PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2

RESESARCH

-asking questions and looking for answers for the questions

-important tool for solving man’s various problems and making life more colourful and convenient

- natural day-to-day activity of gathering information

-coined from the French word “cerhier” which means to seek

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

-objective, systematic, empirical investigation of observable phenomena though the use of

computational techniques

-concerned with numbers and its relationship with events

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

 OBJECTIVE- seek accurate measurement and analysis of target concepts

 CLEARLY DEFINED RESEARCH QUESTIONS- research questions are well-defined for which
objective answers are sought
 STRUCTURED RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS- data are normally gathered using structured tools such
as questionaires
 NUMERICAL DATA- data are in the form of numbers statistics and presented using tables, graphs
 REPLICATION- can be presented to verify or confirm the correctness of the result
 FUTURE OUTCOMES- if then scenarios may be formulated

STRENGHTH AND WEAKNESS OF QUANTITIVE RESEARCH

STRENGHTH:

-objective, provides numerical data, can be easily interpreted

-use of statistical techniques

-numerical data can be analysed quickly

-replicable

WEAKNESS:

-requires large number of respondents

-costly

-doesn’t consider distinct capacity of respondents

-many info are difficult to gather

-if not done correctly, results may be innacurate

KINDS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

 DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH- this design is concerned with describing nature, characteristics and
components of a phenomena
 CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH- systematic investigation of the nature of relationships or association
between or among variables
  EVALUATION RESEARCH- aims to assess the effects, impacts or outcomes
 SURVEY RESEARCH- used to gather information from groups of people
 CASUAL-COMPARATIVE RESEARCH- derives conclusion from observations and manifestations,
also known as “ex-post facto”
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH- utilizes scientific method to test cause and effect relationship under
a controlled condition, an independent variable is manipulated to determine the effects on the
dependent variable

IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
 BUSINESS- helps design a new product or service, helps to remain competitive in the market
 HEALTH- obtains significant information about disease trends and risk factors, aims for man’s
longevity
 INFRASTRUCTURE- helps in providing designs which are creative and beautiful
 TECHNOLOGY- improve the quality of life
 SOCIAL SCIENCE- provide solutions to social problems
 AGRICULTURE- improving productivity and quality of crops

WHAT IS VARIABLE
- anything that may assume varied numerical
- it is measurable characteristics that changes in value
- it may vary from one group to another
KINDS OF VARIABLE
1. CONTINOUS VARIABLE
-a variable that can take infinite number on the value that occur within the population
ex: age, height and temperature
2. DISCRETE VARIABLE
-a variable that has limited number of distinct values and which cannot be divided into fractions
ex: sex, blood type, number of children in the family

CATEGORIES OF CONTINOUS VARIABLE

a) INTERVAL
-is a measurement where the difference between two values does have meaning
b) RATIO
-it possesses the properties of interval variable but has a clear definition of zero
CATEGORIES OF DISCRETE VARIABLE
a) NOMINAL
-it has no quantitative value, has two or more categories but does not imply ordering of
cases
b) ORDINAL
-it has two or more categories which can be ranked

3. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
-the cause variable, the one responsible for the conditions that act on something else

4. DEPENDENT VARIABLE
-the outcome variable, the result or effect of the changes brought about by another variable

RESEARCH AS THE ART OF INQUIRY

RESEARCH
-is composed of two words: “re” which means again and “search” to examine closely and carefully
-s an intellectual stimulus calling for an answer in the form of scientific inquiry
SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPIC

1. Prevailing theories or philosophy

2. Observations and intuitions
3. Different subjects taken
4. Fields of interest or specialization
5. Existing problems in school
6. Existing needs of the community or society
7. Repetitions or extensions of previous investigations
8. Related studies and literature
9. Advice of authorities or experts
10. Offshoots of friendly conversations

SELECTING THE RESEARCH TOPIC

1. It should be something new or different

2. It must be original
3. It should be significant to the field of study
4. It must be necessarily arouse intellectual curiousity
5. It should be of researcher’s interest
6. It should be clear not ambiguous
7. It should be specific not general
8. It should consider the training and personal qualifications of the researcher
9. It should consider the availability of data involved
10. It should consider the availability of effective instruments
11. It should consider the financial capacity of researcher
12. It should consider the time factor involved

FORMULATING RESEARCH TITLE

RESEARCH TITLE

- Is the basic issue or area of concern, the situations which exists and then how it ought to be

GUIDELINES IN THE FORMULATION OF RESEARCH TITLE

1. The title must contain the following elements:

a. subject matter/research problem
b. setting/locale
c. respondents
d. time or period
2. Title should be brief and concise
3. The use of term as “Analysis of”, “A Study of”, “An Investigation of” must be avoided
4. It should be written in inverted pyramid
5. All words should be in capital letter
6. Title should not be longer than 15 substantive words
7. Avoid a long and detailed title

