P r a c ti c a l Re s e a r c h 2 :

The Nature of Inquiry and Research

VON CHRISTOPHER G. CHUA

von_christopher_chua@dlsu.edu.ph
The Nature of Inquiry and Research
Our Learning Goals:
After this discussion, you are expected to have the ability to…
1. describe characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of
quantitative research;
2. differentiate kinds of variables according to scales of measure;
and
3. contrast kinds of quantitative research.

This slideshow presentation will be made available through the trainer’s website:
mathbychua.weebly.com.
Download the document to use it as reference.
 1. How would you define practical
research?
2. Why is it important for a SHS
student to know the process of
conducting research?
3. Give some examples of research
opportunities or topics relevant to
Let’s look both your interests and your SHS
back… strand.
 Research is a systematic process of
collecting, analyzing, and interpreting
information in order to increase our
understanding of a phenomenon about
which we are interested or concerned
(Leedy & Ormrod, 2013).
Defining
Research
 works with a system or unbiased; all angles
method presented

Research is a systematic and objective

creation of knowledge.
(Creswell, 2013) a creative
process
Present the
answer Collect data to
answer to the

Defining question

Pose a question
Research
 1 Add to existing knowledge.

2 Improve practice.

3 Inform policies

4 Solve problems, not emergencies.

Why DO
RESEARCH
?
 In comparison to qualitative research.

1 single reality vs. multiple realities

2 establishing relationships and explaining
cause of correlation vs. understanding
situations in a participant’s perspective
3 pre-established design vs. emerging
design
4 detached researcher vs. immersed
Quantitative researcher

Research 5 to generalize vs. to assess applicability

Fraenkel & Wallen, 2009
Quantitive Research
Its STRENGTHS and nu m b e rs
o n o f s ti c a l)
WEAKNESSES Pr e c isi e (s tati
 ifi c a n c r e s u lts
s e s o f o f s ign – t h at
a k nes Le ve l m in ed ne
g W e o t a l  d e t e r e alo
d r e s sin s e a r
rc
s hfor t ca n b e o c h anc g
Ad v e R
u e
m b e y s i
e s d u e t m p l i n
a n ti
a taytiof n
c o f a
tintaaltiv ar e n ot e t o sa
Q
d u
e q u e p
g tqhua n s pr on
In a d
ainn do di n y in i sl e s
t u r
oe r u r e s
u r a c p l e
picRig
 p r o0 c%edacc o n y s is  S am
. ,
e a r c
a hn 1 0 r u c ti
a n a l d , e .g
Lreesss th t ca o
l int a t ve
sti n b ias m p u te
 t r u
n mo ef nqu i s t ra
c ttiso n b e co
n g ,d s
idnitio a d m
f s n
iubj e e ro r c a
li A d o a r E r or
samp q uaontes
otm tid a tcaa
sti tical l 
lin g e r r
using s froom n siw nh s a
s t a tis
d s s a m p
e o n p
rssum o suppmti r
o et t h o
 (p A s )t
e c t e d
coll
s
result
 A variable varies and has values. The values of
variables under study are the research data.

Are these variables? color, chair, shape of table,

tweet, shirt style.

How are these different?

Quantitative and qualitative variables
Discrete and continuous variables

Variables
ACTIVITY TWO • Daily Allowance
• Availability of Internet
Connection

Which goes where? •

•
Time
Temperature
AGE GRADE LEVEL GENDER • Test Score
• Position in Student Government
• Cellphone Brand
• Height
• Cellphone number
• Class rank in the honor roll

Classify the variables at the right based on their “likelihood” to the

three others in the color-coded columns.
 A variable varies and has values. The values of
variables under study are the research data.

Are these variables? chair, shape of table, tweet,

shirt style.
Classifying Variables according to
Scales of Measure

Variables ORDINAL
NOMINAL
RATIO
INTERVAL
EQUAL
IDENTITY MAGNITUDE ABSOLUTE ZERO
INTERVALS
 Quantitative Research Designs

Manipulating
Studying Correla Experi conditions and
relationships tional mental studying effects
Non-
experimental
research
Descrip
Describing tive
characteristics
 Quantitative Research Designs
Descriptive
A cross-sectional survey Research
collects information from
a sample coming from Sometimes called survey
various groups that has research, it aims to
been drawn from a describe systematically the
predetermined facts and characteristics of
population. a given population or area
of interest, factually and
accurately
Examples:
What are the sleeping
habits of SHS students in
DLSAU?
What factors affected the
SHS track choice of SHS
students?
Your Turn
Consider your chosen research
interest or topic. Come up with a
research question that falls under
descriptive research.
 Quantitative Research Designs
Correlational
Explanatory Research Prediction
Examples:
research
research design design
Does seeks
wearingto school
identify
determines the variables
uniform
thathave
will any
predict
extent to which two aims to describe and an outcome
relationship
or criterion.
with
variables (or more) co- measure the degree of students’ ability to
vary. association between two participate?
Your Turn or more variables or sets of
Consider your chosen research scores. Is there a relationship
interest or topic. Come up with a between phone brand
research question that falls under and Facebook usage
correlational research.
among teens?
Quantitative Research Designs
Experimental
Types
Research True experiments
Independent
EG: R O1 x O2
variable
CG: R O1 x O2
attempts to influence a
Quasi-experiments
particular variable EG: O1 x O2
Dependent CG: O1 x O2
variable tests hypotheses about
cause-and-effect
relationships
ACTIVITY ONE • Internet availability at home and student’s
Determine the average sleeping time at night
• Social media involvement and practices of
design Grade 12 HUMSS students
• The effect of the use of <a local
packaging material> on the shelf life of a
product.
• The marketability of <innovative
product> to SHS students.
• Children of single parents and their level
of Math anxiety.
As a group, decide on a researchable topic leading to a quantitative
research suited to the level of SHS students.