Characteristics of Research Part I Lesson II Eng 122 Research Characteristics Just like you and any other subject matter on earth, there exists an array of characteristics when it comes to research. These characteristics distinguish it from other scholarly undertakings. 1. Realistic - It deals with Empirical Data - Empirical Data means data that are derived from actual observations, interviews, or first-hand documentations by other people that validates evidences. 2. Logical - An procedure is followed along with principles and ethical practices to find answers to a research question. - Being irresponsible in following a procedure may lead to failure or unreliable outcomes. 3. Cyclical - It starts with a problem and ends with a problem. - Answers may be refined. - There is a use of another investigative lens using the same subject. 4. Analytical - Data must undergo analysis to unravel the desired meaning from obtained information. - Data analysis should be done properly before drawing conclusions.s 5. Objective - Analysis should be free of bias and prejudice. - Implications should not favor a certain hypothesis, a personality, or an organization. - The presence of bias and prejudice leads the research to a total failure. 6. Critical - The researcher must be careful and precise in processing data and judgement. - Procedures and recommendations must be in confidence as not to jeopardize the credibility of the researcher. 7. Replicable - A research must be written clearly and chronologically for other researchers to redo or repeat it. - This will also allow other researchers to verify data to see if the results are consistent. - If data is not replicable, it cannot be considered as a research. The Research Process Part I Lesson II Eng 122 Research as Process Since Research is viewed as a systematic and scientific investigation, then it has steps to follow. Whether it is Qualitative or Quantitative, the same procedures are employed. 1. Identifying the Research Problem - Is the initial step in the research process. Usually comes in the form of a question. It serves as the researcher’s guide. It helps the researcher focus. 2. Formulating the Hypothesis and Designing the Study - It is known as an Intellectual Guess. - It is a tentative answer to the research problem. - It serves as a more specific guide towards designing the research methodology. 3. Collecting of and Organizing of Data - It is the process of fixing data gathered from observations and key informants. - These data can be anything that represents facts and values. 4. Analyzing Data and Testing Hypothesis - It is the analysis of the collected data against the provided hypothesis. - It can either support or reject a hypothesis. 5. Interpreting Data - Meaning is given to the data. - The use of Empirical Data can be employed to see if the data goes against a theory. - The readers can also benefit from the interpretation of data through drawing meaningful findings that are essential to the research subjects. 6. Reporting Results - This is done for the information of the public. - Results may benefit the researcher or interested parties that would like to sponsor and develop a research. Ethics: Types of Plagiarism Part I Lesson II Eng 122 1. Clone - The act of submitting another’s work, word-forword, as one’s own. 2. ctrl + c (copy paste) - The act of writing a study that contains significant portions of text from a single source without alterations. 3. find-replace - The act of changing key words and phrases, but retaining the essential content of the source in the paper. 4. remix - The act of paraphrasing from other sources and making the content fit together seamlessly. 5. recycle - The act of borrowing generously from one’s own previous work without citation. - This is also called selfplagiarism. 6. hybrid - The act of combining perfectly-cited sources with copied passages– without citation – in one paper. 7. mashup MASH UP - The act of mixing copied materials from several different sources without proper citation. 8. 404 error - The act of including nonexistent citations or inaccurate information about sources. 9. aggregator - The act of including proper citations, but containing almost no original work. 10. re-tweet - The act of including proper citations, but relying too closely on the text’s original wording and/ or structure. FIN
