Handouts in PR2

Nature of Inquiry and Research

Quantitative research- is an objective, systematic empirical investigation of observable
phenomena through the use of computational techniques. It highlights numerical analysis of
data hoping that the numbers yield unbiased results that can be generalized to some larger
population and explain a particular observation.
Characteristics of Quantitative Research
1. Objective. Quantitative research seeks accurate measurement and analysis of target
concepts. It is not based on mere intuitions and guesses.
2. Clearly Defined Research Questions. The researcher know in advance what they are
looking for. The research questions are well-defined for which objective answers are
sought.
3. Structured Research Instruments. Examples are the questionnaires.
4. Large Sample Sizes. Random sampling is recommended in determining the sample
size to avoid researcher’s bias in interpreting the results.
5. Replication. Reliable research studies can be replicated to verify or confirm the
correctness of the results in another setting. This strengthens the validity of the
findings thus eliminating the possibility of spurious conclusions.
6. Numerical Data. Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often organized and
presented using tables, charts, graphs, and figures that consolidate large numbers of
data to show trends, relationships, or differences among variables.
7. Future Outcomes. By using complex mathematical calculations and with the aid of
computers, if-then scenarios may be formulated thus predicting future results.
Strengths of Quantitative Research
1. It is objective. Personal biases can be avoided since personal interaction is not part
of the research process.
2. The use of statistical techniques facilitate sophisticated analyses and allows you to
comprehend a huge amount of vital characteristics of data.
3. The numerical data can be analysed in a quick and easy way.
4. Replicable
5. The result is reliable since the study uses a big sample of the population.
Weaknesses of Quantitative Research
1. Requires a large number of respondents
2. Costly
3. The information contextual factors to help interpret the results or to explain
variations are usually ignored.
 4. Many information are difficult to gather using structured research instruments,
specifically on sensitive issues like pre-marital sex, domestic violence, among others.
5. If not done seriously and correctly, data from questionnaires may be incomplete and
inaccurate.
Kinds of Quantitative Research
1. Descriptive Research -is used to obtain information concerning the current status of
the phenomena.
- its three main purposes can be explained as describing, explaining and validating
research findings.
- “What is…”
- Surveys
There are three ways a researcher can go about doing a descriptive research project, and they are:
1. Observational, defined as a method of viewing and recording the participants.
2. Case study, defined as an in-depth study of an individual or group of individuals.
3. Survey, defined as a brief interview or discussion with an individual about a specific topic.

Example of Descriptive Research

1. The Attitudes of Humanities and Social Sciences Section A Students Regarding Homosexual
Prohibition In School
2. Job-related Problems and Job-performance of Securities Employees in Private and
Government Offices at Balasan, Iloilo
3. The Socioeconomic Status and Performances of Instructional Leaders of Balasan National
High School
2. Correlational Research - it tests for the relationships between two variables.
- is conducted in order to clarify an observed occurrences.
-restricted to prediction.
- correlation coefficient is between -1.00 and +1.00.

Examples of correlational research

1. The Relationship Between Intelligence and Self-esteem

2. The Relationship Between Diet and Anxiety
3. The Relationship Between the Types of Activities Used in Science Classrooms and Students
Achievement
3. Causal-Comparative Research - is a research design that seeks to find relationships between
independent and dependent variables after an action or event has already occurred. The
researcher's goal is to determine whether the independent variable affected the outcome, or
dependent variable.
- looks to unearth a cause and effect relationship.
-involves comparison.
Examples of Causal-comparative Research
1. The Effect of Part-time Employment on the Achievement of High School Students
2. The Effect of Age on Lung Capacity
3. The Effect of Taking Vitamins on a Students’ School Absenteeism
4. Experimental Research -reveals a cause and effect relationship by systematically manipulating
one parameter (IV) and observing the influence on another (DV).
- It has a control group, the subject have been randomly assigned between the groups, and the
researcher only tests one effect at a time.
- guided especially of a hypothesis.

Example of Experimental Research

THE EFFECT OF TEACHING WITH A COOPERATIVE GROUP STRATEGY OR A TRADITIONAL LECTURE

APPROACH ON STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT
5. Evaluation Research. This kind of research aims to assess the effects, impacts or outcomes of
practices, polices or programs.
6. Survey Research. Used to gather information from groups of people by selecting and studying
samples chosen from a population.

IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Why Is Quantitative Research Important?
The purpose of quantitative research is to attain greater knowledge and understanding of
the social world. Researchers use quantitative methods to observe situations or events that affect
people. Quantitative research produces objective data that can be clearly communicated through
statistics and numbers.

What is the importance of quantitative research in STEM strand?

Quantitative research in this context is designed to improve our understanding of the
science system’s workings, structural dependencies and dynamics. It also considers the impacts of
data-based evaluation of research.

Why is quantitative research important in ABM Strand?

It provides insight into the problem or helps to develop hypotheses for potential
quantitative research. Qualitative Research is also used to uncover trends in thought and opinions,
and dive deeper into the problem.
Researches can help design a new product or service, figuring out what is needed and
ensure that the development of a product is highly targeted towards demand.

What is the importance of quantitative research in Humanities and Social Sciences?

Research aims to provide solutions to the social problems directly felt by people. Researches
is this field deal more on social behaviours and social issues such as tress, worker ethics,
organizational commitment, leadership style, child labor, teenage pregnancy, human trafficking, to
drug addiction and other forms of criminality.

What is the importance of quantitative research in General Academic Strand?

