Practical Research 1

By:
GRESEL D. GABAWAN, JR., RN, MA
What is a research?
 What is a research?
It is a scientific or disciplined inquiry
for producing knowledge. It is a
scientific investigation of data,
collecting and analyzing them for
some purpose. It is a formal
application of the scientific method
to study the problems. It is the quest
for truth.
What is a scientific research?
 What is a scientific research?
It is the systematic, controlled,
empirical and critical investigation by
hypothetical proposition about the
presumed relation among natural
phenomena.
It is systematic because it is orderly.
It is empirical because it can be
experienced.
 Characteristics of Research:
1. Objective
Objectivity refers to data collection and analysis
procedure from which only one meaning or
interpretation can be made.
2. Precision
Research uses a technical language. It is used
not to confuse the reader but to convey exact
meanings.
3. Empirical
Research is based on observations and
experimentation of theories. Most researches
are based on real- life situations.

4. Systematic
Research follows orderly and sequential
procedure, based on valid procedure and
principles. Researchers are advised to refer to
the research guidelines provided or prescribed
by the school.
5. Controlled
In research, all variables, except those that are
tested/ experimented, are kept constant.
6. Employs hypothesis
The hypothesis guides the investigation process.
Research refers to a search for facts, answers
to questions and solutions to problems.
7. Analytical
There is a critical analysis of all data used so
that there is no error in the researcher’s
interpretations.
 Other characteristics of Qualitative
Research:
1. Concern for context and meaning
Qualitative research is bounded by a particular
context which the research aims to study.
Since it is context bound, the human
experience takes its meaning from social,
historical, political and cultural influences.
2. Naturally occurring settings
Qualitative research studies behavior as it
happens naturally in a school, classroom,
community or an organization.
3. Humans as instruments
The researcher is the primary isntrument for
gathering and for analyzing data.
4. Descriptive data
Data used in qualitative studies are in the form
of words or pictures or other visuals rather
than numbers and statistics. The participants,
experiences and perspectives culled from
varied types of documents enable the
researcher to present a holistic description of
the subject/s of the study.
5. Emergent Design
In qualitative research, the design cannot be
finalized at the onset because the researcher
continues to adjust his/her methods and ways
of proceeding as the study progresses.
 Types of Research
1. Library Research
This is done primarily in the library where answers
to specific questions or problems are available.
2. Field Research
It is done in the natural setting such as barangay,
school or factory.
3. Laboratory Research
It is conducted in an artificial or controlled
conditions by doing the study in a thoroughly
specified and equipped area.
 Ethics and Research
Ethics refers to norms for conduct
that distinguish between
acceptable and unacceptable
behavior. It is a method,
procedure or perspective for
deciding how to act and for
analyzing complex problems and
issues.
 Functions of Ethics:
1. Norms promote the aims of research such
as knowledge, truth and evidence of error.
2. Ethical standards promote the values that
are essential to collaborative work such as
trust, accountability, mutual respect and
fairness.
3. It ensures that researchers can be held
accountable to the public.
4. Research helps build public support quality
and integrity of research.
 Some ethical principles:
Honesty
Objectivity
Integrity
Carefulness
Openness
Respect for intellectual property
Confidentialty
Responsible publication
Respect for colleagues
Social Responsibility
Non- discrimination
Competence
Legality
 Ethical Considerations in Qualitative
Research
1. The kind of information obtained because of the
length and personal interaction that ensues
when doing a qualitative inquiry may give rise to
an issue or issues.
2. With regards to the researcher’s relationship to
the participants, the researcher is expected to
act professionally, maintain respect towards
them. The issues of anonymity and
confidentiality are to be observed.
3. The researcher is expected to give back to the
subjects/ participants of the research and to
show appreciation for their commitment of
time, effort and cooperation.
4. The researcher writes a letter and seeks to be
allowed to conduct a study.
 The Research Process

Define Review
Research the Formulate Design Collect
Problem Literature Hypothesis Research Data

Interpret
Analyze
and
Data
Report
Differences between Quantitative and
Qualitative Research
Qualitative Research is based on an approach
which sees the individual and the world
around him/ her as interconnected. It sees
social reality as unique, and therefore, human
behavior can only be understood by focusing
on the events based on their meanings for the
people involved.
 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
This type of research is associated with research
methods used in anthropology, history and
other social sciences.

It is primarily an exploratory research. It is used

to give an understanding of underlying
reasons, opinions and motivations. It is also
used to uncover trends in thought and
opinions and dig deeper into the problem.
It is used to create insights into the problem
being investigated. It is a research method
most often used in the analysis of literature.

