No known solution to the problem
2. Solution can be answered by using statistical
methods and techniques
3. Existing probable solutions but are not yet
tested
4. Occurrence of phenomena require scientific
investigation for a precise solution
SMART
● MEASURABLE - easy to measure by research
instruments
● ACHIEVABLE - achievable data using correct
statistical instruments
● REALISTIC - real results are not manipulated
● TIME-BOUND - required time frame
GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM CRITERIA:
● Interesting - attracts attention to study the
problem further
● Relevant to the needs of the people -
researchers work not for themselves but for
the people
● Innovative - can be reinstatement and
restructuring of an old problem to make it
new
● Cost-effective - 4Ms - man, money, materials,
and machinery; economical and effective;
augment social, economical and health
conditions
● Measurable and time-bound - measurable by
research instruments; can be completed
within a time frame
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
● Statement of purpose for which the
investigation is to be conducted
● Simple language
● Problem - Interrogative
● Objective - Declarative
THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
● Provide clear explanations regarding the
relationships of variables
● Theoretical Framework
○ Legal basis to describe properly the
process of the study
○ Shapes the justification of the
objectives to provide legal basis for
defining its parameters
● Conceptual Framework
○ Presents specific and well-defined
concepts which are called constructs
○ Similar to theoretical framework -
constructs used are derived from its
abstract concepts
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
● Presented comprehensively to convince of
the importance of the study
● Can either be presented in inductive or
deductive perspective
● Inductive
○ From particular to general
 ○ From target beneficiaries to the
researcher himself, to the people in
the community, province, region, and
nation
● Deductive
○ General to particular
○ Starts first from national level down to
the researcher to the target
beneficiaries
● Should prove the important contributions to:
○ Solving the problem and need
○ Bridging a knowledge gap
○ Improving social, economic and
health conditions
○ Enriching research instruments and
method
○ Supporting government thrusts
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
● Includes:
○ Coverage of study area
○ Subjects
○ Research instruments
○ Research issues/concerns
○ Duration of the study
○ Constraints (with direct bearing on the
result)
DEFINITION OF TERMS
● Last section of Chapter 1
● If more than 15 terms - glossary
● Key terms are clearly defined
● 2 WAYS TO DEFINE KEY TERMS;
○ Conceptual Definition
■ Based on concepts or
hypothetical ones (usually
from dictionary)
○ Operational Definition
■ Based on observable
characteristics and how it is
used in the study
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
● Determine the similarities and differences of
findings between the past and present
studies
● Gain insight into the aspects of the problem
● Provides background on aspects which are
not yet studied
● Justification of the present study
● 3 PARTS OF LITERATURE:
○ Related Readings
■ Laws and department
directives (circulars, orders,
memoranda, etc.)
■ Serve as legal bases for the
paradigm of the study
■ Presents study as having direct
or indirect implication to
government thrusts
○ Related Literature
■ Written works
■ Exhibiting creative imagination
and artistic skill
■ Written in a particular period,
language, and subject
■ From chronological order (past
to present or vice versa)
○ Related Studies
■ Published or unpublished
studies
■ Has direct bearing to the study
■ Segregated into foreign and
local studies
RESEARCH DESIGN
FOUR KINDS OF RESEARCH DESIGN:
1. HISTORICAL DESIGN
● History - branch of knowledge concerned
with past events
● A systematic and critical inquiry of the whole
truth of past events
● Based upon the reports of observations which
cannot be repeated
● USES OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH
○ Past solutions to the contemporary
problems and needs
○ Chronicling events which confers
upon individual consciousness of unity
● MAJOR STEPS IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH:
○ Collection of data with consideration
of documents and remains of relics of
sources, etc.
○ Criticism of the data collected
(internal & external)
○ Presentation of facts (organization,
composition, exposition, and
interpretation)
● SOURCES OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH:
○ Primary Sources
■ Documents - school directives
(orders, circulars, laws,
charters, court decisions);
official records (proceedings,
reports, newspapers); personal
materials (autobiographies,
contracts, wills)
■ Remains - physical plant,
equipment, diplomas and
certificates, textbooks
○ Secondary Sources
■ Bibliographies, encyclopedias
2. DESCRIPTIVE DESIGN 3. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
● Focus is present condition ● Problem-solving approach that the study is
● Purpose: find new truth described in the future on “what will be”
● Valuable in providing facts on which scientific when certain variables are carefully
judgements may be based controlled or manipulated
● Play a large part in the development of ● TYPES OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS:
instruments in the measurement of many ○ Single-group design
things (for quantitative research instruments) ○ Two-group design
● TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: ○ Two-pair group design
○ Descriptive Survey ○ Parallel-group design
■ Appropriate when the object ○ Pretest-group design
of any class vary among ○ Counter balanced or Latin Square
themselves and one is design
interested in knowing the ○ Complete randomized design
extent to which different ○ Randomized complete block design
conditions obtain among ○ Correlational design
these objects
4. SAMPLING DESIGN
■ Necessary to determine the
● Necessary if the population is too large where
psychological and social
the 4 M’s resources of the investigator are
aspects of research
limited
■ May be used in solving
● Sampling - method of getting a
practical problems
representative portion of the population
○ Descriptive-normative Survey
● Population - aggregate or total of objects,
■ Used because surveys are
persons, families, species, etc.
frequently made to ascertain
● Statistic - value calculated from a sample
the normal or typical condition
distribution
■ To compare test results with a
● Parameter - corresponding value from a
state or national norm
population distribution
○ Descriptive Status
● Sampling Statistics - body of statistical
■ Sheets to answer questions to
methods concerned with the making of
real facts relating to existing
statements about the population parameters
conditions
for sample statistics
■ Determines the prevailing
● ADVANTAGES OF SAMPLING
conditions in a case
○ Saves time, money and effort
○ Descriptive-analysis
○ More effective
■ Determines or describes the
○ Faster & cheaper
nature of an object separating
○ More accurate
it into parts
○ Comprehensive information
■ To discover the nature of
● LIMITATION OF SAMPLING
things
○ Sample data involve more care in
○ Descriptive-classification
preparing detailed sub-classifications
■ Employed in natural sciences
because of a small number of
○ Descriptive-evaluative
subjects
■ Appraise carefully the
○ If incorrect sampling plan, results may
worthiness of the current study
be misleading
○ Descriptive-comparative
○ Characteristics to be observed may
■ Considers two entities
occur rarely in a population
■ Establishes a formal procedure
● DETERMINATION OF SAMPLE SIZE
for obtaining criterion data on
○ Sloven's Formula
the basis of which can be
compared and concluded
which is better
○ Correlational Survey
■ Designed to determine the ○ n: Sample size needed
relationship of two variables ○ N: Population size
○ e: Acceptable margin of error

