LYCEUM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

School of Graduate and Professional Studies

Tapuac, Dagupan City, Pangasinan Philippines

Methods
of
research
(midterm-exam)

Name: LICHELLE C. ALCANTARA

Program: MASTER IN EDUCATION MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS

Prof: Dr. MARGARITA LAYSON

i. What is Research and the 4 Steps of Research: Research is a systematic
investigation aimed at discovering, interpreting, and/or revising facts,
theories, applications, or laws in various fields of study. It involves gathering
information and evidence to answer questions or solve problems.

The four general steps of research are:

1. Formulating a Research Question or Hypothesis: This step involves

identifying a specific problem or question that you want to
investigate. It's crucial to formulate clear and concise research
questions or hypotheses that guide your study.
2. Designing the Research Study: In this step, researchers determine
the methodology, including the research design, data collection
methods, and analysis techniques. This stage involves planning how
data will be gathered and analyzed to address the research question.
3. Data Collection: Once the research design is established, researchers
collect relevant data according to the chosen methodology. This
could involve experiments, surveys, observations, interviews, or
analysis of existing datasets, depending on the nature of the study.
4. Data Analysis and Interpretation: After collecting data, researchers
analyze it to draw conclusions regarding the research question or
hypothesis. This step involves using statistical or qualitative analysis
techniques to make sense of the data and interpret findings in the
context of existing knowledge.

ii. Research Proposals, Finding Funds, Ethics of Research, Documenting

Your Work, Reviewing the Literature, Use of Library and Information
Systems:

 Research Proposals: Research proposals outline the objectives,

methodology, and expected outcomes of a research project. They
serve as a blueprint for conducting research and are often required to
secure funding or gain approval from institutional review boards.
 Finding Funds: Researchers often need financial support to conduct
their studies. They can seek funding from various sources such as
government agencies, private foundations, corporations, or
crowdfunding platforms. Writing compelling grant proposals is
essential for securing funds.
  Ethics of Research: Ethical considerations are paramount in research
to ensure the well-being, rights, and privacy of participants, as well as
the integrity of the research process. Researchers must adhere to
ethical guidelines and obtain informed consent from participants.
They should also consider potential conflicts of interest and ensure
the confidentiality of sensitive information.
 Documenting Your Work: Proper documentation of research
activities is crucial for transparency, reproducibility, and
accountability. This includes keeping detailed records of experimental
procedures, data collection methods, analysis techniques, and results.
Researchers should also document any challenges, deviations from
the original plan, or unexpected findings.
 Reviewing the Literature, Use of Library and Information
Systems: Before conducting research, it's essential to review existing
literature to understand the current state of knowledge on the topic.
This involves searching academic databases, libraries, and online
resources to identify relevant studies, theories, and methodologies.
Effective use of library and information systems helps researchers
access and evaluate scholarly sources, which informs the
development of research questions and methodology.

iii. Research Types: Research can be classified into various types based on
its purpose, methodology, and scope. Some common research types
include:

 Quantitative Research: Focuses on numerical data and statistical

analysis to quantify relationships and patterns.
 Qualitative Research: Involves exploring subjective experiences,
attitudes, and behaviors through observation, interviews, or textual
analysis.
 Experimental Research: Investigates cause-and-effect relationships
by manipulating variables and observing their effects on outcomes.
 Descriptive Research: Aims to describe characteristics or
phenomena without manipulating variables or establishing causality.
 Exploratory Research: Seeks to gain insights and understanding into
a problem or phenomenon with limited existing knowledge.
iv. Data Measurement, Principle of Sampling, Problems of
Measurement:

 Data Measurement: Data measurement involves assigning numerical

values or categories to variables to represent characteristics or
attributes. It's essential to use valid and reliable measurement
instruments to ensure the accuracy and consistency of data.
 Principle of Sampling: Sampling involves selecting a subset of
individuals or elements from a larger population to represent it in a
study. The principle of sampling states that the sample should be
representative of the population to generalize findings accurately.
Common sampling techniques include random sampling, stratified
sampling, and convenience sampling.
 Problems of Measurement: Measurement errors, bias, and reliability
issues can pose challenges in research. Measurement errors occur
when there are inaccuracies in data collection or recording, while bias
refers to systematic errors that affect the validity of measurements.
Ensuring the validity and reliability of measurement instruments and
minimizing sources of error are crucial for obtaining accurate
research results.

v. Data Analysis: Data analysis involves examining, cleaning, transforming,

and interpreting data to extract meaningful insights and draw conclusions.
Depending on the nature of the data and research questions, researchers
can use various analytical techniques, including:

 Descriptive Statistics: Summarize and describe the main features of

a dataset, such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and
frequency distributions.
 Inferential Statistics: Make predictions, test hypotheses, and infer
relationships between variables based on sample data.
 Qualitative Analysis: Analyze textual or qualitative data to identify
themes, patterns, and relationships through techniques such as
content analysis, thematic analysis, or grounded theory.
 Data Visualization: Present data visually using charts, graphs, or
maps to facilitate understanding and communication of findings.
  Advanced Analytical Techniques: Include multivariate analysis,
regression analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, and machine
learning algorithms for complex data analysis tasks.

Effective data analysis requires careful planning, appropriate selection of

analytical techniques, and interpretation of results in the context of
research objectives and theoretical frameworks.