NATURE OF

RESEARCH
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
Quick Activity

How do you know what you know?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• UNDERSTAND the importance of research
in daily life.
1
• DIFFERENTIATE between the two research
methodologies (QUALI and QUANTI) and their
philosophical perspectives
2
• JUSTIFY the need to conduct research

3
• DEMONSTRATE ethics and approaches in
conducting research
4
DEFINITION
Research is defined as systematic and scientific
investigation of phenomena which includes collection,
analysis, interpretation, and presentation of facts that
lines an individual’s speculation with reality.

investigation

systematic

reveals truth

topic, phenomenon or
reality
 Investigation
It involves inquiry and looking deeper
into a topic. It is an activity which involves
discovering truths, facts, and aspects of
reality.
ELEMENTS
Reveals Truth
particular area of interest. This focal
Research aims to unearth fact, an
insight, or a realization about reality.
Systemati
c
There is logic, discipline, and a procedure
in going about it. This procedure usually
entails developing research questions,
reviewing related literature or references,
collecting data and analyzing them to
form conclusions that address the
questions.
There’s a topic or phenomena
Research revolves around a
area narrows down the attention of
our inquiry, allowing us to plan
feasible steps to learn about them.
PURPOSE
As you probably already know, there are many reasons why research is done.
But, what are its purposes? Why bother with all the different styles, techniques,
experiments and measurements?

Why did the first sailors, the ones before Columbus and Magellan, hop on
their little canoes and paddle out?
Humans naturally explore the world around them, wanting to learn about the
planet we have labeled Earth.

Why did Hippocrates and Galen examine and write about the maladies of
man? The need to describe and understand our world is found in even the
youngest children.

Why did we develop an entire group of sciences to understand humans?

Because what good is being human if you cannot explain why we do something.
PURPOSE
Babie (2005) notes that there are three main purposes of
research
Investigate before or use new techniques in collecting and
analyzing data. In doing so, the researcher becomes familiar with
the topic, come up with new ideas, direct research questions and
find a way how to best approach the topic under study.

The researcher dives into the field of study and simply describes why he
or she has found about it. This is done by painting a vivid picture of the
scenario or phenomenon, using detailed descriptions of what the
researcher sees, feels, hears, tastes, and smells

Expound things, events, and phenomenon, discovering the answers to

“WHY” it has become so. Such research can be utilized to support or
refute an explanation, link issues to existing theories and frameworks.
Purpose of research
To Explore a topic

To Describe a phenomenon

To Explain the reasons WHY

Aims of research
Verification of existing knowledge

Acquisition of New Knowledge

Application of New Knowledge

What is, what
is? SCIENTIFIC
PROBLEM
 PRE-TEST
Instruction: Get ¼ sheet of paper. Answer Directly. Fill in the correct answer in the
blank provided.
1. A ______ _is a perceived gap between the existing state and a desired state.
2. A ______ _ is a deviation from a norm standard, or status quo.
3. _______ is a way of process of examining practice.
4. – 5. and are the two types of research according to application.
 ANSWERS
Instruction: Fill in the correct answer in the blank provided.
1. A problem is a perceived gap between the existing state and a desired state.
2. A problem is a deviation from a norm standard, or status quo.
3. Research is a way of process of examining practice.
4. – 5. Pure and Applied Research are the two types of research according to
application.
What is your dream/vision
for our country?
 What is a problem?
• A problem is a perceived gap between the existing state
and a desired state.
• A problem is a deviation from a norm standard, or status
quo.
• It is a difference between the actual situation and the
desired situation.
• It is a roadblock in a situation, something that sets up a
conflict and forces us to find a resolution..
• Any problem becomes easier once you have clearly defined
it.
 What is a scientific problem?
is something you don't understand but you can do an experiment
/research to help you understand.
Program the Future:
The Accenture Technology Campus Challenge 2015

One of the world’s greatest problem is

WATER
SCARCITY
 Program the Future: Source Project Aquaria
The Accenture Technology Campus Challenge 2015

Water scarcity is the Or lack of access to

lack of water (quantity) safe water (quality)
But, what is water scarcity?
 Program the Future: Source Project Aquaria
The Accenture Technology Campus Challenge 2015

2.5billion
people have
to basic no access
sanitation

443 million 783 million

School days per year lost due people have no access to
to water-related illness safe drinking water

3.5 million
Deaths per year due to inadequate
1.5 million
water supply, sanitation, Child deaths (under age 5)
hygiene per
year related to water-related
(Source: UN Right to Water 2010, MDG 2012, *UN Water 2013)
illness
 Program the Future: Source Project Aquaria
The Accenture Technology Campus Challenge 2015

By 2025,
Conflict

Less food

Pay more
http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/resource-guide-to-water-conservation.htm
Program the Future: Source Project Aquaria
The Accenture Technology Campus Challenge 2015
Research: a way of examining your practice
• Undertaken within most professions
• Way of thinking more than just a set of skills
• Examining critically the various aspects of day-to-
day professional work

23

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What is research?