It can also be utilized for historical review,

sociological studies, ethical experiments and
the investigations into personality and
behavior.
Qualitative research has a strong basis in the
fields of sociology, political science, social
work and special education. A popular
method utilized in this kind of research is the
case study.
Qualitative research deals with designs,
techniques and measures that do not produce
discrete numerical data. It involves extensive
narrative data in order to gain insights into
phenomena.
Quantitative research includes designs,
techniques and measures that produce
numerical or quantitative data the analysis of
which, is mainly statistical.
 Five features according to Yin (2001):
1. Studying the meaning of peoples’ lives,
under real world conditions; people will not
be limited by the confines of a laboratory.
2. Representing the views and perspective of
the people or participants of the study in the
results of the research mirror the values and
meanings of the people who live them, not
by the researcher.
3. Covering the contextual condition within
which people live the social institutions and
environmental conditions within which they
live. They may influence all human events.
4. Contributing insights into existing or emerging
concepts may help or explain human social
behavior. Research can be instances for
developing new concepts.
5. Striving to use multiple sources of evidence is
better than relying on a single source alone.
Qualitative research seeks to collect, integrate
and present data from a variety of sources of
evidence as part of a given study.
 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative research is more often associated
with hard data. It is used to quantify- that is to
put numerical equivalents to findings.
Although math and statistics are just the
means used, attitudes, opinions and behaviors
even when they are subjective in nature, can
be compared quantitatively in order to
produce results.
 Types of Research:
1. Applied Research- designed to solve practical
problems rather than to acquire knowledge. It is
used to find solutions to everyday problems,
current illness and develop technologies.
2. Basic Research- also referred to as fundamental
or pure research, is designed to add to an
organized body of scientific knowledge and does
not necessarily produce results of practical
value. Example: What is the possible cure for
HIV?; What is the genetic code of the fruit fly?;
How do mushrooms reproduce?
3. Correlational Research- refers to systematic
investigation or statistical study of relationships
among two or more variables, without
necessarily determining cause and effect.
4. Descriptive Research- refers to research that
provides an accurate portrayal of a class or a
particular individual situation or group. These
studies are a means of discussing new meanings,
describing what exists, categorizing information.
5. Ethnographic Research- refers to the
investigation of a culture through an in- depth
study of the members of the culture. It involves
the systematic collection, description, and
analysis of data for development of theories of
cultural behavior.
6. Experimental Research- is an objective,
systematic, controlled investigation, for the
purpose of predicting and controlling phenomena
and examining probability and causality among
variables.
7. Exploratory Research- is a type conducted for a
problem that has not been clearly defined. It
helps determine the best research design, data
collection method and selection of subjects.
8. Historical Research- is one involving analysis of
events that occurred in the remote or recent
past. It can show patterns that occurred in the
past and over time which can help to see where
we came from and what kind of solutions we
have used in the past.
9. Phenomenological Research- is concerned with
the study of experience from the perspective of
the individual. Its aim is to describe an experience
as it is actually lived by the person.
10. Action Research- involves the application of the
steps of the scientific method in the classroom
problems. This type of research is done on a very
limited scope. Examples: ‘How did teachers feel
about the new curriculum?’, What instructional
strategies do students think are engaging and
why?’.
 Kinds of Qualitative Research:
1. Participant Observation- demands immersion in the
natural setting of the research participant/s.
2. Observation- entails the systematic noting or
recording of events, behaviors and artifacts (objects)
in the social setting chosen for study.
3. In-depth Interviewing- resembles conversations, but
with pre- determined response categories.
4. Focus Group Interviewing- involves 7-10, at times 6-8
people, who are unfamiliar with one another and
have been selected because they share certain
characteristics that are relevant to the research
inquiry or problem.
5. Content Analysis- calls for systematic
examination of forms of communication to
document patterns objectively- as shown in
letters, emails, minutes of meetings, policy
statements and a lot more.
6. Narratology- can be applied to any spoken or
written story.
7. Films, Videos and Photographs- these provide
visual records of events, especially the films and
videos which capture the perspective of the
filmmaker or videogrpaher.
 Kinds of Variables and their Uses
Variable- from the root word “vary” which simply
means “can change”.
Variables are among the fundamental concepts of
research, alongside with measurement, validity,
reliability, cause and effect and theory.
Most common variables in social research are age,
sex, gender, education, income, marital status
and occupation.
It refers to a characteristic, or attribute of an
individual that can be measured or observed.
 Four types of Variables:
1. Nominal Variables- represent categories that
cannot be ordered in any particular way.
Examples:
Biological Sex (Male or Female)
Political Affiliation
Basketball fan affiliation
2. Ordinal Variables- represent categories that
can be ordered from greatest to smallest.
Examples:
Education Level (e.g. Freshman, sophomore,
Grade XI)
Income Brackets (P10,000-15,000/ month)
3. Interval Variables- have values that lie along
an evenly dispersed range or numbers.
Examples:
Temperature
Net Worth
4. Ratio Variables- have values that lie along an
evenly dispersed range of numbers when
there is an absolute zero, as opposed to net
worth, which can have a negative debt-to-
income ratio level variable.
 Kinds of Variables:
1. Independent Variables- those that probably
cause, influence, or affect outcomes. They
are called treatment, manipulated or
predictor variables. It can stand alone and
they are not changed by the other variables
you are trying to measure.
Examples:
Age, gender, what people eat, how much time
they spent on gadgets, etc.
2. Dependent Variables- those that depend on
the independent variables. They are the
outcomes or results of the influence of the
independent variables.
3. Intervening or mediating- those that are in-
between the independent and dependent
variables, showing the effects of the
independent variable on the dependent
variable.
4. Control- those that are measured in a study
because they potentially influence the
dependent variable, using statistical
procedures like analysis of covariance to
control these variables.
Examples:
Time spent studying.