The purpose of quantitative research is to attain greater knowledge and understanding of
the social world. Researchers use quantitative methods to observe situations or events that affect
people. Quantitative research produces objective data that can be clearly communicated through
statistics and numbers.
What is the importance of quantitative research to senior high school students?
Senior high school students can benefit from using quantitative research to develop their
skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Quantitative research involves the
collection and analysis of data in order to conclude it.

KINDS OF VARIABLES AND THEIR USES

Variable – is any factor or property that a researcher measures, controls, and/or manipulates. It is
also the changing quantity or measure of any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing
amounts or types. It is also a logical set of attributes, characteristics, numbers, or quantities that can
be measured or counted. It is also called data item.

Classifications of Variables
1. Numeric variables – these are variables with values that describe a measurable numerical
quantity and answer the questions “how many and how much”.
a. Continuous variables also known as interval variables. These variables can assume any value
between a certain set of real numbers. It depends on the scale used. Examples: time, age, temp.,
height and weight.
b. Discrete variables – assume any whole value within the limits of the given variables. Examples:
number of registered cars, number of business locations, number of children in the family,
population, total number of faculty member.
2. Categorical variables. These are variables with values that describe a quality or characteristic of a
data unit like “what type or which category”
a. Ordinal variables – logical
Examples: academic grades, clothing size, measures of attitudes.
b. Nominal variables – cannot be organized in a logical sequence.
Examples: business type, eye colors, kinds of religion, various languages, and type of learners.
c. Dichotomous variables – represent only two categories
Examples: sex (male and female), answer (yes or no), veracity (true or false)
d. Polychotomous variables – with many categories.
Examples: educational attainment, level of performance
3. Experimental variables
a. Independent variables – manipulated or explanatory variables
b. Dependent variables – response or predicted variables
c. Extraneous variables – mediating or intervening variables.
- These variables are already existing during the conduct of an experiment and could influence the
result of the study.
4. Non-experimental variables
a. Predictor variables – can cause changes on other variables.
b. Criterion variables – usually influence by the predictor variables
Example:
Predictor Variable; Competencies of teachers
Criterion variable; Students’ behaviour
5. Variables According to Numbers Being Studied
a. Univariate study – only one variable is being studied.
b. Bivariate study - two variables are being studied.
c. Polyvariate study – more than two variables are being studied.
 Handouts in PR2

Research Title
Selected Guidelines in the Formulation of a Research Title
1. The title must contain the following:
a. the research problem
b. the setting or locale of the study
c. the respondents/participants/subjects involved in the study
d. the time or period, when the study was conducted
2.The title must be broad enough to include all aspects of the study but should be brief and concise
as possible.
3. The use of terms as “Analysis of”, “A Study of”, “An Investigation of” and the like should be
avoided. All these are understood to have been done in a research.
4. If the title contains more than one line, it should be written in inverted pyramid.
5. When type or encoded in the title page, all words in title should be in capital letters.
6. If possible, the title should not be longer than 15 substantive words.
7. Avoid a long, detailed title that gives too much information.
8. To shorten the title, delete the terms “assessment” or “evaluation” if these are already
emphasized in the text.
Characteristics of a Good Title
1. A title should give readers information about the contents of the research and is preferable
to one that is vague or general.
2. Choose a title that is phrase rather than a complete sentence.
3. Select a straightforward title over other kind.
4. Use no punctuation at the end of a title.
5. Do not underline the title of research or enclose it in quotation marks, instead, use a word
processing program or printer that permits italics. Use them in place of underlining.
Examples Of Research Title
HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILL IN READING OF RESHMEN
IN UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES ,
ACADEMIC YEAR 2015-2016

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER ON THE

GROWTH AND YIELD OF MONGO BEANS

Background of the Study

1. It includes information which would focus attention on the importance and validity of the
problem.
2. It has concepts with citations.
3. It has realistic observation of the existence of the problem.
4. It provides a brief rationale justifying the problem.

Frameworks of the Study

What is framework?
*Skeleton – give shape, form and strength
*Serves as the building blocks for the foundation or bases of the study.
*The basic structure or frame of reference which is designed to support or enclose something.
 1. Theoretical Framework
*Relevant theories must be provided
*The researcher cites and discusses related theories that serves as the foundation of the
variables and their relationship to make the study more scientific and understandable
especially to the readers.
2. Conceptual Framework
*Researcher’s formulated framework
*It guides the researcher by giving clear directions to the research
Paradigm
*The diagrammatic presentation of the study
*The pattern, model or set of forms which contains particular elements.
*The researchers scientific imagination expressed graphically by drawings or sketches.
*The usual figures used are rectangles, circles, and squares.
*The heart of the research paper.
The common paradigm or models used in research
1. IPO model (input-process-output model)
2. IV-DV model (independent variable-dependent variable model)
3. PC model (predictor-criterion model)
4. -P model
5. POM (proposed original model)

IPO Model
-is largely used when the research attempts to isolate the factor or major variable that causes the
problem, subject, or phenomenon under investigation.
-used when the statements of the problem are all factor-isolating questions.
IV-DV Model - used in experiment-based studies.
PC Model
*Used when relating and assessing the influence between two or more variables.
*Studies that focus on relationships, associations, differences, and impacts will benefit from this
model.
-P Model
*Used in research studies that proposed a program or any intervention measure.
*It fits the situation producing level of questioning.
POM Model
*Used when the researcher presents an original paradigm.
*It must be scientific.