LESSON 2

According to Khan Academy the scientific method is used in all sciences—including

chemistry, physics, geology, and psychology. The scientists in these fields ask different
questions and perform different tests. However, they use the same core approach to
find answers that are logical and supported by evidence.

Learning Course Outcome

At the end of this module the students will be able to:

1. Enumerate the steps in Scientific Method;

2. Define what is Research Problem; and
3. Explain and Understand the Guidelines in the Selection of a Research Problem
or Topic.

The Scientific Method of Research

One of the characteristics of good research is that, it is systematic. It follows the

scientific method of research which includes the following sequential steps: (Treece and
Treece,Jr.,p.47)

1. Determining (recognizing) the problem;

2. Forming a hypothesis;

3. Doing the library search;

4. Designing the study;

5. Developing the instruments for collecting data;

6. Collecting the data;

7. Analyzing the data;

8. Determining implications and conclusion from the findings; and

9. Making recommendations for further research.

It should be borne in mind that the research goes through all the nine steps when the
researcher does and writes his research report. If the standard format of thesis writing is
followed, the first two steps will be included in Chapter 1, “The Problem and Its Setting”,
the third step will be in Chapter 2, “Related Literature and Studies”, the fourth, fifth, and
sixth steps will be discussed in Chapter 3,” Methods of Research and Procedures”, the
seventh step will be presented in Chapter 4, “Analysis, Presentation, and Interpretation
of Data”, and the last two steps will be placed in Chapter 5, Summary, Conclusions, and
Recommendations”.

Principles of the Scientific Research Method

1. Rigid control

2. Objectivity,

3. Systematic organization, and

4. Rigorous standards.

Rigid control refers to the manipulation of the research variables. Variables are those
things that vary in quantity and quality which are to be manipulated by the researcher.
Examples of variables are age, sex, population, adequacy, efficiency, etc. There are
variables which should be controlled rigidly, that is kept constant or equal in a certain
research work.

Objectivity means that there should be no bias or partiality in treating the results of the
inquiry. The results should not be tampered with, whatever they may be.

Systematic organization refers to proper and accurate tabulation of data as well as

presenting them in statistical tables ready for interpretation.

The fourth principle refers to the setting up of standards or principles which serves as
bases for evaluating the findings of a study. Such standard should not be changed to
suit the expectations of the researcher. The principle also refers to the accurate
statistical computation and interpretation of quantified data.

The Research Problem

Definition

A problem is (1) any significant, perplexing and challenging situation, real or artificial,
the solution of which requires reflective hinking; (2) a perplexing situation after it has
been translated into a question or series of questions that help determine the direction
of subsequently inquiry. The foregoing definitions are according to Dewy.
Elements of a Research Problem

A research problem is a statement that implies that an investigation, inquiry or study is

to be conducted, or that the problem is ready for investigation, inquiry or study. There
are certain elements that a problem must possess before it becomes a research
problem ready for investigation. These elements are:

1. Aim or purpose of the problem for investigation. This answers the question
“Why?” Why is there an investigation, inquiry or study?

2. The subject matter or topic to be investigated. This answers the question “What?”
What is to be investigated or studied?

3. The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. This answers the
question “Where?” Where is the study to be conducted?

4. The period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered. This
answers the question “When?” When is the study to be carried out?

5. Population or universe from whom the data are to be collected. This answers the
question “Who?” or “From Whom?” Who are the respondents? From whom are the data
to be gathered?

Guidelines in the Selection of a Research Problem or Topic

There are certain guidelines or criteria in the selection of a research problem to make it
more interesting and the research work more enjoyable to the researcher as well as to
ensure the completion of the study. Among the guidelines or criteria are the following
which may also be considered as characteristics of research problems:

1. The research problem or topic must be chosen by the researcher himself. This is
to avoid blaming others or offering excuses for any obstacle encountered.

2. It must be within the interest of the researcher. This is to make sure that the
researcher will focus his full attention on the research work.

3. It must be within the specialization of the research. This will in some way make
the work easier for him because he is working on familiar grounds. Besides, this may
improve his specialization, skill, and competence in his profession.

4. It must be within the competence of the researcher to tackle. The researcher

must know the method of research and other research procedures applicable to his
problem and he must know how to apply them. He must have a workable understanding
of his study.

5. It must be within the ability of the researcher to finance; otherwise he must be

able to find funding for his research. Research involves not a small amount of expense
and the researcher must be able to foot the bills until his study is completed. There must
be a budget which he must be able to shoulder.

6. It is researchable and manageable, that is,

a. Data are available and accessible. The researcher must be sure that the
participants in his investigation possess the needed data and that they are within is
reach. So, one must not choose a problem in which the locations of the data are too far
away, say foreign lands.

b. The data must meet the standards of accuracy, objectivity, and

verifiability. This is important. The data gathered must be accurate, objective and not
biased, and can be verified if there arises a need, otherwise, the results of the study will
not be valid and the generalization formulated will be faulty.

c. Answers to the specific questions (sub problems) can be found. The data
to be collected must supply the necessary answers to the specific questions. Suppose
the question is “How qualified are the teachers handling science?” The data to be
gathered are the educational attainments and the fields of specialization of the teacher
to be checked against the regulations of the school system. This way, the answer to the
question can be found.

d. The hypotheses formulated are testable, that is, they can be accepted or
rejected. Hypotheses are not proved, they are only determined as true or not. If the
findings conform to the hypotheses, the latter are accepted as true and valid.

e. Equipment and instruments for research are available and can give valid
reliable results.

