Week 2

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills through qualitative research.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define what research is;
2. explain the importance and purposes of research;
3. describe the characteristics, processes and ethics of research;

SUBJECT MATTER

PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1
CONTEN
NATURE OF INQUIRY & RESEARCH – PART 2
T
Introduction

When we talk about research, what probably comes instantly into mind is
the image of a scientist wearing a lab gown, tinkering in the laboratory, and
studying an element or mixing chemicals in test tubes. But this is not always the
case. Some social scientists are concerned with explaining social phenomena and
human interaction. There are also those in market research who work for and
study business and advertising, focusing on mass consumption and consumer
behavior. Of course, educational research is undertaken by those in the academe
who are primarily concerned with teaching and learning processes and try to
improve teaching methods and student achievement.

Preparatory Activity

Direction: Rearrange the letters in each word to form a new word related to research.
1. CHEERRAS -------------------------
2. AATD -------------------------
3. HECTIS -------------------------
4. LACIRIPME --------------------------
5. HENONAMEP --------------------------
Learn about it

 Reading material:
Research is defined as the scientific investigation of phenomena which includes collection, presentation, analysis and
interpretation of facts that aligns an individual’s speculation with reality and reach new conclusions. “Research is a process of
steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue”. It consists of three steps: pose
a question, collect data to answer the question, and present an answer to the question (Creswell, 2008).”
Research is an act of studying something carefully and extensively in order to attain deep knowledge. When done on
a larger scale, research contributes to the welfare of humanity. It can be creative, exploring or just reassuring in nature.
Research is about solving problems and answering questions in all disciplines or fields of knowledge. For students of
research, the research topics normally revolve within their specific strand or course. Along with experience, sources of
research topics come from one’s own observation of current popular phenomena and knowledge gained from studying certain
subjects in school. 
 SJVTT
Research holds the following significant data:
AC
1. to gather necessary information – it provides information in the field of your
Vocabulary
work, to be familiar with the processes and resources involved for a particular
project a)  phenomena - from Greek
2. to make changes – helps you find out the root cause of built-in problems that is phainomenon ‘thing appearing
otherwise difficult to discover without research to view’, based on phainein ‘to
3. to improve standard of living – research can help new inventions to come that show’)
eventually facilitate the work and living conditions of people.
b)  data – plural of datum which
4. makes life safer – discoveries and development through research have
is from Latin dare, ‘to give’, or
improved life expectancy and health conditions of mankind
something given; things known
5. know the truth – many established facts and known truth eventually turned out
or assumed as facts
to be mere rumors or popular beliefs after thorough investigation through
research c)  empirical – from Greek
6. explore history – one is able to learn and understand better about his ancestry ‘empeirikos’ which means
and certain customs, to learn from them in correcting mistakes for a better experienced; also to try,
future. attempt, or experiment
7. to appreciate the arts – understanding and appreciation of the works of the
artists in literature, painting, music and other fine arts help in understanding
man, culture and life in general.

 The following are the major characteristics of research:

1. empirical – research is based on real-life or direct experience and observations, as well as experimentation of
theories; it takes into account the researcher’s speculation with reality
2. logical – it follows a sequential and systematic procedures and valid principles
3. cyclical – it starts with a problem and ends with a problem
4. analytical – there is a critical analysis of all data using careful and precise judgment to avoid errors in the
interpretation
5. objective – apart from being logical, it be also unbiased; findings are based on empirical data
6. original work – researcher does his own investigation and produce the data to complete the study
7. replicability – the research design and procedures are replicated or repeated to enable the researcher to arrive
at valid and conclusive results

Post Activity

Direction: Choose your answer for each question inside the box.
Analytical Empirical Replicability
Research Cyclical
_____________1. It is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new
conclusions.
_____________2. This refers to the process of research by which it starts and ends with a problem.
_____________3.  It is a characteristic of research that shows careful and precise judgement.
_____________4. One of the characteristics of research is that it must be based on direct experience or observation.
_____________5. The research design and procedures are replicated or repeated to enable the researcher to arrive at valid and
conclusive results.

References:

 https://www.questionpro.com/blog/what-is-research/

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 Kilpatrick, William Heard. THE PROJECT METHOD. New York: Teachers College Press, 1918. SJVTT
Polamn, Joseph L. DESIGNING PROJECT-BASED SCIENCE: CONNECTING LEARNERS THROUGH GUIDED INQUIRY. New York:
Teachers College Press, 2000.
AC
 "Inquiry Based Science, What Does It Look Like?" CONNECT MAGAZINE, published by Synergy Learning (March-April 1995): 35.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/classroom/inquiry_based.html
Wolf, Dennie Palmer. "The Art of Questioning," ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS (Winter 1987): 1-7.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/workshops/artofquestioning.html
 https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index.html
 Gardner, Howard. THE DISCIPLINED MIND. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999.
Gardner, Howard. FRAMES OF MIND: THE THEORY OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES. NY: BasicBooks,1983.

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