PRACTICAL

RESEARCH 2
What is research?
What are the
characteristics of
research? What
are the types of
research?
RESEARCH is a systematic
and exhaustive inquiry,
investigation or
experimentation with the aim
of finding new facts
(knowledge) in explaining the
problems associated with our
day to day relations with our
environments (social, natural,
political, economics, physical)
to come up with working
solutions in facing them.
 Research is an
ORGANIZED
and SYSTEMATIC way
of FINDING ANSWERS
to QUESTIONS
Re….. means once more, afresh,
anew OR back; with return to a
previous state
Search….. means look through or
go over thoroughly to look
something OR examine to find
anything concealed.
 RE
+
SEARCH
=

RESEARCH
Definitions of Research
 Research is a careful search .
 Research is about
exploration, discovery, and
curiosity.
 Research is all about the
questions.
 RESEARCH IS A
SYSTEMATIC
INVESTIGATION OF
NEW FACTS LEADING
TO A DISCOVERY
OF NEW IDEAS
(Sanchez, 1999)
 Research is an
ORGANIZED
and SYSTEMATIC way
of FINDING ANSWERS
to QUESTIONS
ORGANIZED in that there
is a structure or method in
going about doing research.
It is a planned procedure,
not a spontaneous one. It is
focused and limited to a
specific scope.
SYSTEMATIC because
there is a definite set of
procedures and steps which
you will follow. There are
certain things in the
research process which are
always done in order to get
the most accurate results.
 FINDING ANSWERS is
the end of all research.
Whether it is the answer to a
hypothesis or even a simple
question, research is
successful when we find
answers. Sometimes the
answer is no, but it is still an
answer.
 QUESTIONS are central to
research. If there is no question,
then the answer is of no use.
Research is focused on
relevant, useful, and important
questions. Without a question,
research has no focus, drive, or
purpose.
 Thinking about
research project

 What is my research?
 Why do I want to do research?

 Who are my research participants?

 Where am I going to do the research?

 When am I going to do the research?

CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH

1. Systematic
2. Objective
3. Feasible
4. Empirical
5. Clear
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
 SYSTEMATIC – Consider the MACRO and
MICRO systems
 The MACRO system is the composition of
chapters in an organized, logical , and
scientific manner.
 The MICRO system is the formulation of
the of the detailed content of each element.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
 OBJECTIVE – Research is an
objective (unbiased) process of
analyzing phenomena of
importance to any of the different
professional and academic fields of
disciplines (Nieswiadomy, 2004)
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
 FEASIBLE (practical/possible)– In any
profession, any problem of extraordinary
nature (phenomenon) that directly or
indirectly affects the profession is a feasible
problem to study.
In settings like community, school, or
workplace, unusual phenomena happen
and turn into potential problems.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
 EMPIRICAL – There should be
adequate pieces of evidence
discussing the different variables
used in the study.
Detailedevidences
Referencing of facts
 Proper citation
 Avoiding plagiarism
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
 CLEAR – The choice of variables used
in the study should be explained by the
researcher.
 Enrich review of literature – lots
of theories
 Sufficient indicators per variable

 Variables taken from varied

sources
 Properly referenced
Characteristics of Quantitative
Research
 Methods or procedures of
data gathering include items
like age, gender, educational
status, among others that call
for measurable characteristics
of the population.
 Characteristics of Quantitative
Research
Standardized instruments
guide data collection, thus
ensuring the accuracy,
reliability and validity of
data.
 Characteristics of Quantitative
Research
Figures, tables or graphs
showcase summarized data
collected in order to show
trends, relationships or
differences among variables.
 Characteristics of Quantitative
Research
A large population yields
more reliable data but
principles of random
sampling must be strictly
followed to prevent
researcher’s bias.
 Characteristics of Quantitative
Research
Quantitative methods can
be repeated to verify
findings in another setting
, thus reinforcing validity
of findings.
 Characteristics of Quantitative
Research

Quantitative
research puts
emphasis on proofs,
rather than discovery.
Strengths and
Weaknesses of
Quantitative
Research
Quantitative research
design is the most
reliable and valid way
of concluding results ,
giving way to a new
hypothesis or to
disproving it.
Because of a bigger
number of the
sample of a
population. The
results or
generalizations are
more reliable and
valid.
Quantitative
research design is
the most reliable
and valid way of
concluding results ,
giving way to a new
hypothesis or to
disproving it.
Quantitative experiments
are useful for testing the
results gained by a series
of quantitative
experiments, leading to a
final answer, and a
narrowing down of
possible directions to
follow .
Quantitative experiments
are useful for testing the
results gained by a series
of quantitative
experiments, leading to a
final answer, and a
narrowing down of
possible directions to
follow .
Quantitative studies
require extensive
statistical treatment ,
requiring stringent
standards, more so
with confirmation of
results.
Quantitative research
also tend to turn out
only proved or
unproven results,
leaving little room
for uncertainty, or
grey areas.
 refers to the overall
strategy that you
choose in order to
integrate the
different
components of a
study in a coherent
and logical way.
All the things we read and studied today are
products of research and creative minds.
Research Design constitutes the
 blueprint for the selection,
 measurement and

 analysis of data

The research problems

determine the research design to use.
Quantitative Methods
 objective measurements
 Statistical

 mathematical or

 numerical analysis of data

collected through polls,
questionnaires and surveys.
 Classification of
Quantitative Reserach

