Research I



Chapter Objectives:

At the end of the chapter, the students shall be able to:

1. define research;

2. identify and differentiate the types of research;

3. discus the purposes of research and the characteristics of good research;

4. explain the stages of research; and

5. answer study guide questions.

Chapter I

Introduction to Research

1. Meaning of Research

Good and Scates (1972) defined research as “the continuous discovery and exploration of the unknown”. According to them, research entails an investigation of new facts leading to discovery of new ideas, methods or new improvements.

According to Kerlinger (1973), “research is a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about presumed relations among natural phenomena”. It is systematic because it follows steps or stages that begin with the identification of the problem, relating of the problem with existing theories, collection of data, analysis and interpretation of these data, drawing conclusions, and integration of these conclusions into the stream of knowledge.

Aquino (1992) defined research as the systematic search for information on a specific topic or problem.

Research has been defined also as the process of gathering data or information to solve a particular or specific problem in a scientific manner (Manuel and Medel). It may evolve from the basic teaching and learning processes to educational practices and policies. It may be focused on the human resources – the teachers, the pupils, the administrators and physical resources that are part of the school environment.

Parel (1973) defines research as a systematic study or investigation of something for the purpose of answering questions posed by the researcher.

Best (1981) defines research as a systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles, or theories, resulting in the prediction and possible the ultimate control of events.

Formulated in a more comprehensive form, research maybe defined as a purposive, systematic, and scientific process of gathering, analyzing, classifying, organizing, presenting, and interpreting data for the solution of the problem, for prediction, for the discovery of the truth, or for the expansion or verification of existing knowledge, all for the preservation and improvement of the quality of human life.

1.2. Purposes of Research

• To discover new facts about known phenomena.

• To find answers to problems which are only partially solved by existing methods and information.

• To improve existing techniques and develop new instruments and new products.

• To put into order related and valid generalizations into systematized science.

• To discover previously unrecognized substances or elements.

• To provide the basis for decision making in business, industry, education, government, and in other undertakings.

• To satisfy the researcher’s curiosity

• To find answers to queries by means of scientific methods.

• To acquire a better or deeper understanding about one phenomenon that can be known and understood better through research.

• To expand or verify existing knowledge gained from a previous research or verify if the same facts are found.

1.3. Characteristics of Good Research

Best (1981) gives a summary of the more important characteristics of a good research as follows:

1. Research is directed towards the solution of the problem. The ultimate goal is to discover cause-and-effect relationship between variables, though researchers often have to settle for the useful discovery of a systematic relationship, for lack of enough evidence to establish one of cause-and-effect.

2. Research emphasizes the development of generalizations, principles, or theories that will be helpful in predicting future occurrences. It usually goes beyond he specific objects, groups, or situations investigated and infer characteristics of a target population from the sample observed. It is more than information retrieval, the simple gathering of information.

3. Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence. Certain interesting questions do not lend themselves to research procedures because they cannot be observed.

4. Research demands accurate observation and description. Researches use quantitative measuring devices, the most precise form of description. When this is not possible or appropriate, they use qualitative or non-qualitative description of their observations.

5. Research involves gathering new data from primary or first-hand sources or using existing data for a new purpose. Merely reorganizing or restating what is already known and has already been written valuable as it maybe as a learning experience, is not research. It adds nothing to what is known.

6. Although research activity may at times be somewhat random and unsystematic, it is more often characterized by carefully designed procedures requiring rigorous analysis.

7. Research requires expertise. The researcher knows what is already known about the problem and how others have investigated it. He or she has searched the related literature carefully, and is thoroughly grounded in the terminology, the concepts, and the technical skill necessary to understand and analyze the data gathered.

8. Research strives to be objective and logical, applying every possible test to validate the procedures employed, the data collected, and the conclusions reached. The researcher attempts to eliminate personal bias. The emphasis is on testing rather than on proving the hypothesis.

9. Research involves the quest for answer to unsolved problems. Pushing back the frontiers of ignorance is its goal and originally is frequently the quality of a good research project. However, the previous important studies are deliberately repeated, using identical or similar procedures, with different subjects, different setting, and at a different time. This process is called replication, which is done to confirm or to raise questions about the conclusions of a previous study.

10. Research is characterized by patient and unhurried activity. It is rarely spectacular and researchers must expect disappointment and discouragement as they pursue the answer to difficult questions.

11. Research is carefully recorded and reported. Each important term is defined, limiting factors are recognized, procedures are described in detail, references are carefully documented, results are objectively recorded, and conclusions are presented with scholarly caution and restraint.

12. Research requires courage.

1.4 Types of Research

1. Basic Researches are those that deal with the process of objects and things, or information about different topics with no concern for a direct pay-off. Among these are studies on relationships, comparative analyses, trends, and projections.