DATA COLLECTION METHODS
● Data Collection
○ Methodical process of gathering and
analyzing specific information to offer
solutions to relevant questions and
evaluate results
● TWO CATEGORIES:
○ Primary Data Collection Methods
■ Gathering of raw data
■ Process of collecting original
data
○ Secondary Data Collection Methods
■ Second-hand data collected
by an individual who is not the
original user
■ Already existing data:
published books, journals, etc.
● PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION METHODS:
○ Quantitative Methods
■ Can be counted
■ Numbers, mathematical
calculations
■ Used to make long-term
forecasts
○ Qualitative Methods
■ Based on non-quantifiable
elements (feeling/emotion)
■ Useful in situations when
historical data is not available
■ Based on experience,
judgment, intuition,
conjecture, etc.
● QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS:
○ Descriptive Research
■ Explains the current status of a
variable using observational
data collection
■ Begins without a hypothesis
○ Correlational Research
■ Shows relationships between
different occurrences
■ Positive Correlation -
simultaneous
increase/decrease of both
variables
■ Negative Correlation -
increase of one variable =
decrease of another
○ Experimental Research
■ Cause-effect relationship
between variables
■ Assignment of control or
treatment groups
○ Quasi-experimental Research
■ “causal -comparative”
■ Don’t control some factors
■ Follows scientific method to
establish cause-effect
relationship
● QUALITATIVE METHODS:
○ Structured Interviews
■ Verbally administered
questionnaire
■ Surface-level (lacks depth)
■ Short-period duration
○ Semi-structured Interviews
■ Several key questions
■ Allows leeway to explore the
subject matter
○ Unstructured Interviews
■ In-depth interview
■ Can collect wide range of
information
■ Combine structure with
flexibility
○ Delphi Technique
■ Market experts are provided
with the estimates and
assumptions of forecasts made
by other experts
○ Focus Groups
■ Small group of people (8-10)
■ Discuss the common areas of
the problem
○ Questionnaire
● QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION METHODS:
○ Ethnographic
■ Comes from anthropology
■ Study of human societies and
cultures
○ Grounded Theory
■ Arose when sociological
researchers
 ○ Phenomenological
■ Describes how people
experience certain events or
unique encounter
■ Measures reactions to
occurrences that are outside
the norm

DATA PROCESSING AND TABULATION

● Data Processing - converting information
either manually or by machine into
quantitative or qualitative forms
● 3 BASIC STEPS:
○ Categorization of Data
■ Grouping of subjects under
study according to the
objectives and purposes of the
study
○ Coding of Data
■ Information transformed into
coded items to facilitate
tabulation of data
○ Tabulation of Data
■ Tallying and counting of raw
data
■ Manual tabulation
■ Data Matrix

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

● Data Analysis - examination of data or facts
to answer research questions which involve
statistical techniques and procedures
● Basis: problems/objectives, hypotheses,
measuring instruments, and statistical tools