1. Experimental

2. Non-experimental
 Experimental Research Design
 allows the researcher to control the
situation. (What causes something
to occur?)
Three classes:
1. Pre-experimental
2. True Experimental
3. Quasi Experimental
Pre-experimental Types of
Research
1. One Short Case
Study
2. One Group Pre-
test and Post-
test Design
Pre-experimental Types of Research
Apply to experimental
designs with the least
internal validity.
One type of pre-experiment
, the single group, pre-test-
posttest design, measures
the group 2 times, before &
after the intervention.
Pre-experimental Types of Research
Instead of comparing
the pretest with the
posttest within one
group, the posttest of
the treated groups is
compared with that
of untreated group
(control group)
The researcher can
collect more data,
either by
scheduling more
observations of
finding more
existing measures
Controls for both
time-related and
group-related
threats.
Employs both treated
and control groups
to deal with time-
related rival
explanations.
A Control Group reflects
changes other than those
due to the treatment that
occur during the time of
the study. Such changes
include effects of
outside events,
maturation by the
subjects, changes in
measures and impact of
any pre-tests.
Offers the highest internal
validity of all the
designs.
Quasi-experimental
design differs from true
experimental design by
the absence of random
assignment of subjects
to different conditions.
Common in Quasi-
experimental design
and true
experimental is that
some subjects
receive an
intervention and
provide data to
reflect its impact.
1. Non-equivalent
control group design –
refers to the chance of
random assignment to
equalize the conditions
by converting a true
experiment into the
kind of design for
purposes of analysis.
2.Interrupted Time
Series Design-
employs multiple
measures before
and after the
experimental
intervention.
2.Interrupted Time
Series Design-
employs multiple
measures before
and after the
experimental
intervention.
The researcher
observes the
phenomena as
they occur
naturally and no
external
variables are
introduced.
The variables are not
manipulated nor is
the setting
controlled.
Researchers collect
data without making
changes or
introducing
treatments.
Descriptive
1. Survey
2. Correlational
3. Ex-post Facto
Studies
4. Comparative
5. Evaluative
6. Methodological
Main purpose is to
observe, describe, and
document aspects of a
situation as it naturally
occurs and sometimes
to serve as a starting
point for hypothesis
generation or theory
development.
1. Survey- a research
design used when the
researcher intends to
provide a quantitative or
numeric description of
trends, attitudes, or
opinions of a population
by studying a sample of
that population
(Creswell, 2003).
2. CorrelationalResearch
3 Types:
1. Bivariate Correlation Studies
2. Prediction Studies
3. Multiple Regression
 2. Bivariate Correlation
Studies-
 Obtain scores from 2 variables
for each subject. Then use them
to calculate a correlation
coefficient.
 The 2 variables are correlated
 3. Prediction Studies
 Use correlation co-efficient to
show how one variable (the
predictor variable) predicts
another (the criterion
variable)
 3. Multiple Regression
Prediction Studies
 Variables can cotribute to the
over-all prediction in an
equaiton that adds together
the predictive power of each
identified variable.
4. Ex-Post Facto Research Design
 These are non-experimental designs
that are used to investigate causal
relationships.
 They examine whether one or more
pre-existing conditions could possibly
have caused subsequent differences in
groups of subjects.
3. Comparative Design
 Involvescomparing and
contrasting 2 or more samples of
study subjects on one or more
variables, often at a single point of
time.
Comparative Design
 Itis used to compare 2 distinct
groups on the basis of selected
attributes such as knowledge level,
perceptions, and attitudes,
physical or psychological
symptoms.
5. Evaluative Research
 Seeks to assess or judge in some
way providing information
about something other than
might be gleaned in mere
observation or investigation of
relationships.
 Evaluative Research
 Is conducted to elicit useful
feedback from a variety of
respondents from various fields
to aid in decision making or
policy formulaiton investigation
of relationships.
 6. Methodological
 Inthis approach, the
implementation of a variety of
methodologies forms a critical part
of achieving the goal of developing
a scale-matched approach, where
data from different disciplines can
be integrated.