Examples:

a. Relationship between emotional quotient and leadership skills.

b. Relationship between GPA and science grades of grade 6 pupils.

c. The intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors of students to enroll in Information Technology courses.

2. Applied Researches are those that probe into the unknown using directly the results to a current problem.

Examples:

a. studies on rice substitutes

b. modern methods for gall bladder operation

c. modern techniques of tooth treatment.

d. Use of native plants to serve as gasoline.

3. Empirical Researches are more specific than basic researches, but simply imply their nature from the use of data, whether quantitative or qualitative. Basically, they have the following important characteristics:

• Based upon observations and experiences;

• Derived from direct data;

• Deal with population samples; and

• Generally use estimations and hypothesis testings.

Problems that involve differences and relationships of behavior or measurable characteristics are generally empirical researches.

Pure Researches

These are researches which do not use empirical or direct data, but are researches where the laboratory is the human mind and are geared towards the resolution or a simplification of a problem or derivation of a concept or a theory or even a formula.

Example:

Thesis and dissertation of students for a Master of Science degree in Mathematics, Statistics, or Physics.

1.5. The Research Process

As a systematic process of solving a problem or adding to the existing body of knowledge, research is not done haphazardly. It follows a standard procedure in a logical sequence of steps, as shown below.

IDEA-GENERATING PHASE. Research begins with an idea in which the researcher has interest. It is in this phase wherein the researcher has to identify topics that interest him most. It is in this step where he has to justify why a study on a particular topic is needed. Once a topic of interest is already identified, the researcher has to start reading articles and books, converse with people who are knowledgeable in the area and begin thinking about it.

PROBLEM-DEFINITION PHASE. As the ideas generated in the first phase are very general and vague, the researcher has to refine them. This is the problem definition phase. This particular step involves the following activities: identification and definition of the variables to be studied; development of the theoretical and conceptual framework of the study; the formulation of the major and specific problems to be investigated and the formulation of the hypothesis.

PROCEDURES-DESIGN PHASE. After identifying the problems and hypothesis, the researcher has to decide on the methods and procedures he will use in the collection and analysis of data. This is the procedures-design phase. Activities a researcher has to undertake in this phase include the following: decision on what research methodology to employ; selection of research participants; development and validation of data gathering tools; specification of the procedures to be observed in the actual collection of data and planning the analysis of data gathered.

DATA COLLECTION PHASE. After preparing the research plan, the researcher has to proceed gathering the data from the subjects of the study. It is in this phase where the procedures devise din the previous step, are implemented by the researcher rigorously.

DATA ANALYSIS PHASE. In this particular phase, the researcher analyzes the collected data from the previous step, based on his data analysis plan. Appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques and procedures are then applied for data that have been recorded, coded, ad tabulated.

INTERPRETATION PHASE. Having analyzed the data, the researcher continues to make sense out of them by interpreting the results in terms of how they aid in responding to the research problem posed at the beginning of the study, and how this answer contributes to knowledge in the field. After generating answers to the problem, he researcher has to compare the results predicted based on the theoretical framework of the study.

COMMUNICATION PHASE. After completing the data analysis and interpretation phase, the researcher has to prepare written or oral report of the study conducted, either for publication or presentation to colleagues or a panel of experts. This report has to include a description of all above steps in the research process.

1.6. Characteristics of the Researcher

There are four characteristics of a researcher namely: intellectual curiosity; prudence; healthy criticism; and intellectual honesty.

1. Intellectual curiosity. A researcher undertakes reflective thinking and inquiry of the things, situations and problems around him. He is eager to get information on these often due to novelty and unusualness. He raises questions to seek answer, continues to read the literature, make use of his experiences, ad exercises his creativeness.

2. Prudence. There is a saying that “Intellectual curiosity ends when prudence begins”. Once the investigator has chosen wisely his research problem, his intellectual curiosity ends. The researcher is prudent if he conducts his research study at the right time and at the right place wisely, efficiently and economically.

3. Healthy criticism. The investigator is always doubtful as to the veracity of the results. Normally, the researcher always doubts the truthfulness of his findings even if the data are gathered honestly.

4. Intellectual honesty. An intelligent researcher is honest in collecting or gathering data or facts in order to arrive at results.

Study Guide

Answer the questions briefly.

1. Give the definition of research in your own words.

1. What are the purposes of research?

2. What makes a good research?

3. What are the stages of research? Explain each stage.

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IDEA-GENERATING PHASE

PROBLEM DEFINITION PHASE

PROCEDURES-DESIGN PHASE

DATA COLLECTION PHASE

DATA ANALYSIS PHASE

INTERPRETATION PHASE

COMMUNICATION PHASE

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