What is research?
The word research is composed of two syllables, re and
search.
Re - a prefix meaning again, anew or over again and the
Search - a verb meaning to examine closely and carefully,
to test and try, or to probe.
Research – is a noun describing a careful, systematic,
patient study and investigation in some field of
knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles.

24

24
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RESEARCH

1.EMPIRICAL.
Research is based on direct experience or observation by the
researcher.
2. LOGICAL.
Research is based on valid procedures and principles.
3. CYCLICAL.
Research is a cyclical process because it starts with a problem and
ends with a problem.
4. ANALYTICAL.
Research utilizes proven analytical procedures in gathering the
data, whether historical, descriptive, experimental and case study.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RESEARCH

5. CRITICAL.
Research exhibits careful and precise judgment.
6. METHODICAL.
Research is conducted in a methodical manner without bias using
systematic method and procedures.
7. REPLICABLE.
The research design and procedures are replicated or repeated to
enable the researcher to arrive at valid and conclusive results.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RESEARCHER

1. INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS.
A researcher undertakes a deep thinking and inquiry of the things
and situations around him.
2. PRUDENT.
The researcher is careful to conduct his research study at the right
time and at the right place wisely, efficiently, and economically.
3. HEALTHY CRITICISM.
The researcher is doubtful first until arriving to the truthfulness of
the results.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD
RESEARCHER

4. INTELLECTUALLY HONEST.
An intelligent researcher is honest to collect or gather data or
facts in order to arrive at honest results
5. INTELLECTUALLY CREATIVE.
A productive and resourceful investigator always creates new
researches.
 ETHICS OF RESEARCH
• Avoid any risk of considerably harming
people, the environment, or property
• Must not use deception on people
participating
• Obtain informed consent from all
involved in the study.
• Preserve privacy and confidentiality
• Take special precautions when
involving populations or animals

• Must not plagiarize the works of

others
• Grant and limit authorship to those who
made a significant contribution to the
research endeavor
• Ensure that research results are
accessible to the public
• Must not twist the conclusions based
on the findings
• Must not falsify research
• Ensure that only the correct data, information,
and research results shall be reported
• Respect the confidentiality and proprietary
rights of peers, colleagues and students
• Respect cultural, individual, and role
differences
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

• Exploratory research, is the initial research, intends

merely to explore the research questions and does
not intend to offer final and conclusive solutions to
existing problems.
• This type of research is usually conducted to study
a problem that has not been clearly defined yet.
• Helps us to have a better understanding of the
problem.
• Willing to change his/her direction as a result of
revelation of new data and new insights.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

• Descriptive research focuses on throwing more light on

current issues through a process of data collection.
• Descriptive studies are used to describe the behavior of a
sample population.
• Only one variable (anything that has quantity or quality
that varies) is required to conduct a study.
• The three main purposes of descriptive research are
describing, explaining and validating the findings.
 Types of Research
Basic VS Applied
 To come up with a  To find applications
new knowledge or for the theories or
contribute to the create a product
existing body of employing the
knowledge existing idea or
theory.
Two General Methods of Inquiry in Research

Qualitative Quantitative
 involves
looking at
VS  involves
looking at
characteristics amount or
or qualities that quantities of
can not easily one or more
be reduced to variables of
numerical interest
values
Quantitative Qualitative
VS
 Question Quantitative
To explain and predict
What is the purpose of
To confirm and validate
the research?
To test theory
What is the nature of Focused
the research process? Known variables
Established guidelines
Predetermined methods
Somewhat context free
Detached view
What are the data like, Numeric data
and how are they Representative, large sample
collected? Standardized instruments
How are the data Statistical analysis
analyzed to determine Stress on objectivity
their meaning? Deductive reasoning
How are the findings Numbers
communicated? Statistics, aggregated data
Formal voice, scientific style
Qualitative
To describe and explain
To explore and interpret
To build theory
Holistic
Unknown variables
Flexible guidelines
Emergent methods
Context-bound
Personal view
Textual and/or image-based data
Informative, small sample
Loosely structured or non-standardized
observations and interviews
Search for themes and categories
Acknowledgement that analysis is
subjective and potentially biased
Inductive reasoning
Words
Narratives, individual quotes
Personal voice, literary style
 Qualitative Research
Objective/ Understands underlying reasons
Purpose Gains insights in the prevailing trends
Is interpretative and contextualized
Hypotheses Hypotheses may emerge as the study
progress
Sample Comes in small numbers. The respondents
(subjects) are identified using
nonprobability sampling
Data Collection Unstructured (free in form) procedures
Outcome Inconclusive and needs further study
before recommending a course of action
Generalization Findings are particular in-depth about a
certain phenomenon.
Quantitative Research
Expresses data in terms of numerical
values as gathered from the
respondents
Draws out exact ideas from samples
Hypotheses are specifically stated at
the outset and tested
Comes in large numbers. The
respondents are selected to represent
the population of interest using
probability sampling.
Structured procedures
Findings are conclusive, usually
descriptive in nature, and are used to
recommend a final course of action.
Findings are generalizable to all
situations.
 The Research Process
Identifying the
research problem

