CPEPRACDSN1

Engr. Gina S. Tumang, PCpE

Lecture 2
WHAT IS RESEARCH?
• Research is developing a new idea
and proving that it works (Badiru,
1996).
• Ardales (2001) defines research as a
systematic, objective and
comprehensive investigation of a
certain phenomenon which involves
accurate gathering and recording, and
critical analyses and interpretation of all
facts about the phenomenon for
theoretical and practical ends.
Frascati Definition of Research
◼ It is an original investigation undertaken in order to gain
knowledge and understanding.
◼ Research has always a novel component.
◼ It includes work of direct relevance to the needs of
❑ Commerce and the public and voluntary sectors

❑ Scholarship

❑ Invention or generation of ideas, images,

performances, artifacts, including design, where
these lead to new or substantially improved insights.

Note: FRASCATI DEFINITION is used by European and

US universities and international developmental
agencies, such as UN)
Characteristics of Research
◼ Novelty
◼ Systematic because there is a definite set of
procedures and steps (Use of Scientific
Method).
◼ Organized in that there is a structure or
method in going about doing research.
◼ Finding Answer/s To A Question is the
endpoint of researches.
Characteristics of Research
(Best and Kahn, 1989)

1. Research is directed toward the solution of a

problem.
2. Research emphasizes the development or
generalization of principles or theories that
will be helpful in predicting future occurrence.
3. Research is based upon observable
experience or empirical evidence.
4. Research demands accurate observation
and description.
5. Research involves gathering new data from
primary or firsthand sources using existing
data for a new purpose.
6. Although research activity may at times be
somewhat random and unsystematic, it is
more often characterized by carefully designed
procedures that apply rigorous analysis.
7. Research requires expertise.
8. Research tries to be objective and
logical, applying every possible test to
validate the procedures employed, the
data collected, and the conclusions
reached.
9. Research involves the quest for
answers to unsolved problems.
10. Research is characterized by patience
and unhurried activity.
11. Research is carefully recorded and
reported.
12. Research sometimes requires courage.
General Types of Research
General Types of Research
• Basic or Theoretical Research: research for
knowledge’s sake; to expand the frontier of
human understanding

• Applied or Practical Research: research

that focuses on practical applications of
what has already been discovered,
developed, documented or theorized *
Technical Research
• research involving the study or
development of physical objects with the
intended purpose of practical utility
• it may address the functionality of the
object or the scientific merit of its
configuration
• development of equipment, instruments,
materials, design projects
Research Proposals for different kinds of
studies (Andres, 1998)
▪ Historical and Philosophical • Quasi-Experimental Studies
Studies • Action Research Studies
▪ Experimental Studies • Predictive Studies
▪ Survey Studies • Statistical Studies
▪ Longitudinal Studies • Observational Studies
▪ Descriptive Studies • Equipment, Instruments,
▪ Developmental Studies Materials Development
▪ Case and Field Studies • Methodological Studies
▪ Correlational Studies
▪ Causal/ Comparative Studies
 What is a good
research problem?
Criteria for a good research problem
• The problem should be of great interest to the
researcher
• The problem should be relevant and useful to a
specific group of people (stakeholders, investors,
other researchers, etc.)
• The problem is novel or possesses the element of
newness or freshness
• A problem should be well-defined or specific
• A problem should be measurable
• A problem is time-bound
• The problem contributes to the refinement of
certain important concepts, criteria or
improvement of research instruments and
analytical system and will permit
generalization
• There is capability to meet what it requires:
expertise, manpower, time, money, etc.
Basic Stages in the Research Process
• Problem identification
• Review of related literature
• Objectives formulation
• Formulation of hypotheses and assumptions
• Theoretical/conceptual framework construction
• Research design selection
• Data collection
• Data processing
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Report writing
Research Process
Observe need/ problem
Introduction
Explore Problem
Review of literature &
Re-define problem related studies