7. It can be completed within a reasonable period of time unless it is a longitudinal

research which takes a long time for its completion. Although research is unhurried,
there must be a timetable for its completion. For graduate students engaged in social
and educational research, a research project for a master’s thesis must be completed
within three years from the time academic work has been completed and for a doctoral
dissertation, five years. This is according to regulation.

8. It is significant, important, and relevant to the present time and situation, timely,
and of current interest. This means that the research project must be able to make a
substantial impact upon situations and people it is intended for or addressed to. It must
be able to arouse the interest of the people concerned. If the study is about drug abuse,
it must be able to draw attention of those engaged in the habit and those assigned to
stop it.

9. The results are practical and implementable. If the investigation is about drug
addiction, are the recommendations for its eradication applicable with the expected
effectiveness.

10. It requires original, critical, and reflective thinking to solve it. To be able to apply
these, the research project must be novel, new or original. The study is considered
novel and new if it has not yet been studied before and the data are gathered from new
and original sources. However, the study may be a replication, that is, the study has
already been conducted but in another place, not in the place where it is intended to be
studied again. The purpose of the study replications is to determine if the conditions in
one place are also true in other places so that generalizations of wider application can
be formulated.

11. It can be delimited to suit the resources of the researcher but big or large enough
to be able to give significant, valid, and reliable results and generalizations. The area
and population may be reduced but only to such an extent that the generalizations can
be considered true and useful.

12. It must contribute to the national development goals for the improvement of the
quality of human life. This is the ultimate aim of research, to improve the quality of
human life. Research must improve or show how to improve unsatisfactory conditions.

13. It must contribute to the fund of human knowledge. All the facts and knowledge
that we have is mostly the product of research, any study to be conducted must add a
new bit of knowledge to what we already have.

14. It must show or pave the way for the solution of the problem or problems
intended to be solved. Usually, after an inquiry has been conducted, recommendations
are made for the solution of problems discovered which, if implemented, can solve the
problems.

15. It must not undermine the moral and spiritual values of the people. It must not
advocate the promotion of antisocial values such as drug addiction, cruelty, hatred, and
divisiveness, multiple sex mating, etc. As much as possible it must advocate the
promotion of divine values and those admirable human values such as love, peace,
goodwill, etc.

16. It must not advocate any change in the present order of things by means of
violence but by peaceful means. It must not advocate subversion, revolution, or the like
wrest control of the government or change the form of government. If there is a needed
change, it must be made by any means but the means must be peaceful and legitimate.

17. There must be a return of some kind to the researcher, either one or all of the
following, if the research report is completed:

a. Monetary, either increases in salary or publication of the results in which

there some kind of royalty.

b. Advancement of position, promotion. Generally, after finishing a graduate

course, there is a promotion especially in the educational system. It is easier to get a
promotion with a graduate than without one.

c. Improved specialization, competence, and skill in professional work

especially if the research subject is related to the profession. Suppose a teacher makes
a study of the school management practices of school principals in certain. So, when
this teacher gets promoted to the principalship he already knows how to manage his
own school because of what he has learned from his study about the practices of the
principals he has studied.

d Enhanced prestige and reputation. Usually it is a big honor, especially

among colleagues, on the part of one who completes a research project and is able to
write a thesis intellectual activity, effort-making capacity, and big expenses involved in
the work, and of course, because of a higher degree earned.

e. Satisfaction of intellectual curiosity and interest, and being able to discover

truth. It is always our experience that after being able to solve a difficult intellectual
problem we are engulfed with so much elation and satisfaction that we forget all the
sacrifices and difficulties that we have gone through. This is also the feeling of those
who are able to finish their research projects and reports, the latter in the form of theses
or dissertation, especially after passing a very rigid oral defense.

18. There must be a consideration of the hazards involved, physical, social, or legal.
This author knows of a man who went to the mountain to study the tribe, ignoring the
physical dangers from wild animals and from the tribesmen themselves. While this act is
admirable, the researcher must also consider his personal safety.

Another hazard is social. This occurs when an inquiry happens to encroach upon
socially approved and established social values, norms of conduct, or ethical standards.
The inquiry may draw the ire of the populace and the researcher may receive some kind
of rebuke, censure, criticism, or derision.
REFERENCES:

Aquino, Guadencio V., Essentials of Research and Thesis Writing. Quezon City:
Alemars-Phoenix Publishing House, Inc., 1974

Babble, Earl. The Practice of Social Research. Fourth Edition. Belmont, California:
Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. 1986

Berelson, Bernard. Content Analysis in Communication Research. Glencoe, Illinois:

Free Press, 1952

Good, Carter V. Introduction to Educational Research. New York: Meredith Publishing

Company, Inc.,1963.

Good, Carter V. and Douglas E. Scates. Methods of Research: Educational,

Psychological, Sociological. Manila: Appleton-Century-Croft, Inc., 1972. (Reprinted by
National Book Store).

Treece, Eleonor Walters and James William Treece, Jr. The Elements of Research in
Nursing. Saint Louis: C.V. Mosby Company, Inc., 1973. (Reprinted by Phoenix Press,
Inc.)

Treece, Eleonor Walters and James William Treece, Jr. The Elements of Research in
Nursing. Second Edition. Saint Louis: C.V. Mosby Company, Inc., 1977. (Reprinted by
Phoenix Press, Inc.)

Sanchez, Custodiosa A. Methods and Techniques of Research, Manila:Rex Book Store

Inc., 1980.