Reporting results Formulating hypotheses

and designing the study

Collecting and
Interpreting data
organizing data

Analyzing and testing

hypotheses
Characteristics of a Successful Researcher

Curious Effective Inventive

Efficient Active Honest

Logical Practical Cost- Effective

 Research Across Disciplines
Areas of Example of Research
Discipline Qualitative Quantitative

Medicine Dengue prevention practices of Studies to develop vaccines for

different places in the Philippines HIV

Arts Stories behind the different Search for a good paint

artworks and different painters substance and painting material

Sports Common characteristics of children Development of a lightweight

into and not into sports material to be used as volleyball

Music or Characterization of different Effects of types of music on

Psychology behaviors of children listening to a behavior of children
Areas of Example of Research
Discipline Qualitative Quantitative

History Apolinario Mabini: the Statistical profiles of a

sublime paralytic population for the past 20
years
Business Behavioral traits of Relationship between
product patrons in last expenditures in
10 years advertisements and sales

History Apolinario Mabini: the Statistical profiles of a

sublime paralytic population for the past 20
years
Business Behavioral traits of Relationship between
product patrons in last expenditures in
10 years advertisements and sales
Areas of Example of Research
Discipline Qualitative Quantitative

Agriculture Health benefits of organically Effects of organic fertilizers in

grown vegetables to elderly vegetable production and sales
Fisheries Fishermen’s adjustment Environmental factors affecting the
mechanisms to El Niño amount of fish catch in kilograms
phenomenon
ICT Effects of technology use on Effectiveness of Gooru Learning
student’s classroom discourses System in the attitude toward
technology use of secondary
physics students
Social Ethnographic study of the Effects of socioeconomic status on
Science economic and political practices of student’s achievement in Philippine
the Ibanags History classes
RESEARCH PROCESS
IDENTIFYING
THE PROBLEM

REPORTING EXPLORING EXISTING

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
FINDINGS THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM

FORMING DEVELOPING
CONCLUSIONS, THE
IMPLICATIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS RESEARCH
DESIGN

ANALYZING COLLECTING
DATA DATA
RESEARCH PROCESS

As discussed previously, research is a systematic and organized process.

It is about collecting information that answers a question.

Throughout this process the researcher has to ensure that information is

gathered in a systematic and accurate manner.

Information gathered must be cross-checked by using other sources and

references, even when the researcher is convinced that the information
already obtained provides a good answer to the question asked.
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 1

IDENTIFY AND DEFINE THE ISSUE OR

QUESTION
1. What is the issue?
2. Why is it necessary to research this
issue?
3. What do we want to find out?
4. What information/evidence already
exists?
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 2

EXPLORING EXISTING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE

RESEARCH PROBLEM AND DECIDING DIRECTION
BY IDENTIFYING A FOCUS AND REFINING THE
QUESTION

1. What will be the aim and focus of the research?

2. What questions need to be answered?
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 2

A clear aim will make it easier to develop objectives for the research, for example:

• To investigate the causes of accidents in South Africa.

• To ascertain which geographical areas in South Africa experience the most road-
accident deaths.
• To measure the social impacts of road-accidents on the South African population.
• To measure the economic impacts of road-accidents on South Africa.
• To make recommendations arising from the study to interested groups.

The objectives will help you to decide which questions need answers.
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 3

DEVELOPING THE RESEARCH DESIGN AND

ORGANIZING THE WORK PLAN TO ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS

1. What sort of information is needed to answer the questions?

Where will it be found (sources)?
2. What would be the best research methods to use?
3. Who is best suited to do this research?
4. What are the tasks and who will do what?
5. When does the work need to be completed?

This step entails organizing the work and choosing the methods that will be
used to conduct the research.
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 4

COLLECTING DATA TO HELP ANSWER

THE QUESTION

This step entails the actual collection of

information. This may require fieldwork.
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 5

ANALYZING DATA AND ORGANIZING THE INFORMATION

COLLECTED AND DISCARD WHAT IS NOT NEEDED

This phase entails organizing and analyzing the

information gathered in the previous step. To analyze
means to make calculations, such as adding up the
different responses s o as to get a full picture of the
situation.
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 6

FORMING CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

This step entails discussing the findings and drawing

conclusions.