Possible variables:
Test Score
Time spent studying
Examples:
Time spent studying.

Possible variables:
Test Score – dependent variable
Time spent studying – independent variable
(Independent variable) causes a change in
(dependent variable) and it isn’t possible that
(dependent variable) could cause a change in
(independent variable).

(Time spent studying) causes a change but it is

not possible that (Test Score) could cause a
change in (Time spent studying).
 Writing a Research Title

Research title – is a product of

real world observations,
dilemmas, wide reading,
selective viewing, meaningful
interactions with significant
others, and deep reflection.
It is the research
problem or inquiry
in capsule form.
Great care must be
taken in the
formulation of the
research title.
A research title must be:
ORIGINAL

CLEAR

CONCISE

SPECIFIC
 BROAD TOPICS
Broad topics should always be narrowed down.
Examples of broad topics:
1. Blended Learning in English Classes
2. Presidential Election Results
3. Agri- business
4. Social Networking
5. Vegetarianism
 Specific Topics
Specific topics are researchable.
Examples:
1. A Correlation Study on the Use of
Blended Learning in Freshman
English Classes and Student
Achivement
2. The Impact of Agribusiness on the
Philippine Economy
3. Campaign Events and Materials and
their Impact on Presidential Election
Results
4. The Cause- Effect Relationships of
Social Networking and Online Selling
5. Effects of Vegetarianism on Physical
Health
 Techniques in Narrowing Down a
Topic:
1. Examine the Literature
Published articles are an excellent
source of ideas for research topics.
They are usually at an appropriate
level of specificity.
2. Talk over ideas with others.

Ask people who are knowledgeable

about the topic for questions
about it that they have thought
of.
Seek out those who hold
opinions that differ from yours
on the topic and discuss
possible research questions
with them.
3. Apply to a specific context.

Focus the topic on a specific

historical period or time
period.
Narrow the topic to a
specific society or
geographic unit.
Consider which subgroups or
categories of people/ units are
involved and whether there
are differences among them.
4. Define the aim or desired
outcome of the study.

Will the research question be for

an exploratory, explanatory or
descriptive study?
Will the study involve
applied or basic
research?
 Other Topics of Interest

There are other topics of

interest that you can use for a
meaningful and useful
qualitative research.
1. Body, Health and Lifestyle Issues
2. Traffic and the Economy
3. Mobile Hospitals
4. Popular Culture and Popular Music
5. Flood control
6. Endangered Species
7. Success Indicators of Entrepreneurial
Ventures
8. Friendship and Its Impact on a Person’s well
being
9. Neighbourliness as a Prime Factor in a
Community’s Peace and Order Situation
Choosing a Topic for a Research Study

It is important to select a topic that

interests and motivates you.

It should be “doable” with the

resources at your disposal and
within the required time frame.
It should be focused and well- defined.

Deciding on a topic entails being clear

about which ones to avoid, especially
if you have little experience as a
researcher.
Although topics close to your
own personal experiences may
be appropriate for small- scale
projects, you must not allow
personal views, ideas, opinions
and prejudices cloud your
thinking.
Research Projects must be
as objective as possible,
that is free from your
personal biases or
preferences as a
researcher.
Lastly, you should avoid
research topics that involve
your making of moral
judgments about certain
kinds of behavior.
 Assignment:
List down 3 Existing Research Titles
(Qualitative Research) and its
Abstract. Write it in a long size bond
paper. No encoding please.
Include the references plzzzzzzzz

Evaluation: (By Pair)
Direction: Choose 3 topics and narrow them down
into specific titles.
Broad Topic: __________________________
Specific Title: _________________________
1. A comparison of the Time spent on Facebook by
Adults and Adolescents
2. Junk food and its ill effects on Human Health
3. Online Selling
4. Teleseryes: Mirrors of Positive and Negative
Filipino Values?
5. Premarital Sex
 DESCRIBING
BACKGROUND OF
THE STUDY
 Background of the Study
It is basically an overview of the research
study and explains why you, as
researcher, are doing the study.