Design study Framework

Collect data Methods
Analyze data

Interpret results Results and discussion

Present findings
Sources of Research Ideas
• Existing literature, existing body of knowledge,
past researches
• Breakthroughs and success stories, inventions,
(technological advancements, changes: socio,
political, economic, etc.)
• New legislation
• Conferences, symposia, dialogues, ordinary
meetings where the problem is brought to
one’s attention
• Simple observation of life’s many aspects,
experiences, practical problems or existing
designs
Literature materials
• Books
• Journals
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Films/plays
• Papers/speeches presented at conferences, symposia,etc
• Published proceedings
• Thesis or dissertation
• Personal Communication (interviews, letters-individuals and
organizations))
• Published materials/literature from various government
organizations or private firms
• Web-based materials
REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE AND STUDIES
• Literature: any written material e.g., book,
journal article, novel, poetry, reports on
studies or investigations, etc.
• Related: implies that the literature reviewed
are connected to or have bearing or
relation to the subject or problem under
investigation. In effect, it narrows down the
materials to be reviewed.
Types of Literature
• Conceptual Literature consists of articles or
books written by authorities giving their
theories, experiences, opinions or ideas of
what is good and bad, desirable and
undesirable within the problem area;
provides the researcher with basic
meanings of the concepts included in the
study
• Research Literature refers to
results of researches or studies
which were done previously, either
published or unpublished
• Review of Literature consists of:
• Context review – establishes the significance of the
research problem or the problem situation
• Historical review – traces the development of an
idea or shows how a theory or issue has evolved
over time
• Theoretical review – presents different theories that
explain and evaluates the research findings
• Integrative review – collation of current state of
knowledge in an area
• Methodological review – focuses on methods of past
studies, examines conflicting or different results on
account of different designs, measures, samples,
procedures, etc.
Why review related literature?
• Review of related literature provides the researcher
knowledge and background on the subject under
study.
• The review will enable the researcher to avoid
duplicating or doing the same study that was
already done.
• If the study on the same topic has been conducted
before, the review provides the information about
the aspects of the problem which have not been
investigated or explored before.
Why review related literature?
• By reviewing related literature, the researcher will
be helped in developing various parts of his study
such as definitions of problems and terms,
research design, data gathering techniques and
instrument, level and statistical tools for analysis,
and the form and style or report presentation.
• The review provides the researcher insight on the
weaknesses and problems of previous studies.
Why review related literature?
• It provides the researcher ideas/guidance on how to
proceed with his own investigation.
• In relational or explanatory study, the review provides the
researcher basis in determining what variables are
related, their relationships, and how to analyze and
measure these relationships.
• The review provides findings and
conclusions of past studies which the
researcher may relate to his own findings.
• Studies reviewed will provide the
researcher motivation and impetus that will
ensure a good progress toward the goal of
completing his study.
• A summary of writings of recognized
authorities and of previous researches
provides evidence that the researcher
is familiar with what is already known
and what is still untested
 Literature Review
• The literature review is a synthesis of previous
studies, not a parade of authors.
• It is presented thematically (Findings or theme
approach: literature of similar findings are grouped
together)
• It includes only pertinent works, not works of
tangential significance
• It compares and contrast pertinent findings, related
methodological issues and major conclusions from
previous/existing studies/projects
• It relates your study to previous studies. It
demonstrates continuity between previous and
present works.
Literature Review
• The literature review may appear in various parts in a
research report:
• A part of the introduction
• A chapter on its own and/or
• Appear throughout the report
In the Introduction/Background of the
Study
• The literature review aims to:
• Provide some form of background to the topic
or area of research
• Point out the overall trends in related research
• Point the direction towards the niche area of
research that it attempts to address so that the
work can be situated within the context of
relevant works from one’s own discipline
• Promotes the research as being valuable
• Show the readers that the researcher is
aware of the kind of research that is going
on in the field and is familiar with the
research
• Convince the readers that the research
adds on to existing work in the field
• Justifies the research
• The literature review may be found in
other parts as follows:
• In describing the method employed
as adopted from other works
• To make comparison and highlight
differences in findings
Two main documentation styles:
• Author-date system : only the author’s surname
and the year of publication are clearly stated in
the text; when information is obtained from a
specific page, the page number is also inserted
after the year (APA)
• Number system: when a work is cited, the
number reference is inserted beside the text,
either by placing the number in parenthesis or
square brackets or a superscript. This number
correspond to that in the reference list
(Journals)
• Summarize or Paraphrase
• If you are paraphrasing an idea from another
work, you only have to make reference to the
author and year of publication in your in-text
reference, but APA guidelines encourage you to
also provide the page number (although it is not
required.)
• According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult
citation format for first-time learners.
(Jones, 1998, p. 1998).
Example
• Emphasis on information:

Site analysis is a comprehensive

assessment which includes not only the
building program and the capability of a site
to accommodate it but also the political,
environmental, and regulatory issues as
well as development value of the land
(Zimmerman, 2001, p.408)
Example
• Emphasis on information

It has been found that reactions to

buildings such as feelings of listlessness,
moodiness, nausea and others have been
more apparent in dwellers who are aware
of the phenomenon of “sick” buildings than
in those who are not (Shane, 1999; Lim &
Tray, 2000; Borowski, 2001)
Example
• Emphasis on Author

Chopra (2001, p.470), in explaining

the basic principle of the vibration
absorber or tuned mass damper,
defined it as a mechanism that helps
reduce or remove unwanted vibration.
• Emphasis on author

Temple (1997) suggested that load tests be

conducted only when the load exceeds 500
kilotonnes.
• If you are referring to an idea from
another work but NOT directly quoting
the material, or making reference to an
entire book, article or other work, you
only have to make reference to the
author and year of publication and not
the page number in your in-text
reference.
Example
• Use reporting verbs like: stated,
described, identified, proposed,
defined, carried out, commented,
provided, explained, assumed, found,
reported, adopted, developed,
designed, formulated, noted, etc.
Example
• Use signal phrases when referring to
someone’s work

• According to Jason and Temple (1995),

the residual strength in cracked QSR
concrete consists of two parts.
.
• Note: APA style requires authors to use the
past tense or present perfect tense when
using signal phrases to describe earlier
research, for example, Jones (1998) found
or Jones (1998) has found...
Notes
• Each source that is cited in the paper (in-
text citation) must appear in the reference
list.

• Likewise, each entry in the reference list

must be cited in the text.
• Reference list entries should be
alphabetized by the last name of the
first author of each work.
References Listing Hanging indentation ½
in from left margin

Cases, J. R. & Aziz, A.J. (2002). Bridge

management methodology.
NJ: Prentice Hall.
Jenkins, T. (2003). Measurements and
structure of a bridge. Cambridge
University Press.
Shane, K. (2001a). Buildings that are sick.
Singapore: Times Press.