Findings are often in table, graph, numeric or percentage for

m. The discussion involves using words to describe the
findings. The discussion section is where the researcher gives
opinions based on the findings of the research.
RESEARCH PROCESS- STEP 7

REPORTING FINDINGS
The writing of a report is important as it leaves a body of
evidence that can be used by politicians, planners,
community organizations and future researchers. A report
generally has six sections: introduction, literature review,
methodology, research results, discussion, and conclusions
and recommendations.
EXPLANATORY RESEARCH

• Explanatory research or causal research is conducted to

understand the impact of certain changes in existing
standard procedures.
• Conducting experiments is the most popular form of casual
research.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

EXPLORATORY DESCRIPTIVE EXPLANATORY

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH

RESEARCH
Highly
APPROACH Unstructured Structured
structured
USED

RESEARCH By using
Asking research Asking research
CONDUCTED research
questions questions
THROUGH hypotheses.

WHEN IS IT Early stages of Later stages of Later stages of

CONDUCTED? decision making decision making decision making
HOW TO IDENTIFY A RESEARCH
PROBLEM OR TOPIC?

Search for “TOP RANKED JOURNAL on your field of discipline”.

Ethical Principles in Conducting Research
1. HONESTY Must be transparent

2. OBJECTIVITY Free from bias

3. INTEGRITY Uphold sincerity and consistency

4. CAREFULNESS Free from careless errors of negligence

 5. OPENNESS Accepting constructive criticism
\
6. RESPECT FOR Give credit
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
7. TRUSTWORTHINESS Keep all date confidential for
protection
8. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Promotes social welfare, minimizing
harm and risk, and maximizing the
benefits
9. COMPETENCE Maintains and improves your own professional
expertise
10. LEGALITY Knows and obeys relevant laws and
institutional and government policies
11. ANIMAL CARE Shows respect and care for animals when
using them
12. HUMAN Minimize harms and risks and maximize
SUBJECTS benefits; respect human dignity, privacy, and
PROTECTION vulnerable populations; strive to distribute the
benefits and burdens of research fairly.
Quantitative Qualitative
 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
✓quality of relationship, activities, situations or
materials (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2010)
✓ direct source of information

✓ subjective and highly dependent

✓ ideas and meanings

 IMPORTANCE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

helps explore problems in depth

useful when statistics are not able to solve the
problem
helps solve complex problems
allows the researcher to ask follow-up questions
helps understand people’s emotions and experiences
better
✓ examined in detail and in-depth
✓ interviews are not restricted to specific questions
✓ research framework and direction can be quickly
revised
✓ human experience that is obtained is powerful
✓ data usually are collected from a few cases or
individuals

STRENGTHS OF QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
✓ heavily dependent on the individual skills of the researcher
✓ rigor is more difficult to maintain
✓ time consuming
✓ not understood within the scientific community
✓ researcher’s presence during data gathering, which is often
unavoidable in qualitative research, can affect the subject’s responses
✓ issues of anonymity and confidentiality
✓ findings can be more difficult

LIMITATIONS OF QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
APPROACHES
1. ETHNOGRAPHY
2. PHENOMENOLOGY
3. NARRATIVE
4. GROUNDED THEORY
5. CASE STUDY
1.ETHNOGRAPHY
✓ concerned with geographic locations and ethnicity
✓ the researcher becomes immersed in the culture
under study as an active participant

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
APPROACHES
2.PHENOMENOLOG
Y
✓ gaining thought, insights, and perceptions to a
particular phenomenon
✓ investigate an individual’s thoughts and perceptions
✓ the participants relive their experiences

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
APPROACHES
3.NARRATIVE
✓ narrates the life experiences of an individual
✓ highlights special events
✓ can be either a biography or autobiography

QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
APPROACHES
4.GROUNDED THEORY
✓ generate a theory from the data
✓ generated theory after all data have been analyzed
inductively
✓ result of thorough interviews and observations

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
APPROACHES
5.CASE STUDY
✓ detailed analysis of a specific case
✓ usually, a case is an individual, or one group of
people or one school

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
APPROACHES
REFERENCES

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.etu.org.za/toolbox/docs/development/research.html.

Analyst, T. (1970, January 1). CHAPTER 1: MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH.

Retrieved from http://analyst0091.blogspot.com/2011/05/chapter-1-meaning-and-
characteristics.html.

Kakkar, K. (2019, May 11). RM/U1 Topic 3 Purpose of Research – Exploratory, Descriptive,
Explanatory. Retrieved from https://theintactone.com/2019/02/19/rm-u1-topic-3-purpose-
of- research-exploratory-descriptive-explanatory/.