It provides information that is important

or essential to understand the main
body of the research investigation.
It locates or situates your
study in the context of your
specific field.
 Examples of Background of the Study
Some excerpts:
Example 1.

Cockroaches are common pests in the

topics. They have been known to cause allergic
reactions to most people and chew holes on
clothes. According to Bato Balani for Science
and Technology, vol. 4, no. 2, the real danger of
cockroach lies in their ability to transmit
sometimes lethal diseases and organisms such
as staphylococcus spp, streptococcus spp, Hepatitis
viruses and coliform bacteria.

They have been known to contaminate food, at

the same time infect with bacteria they carry. The
bacteria they spread in food can cause food
poisoning.

People have used various instruments to control the

cockroach problem. The most popular is the
insecticide spray but according to website
www.bayer.co.th its active ingredients like
petroleum distillates can cause severe chest pains
and coughs when inhaled.
The second is cockroach coil which can kill
roaches but the active ingredients like
allethri... Can cause harm to humans when
inhaled. It has an ozone depleting ingredient.

The third most popular is the flypaper; when

roaches are stuck into it, they die and carcass
can spread more bacteria.
The question on everyone’s mind is: “What can be
an effective and natural insecticide?”

Tubang Bakod (Jatropha carcass) is a common plant

in the Philippines. According to the website
www.davesgarden.com , its seeds contain a
certain toxic substance known as toxalbumin
carcen. Along with other ingredients like sap,
onions and weeping willow leaves, are Tubang
Bakod seeds feasible to be used as cockroach
killer?
(http://www.sribd.com/doc/60715657/Backgrou
nd-of -the-study-sample)
Objectives of the Study
Indicating Scope and Delimitation

It sets boundaries and parameters

of the problem inquiry and
narrows down the scope of the
inquiry.
The scope is the domain of your
research- what is in the domain,
and what is not.
You need to make as clear as
possible what you will be
studying and what factors
are within the accepted
range of your study.
 Examples:
A. Title of the Study: Consumers’ Response to PETA’s
advocacy advertisements on vegetarianism (Del
Mundo, 2009).

The study was conducted to find out the consumers’

responses toward vegetarianism in advocacy
advertisements. The research chose vegetarianism
among many advocacy issues; the reason for this is that
vegetarianism is a growing consumer market. The aspects
studies were the respondents’ feedback to selected most
popular advertisements of PETA toward vegetarianism,
how the advertisements catch attention and interest,
how they affect lifestyles, and how they generate action.
B. Title of the Study: Milo Marathon: A Sports Event as
a Corporate Social Responsibility (Bernardo, 2013).

The research is focused mainly on the application of

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Milo
Marathon. The Milo Marathon is the search context
of this study as it allows individuals to participate in
a sports event, on which portion of the event
proceeds benefits a charitable advocacy. A sample
population from 42-km and 21-km distances of the
marathon is used as respondents to the survey
questionnaires of this research.
Citing Benefits and Beneficiaries of the
Research Study
When you mull over who/what benefit
from your study, focus on your problem
which will guide you in identifying the
specific contribution of your study. The
challenge of this section of the Problem
Statement is to situate the study as
addressing a particular, important or
even pressing problem.
 Title of the Study: Task-
Based Language Teaching
and Its Effects on Second
Language Acquisition on
College Freshman Students
(Go, 2010).
Significance of the Study

Choosing an appropriate language teaching

methodology for a group of learners is a
responsibility of language educators. With the
teachers’ explicit and implicit knowledge of
language acquisition and language learning
processes, they can select theoritically sound and
more effective pedagogy appropriate for their
learners. However, implementing a chosen
methodology necessitates understanding its
principles, as well as its strengths and
weaknesses.
This study may be significant to the language
learners, the language learners and the
concerned educators:

Teachers. Language teachers will become

more aware of Task- Based Language Teaching
(TBLT) and they would realize that tasks could
be used as pedagogical tools, as well as
methodological procedure.
Language Learners. Students, the language
learners, would be made aware of the
usefulness of the English Language as a tool
for communication and a tool for
understanding course content, or for
academic purposes.