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD TITLE

1. Should give readers information about the context

2. Do not need to be stuffy or dull
3. Choose a phrase rather than a complete sentence
4. Select a straightforward title
5. Use no punctuations
6. Do not underline
RESEARCH BACKGROUND, RESEARCH QUESTIONS, SCOPE AND DELIMITATION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY

IDENTIFY AND STATING THE PROBLEM

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

- includes information which would focus attention on the importance and validity of the problem
- general orientation of the problem
- a brief rationale to justify the problem must be provided
- present state of knowledge regarding the problem

It Includes:

1. Discussion of the problem in general and the specific situations

2. Concepts and Ideas related to the problem
3. Discussion of the existing or present conditions

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

- The basic difficulty, the issue, the area of concern, the circumstances which exist then how they
ought to be
- tells what is done to make situation that exists

It has 2 elements:

1. Objective
2. Research Questions

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

- first part of the problem where the researcher state the objective
- this is a statement of a long-term objective expected to be achieved by the study
- prefixed by this introductory phrase: “The main objective of this study is to”

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

- these are specific questions to be answered in the study

- major statement may be followed by minor statements

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

SCOPE

-describes the coverage of the study

-specifies what is covered on the terms of concept

DELIMIT

-factors or variables that are not to be included and the boundary

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

- discusses the parameter of the research in paragraph

It answers the basic questions:

1. What – the topics investigation and the variables included

2. Where – the venue or the setting of the research
3. When – the time frame
4. Why – the general objective
 5. Who – the subject of the study, the population and sampling
6. How – the methodology of the research

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

- this part defines who will benefit out the findings of the study
- the researcher describes how the problem will be solved and specifically pinpoints the
beneficiaries
- usually the beneficiaries and those experts concerned about the problem, administrators, policy-
makers, subject themselves, future researchers and those who are affected by the problem

Tips in Writing:

1. Refer to the statement of the problem

2. Write from specific to general

LEARNING FROM OTHER STUDIES AND REVIEWING THE LITERATURE

THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATED THEORIES AND CONCEPTS

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

- This can be thought of as a map or travel plan.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

- The researcher’s idea on how the research problem will have to be explored.

PURPOSE OF THE RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

LITERATURE

- A written works collectively, especially, those enduring importance, exhibiting creative

imagination and artistic skill which are written in a particular period, language and subject.
- Any written materials published in book, journal, magazine, novel, poetry, yearbook and
encyclopedia.

PURPOSE

- Is to analyze critically a segment of a published body of knowledge through summary,

classification and comparison of prior research studies, reviews of literature and theoretical
articles.

RELEVANCE

- It is unscientific if related literature is presented but has no explanation of its relevance to the
study.

RULES IN WRITING LITERATURE REVIEW (Pautasso, 2013)

1. Define the topic and audience.

- Topics must be interesting, important and current.

2. Search and re-search the literature.

3. Take notes while reading.

4. Choose the type of review you wish to write.

5. Keep the review focused, but make it of broad interest.

6. Be critical and consistent.

 7. Find a logical structure.

8. Make use of feedback.

9. Include your own relevant research.

10. Be up-to-date in your rrls.

LITERATURE REVIEWS

- are designed to provide an overview of sources the researcher has explored

- to demonstrate to readers how the research fits within a larger field of study.

TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEW

 ARGUMENTATIVE REVIEW
- this form examines literature selectively in order to support or refute an argument.
- the purpose is to develop an opposite perspective.
 INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
- it reviews, critiques and synthesizes representative literature on a topic in integrated way such
that new frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated.
 HISTORICAL REVIEW
- it systematically examine past events to give an account of what has happened in the past.
- the main focus is to communicate an understanding of past events.
 METHODOLOGICAL REVIEW
- a review does not always focus on what someone said but how they came about (method of
analysis).
 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
- this is to attain conclusion regarding the chosen topic.
- this is consist of an overview of existing evidence pertinent to a clearly formulated research
question.
 THEORETICAL REVIEW
- this is to examine the body of theory that has accumulated in regard to an issue, concept, theory
or phenomena.

FUNCTIONS OF REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND STUDIES

1. To provide justification of the study.

2. To identify gaps, problems and needs of related studies.

3. To provide rationale of the study as well as the reasons of conducting the study.

4. To have basis that will be used to support the findings of the study.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MATERIALS CITED

1. The materials must be as recent as possible, may be 10 years back.

2. Materials must be as objective and unbiased as possible.

3. Materials must be relevant to the study.

4. Coherence principle must be observed in writing literature review.