WHAT IS RESEARCH?
“ Research is a
key to progress. There can be no progress without
research in almost if not all human endeavors. In government, in education,
in trade and commerce, and in all types and kinds of industries, research is vital and
essential. Therefore, the methods and techniques must be taught and learned in graduate
as well as in undergraduate educational work. This is imperative because the people who
have gone through the college and graduate levels of education are the
ones who are most expected to undertake research activities.
-Calderon, J.F & Gonzales, E.C.
DEFINITIONS
a "careful, critical, disciplined inquiry. varying in technique and method
according to the nature and conditions of the problem identified, directed
toward the clarification or resolution (or both) of a problem." (Good, C.V.)
“the systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic or
problem. After a careful, systematic search for pertinent information or data
on a specific topic or problem, and after the research worker has analyzed
and interpreted the data, he eventually faces another essential task - that of
preparing the research report." (Aquino, G.V)
“the process of gathering data or information to solve a particular or specific problem in a scientific
manner." (Manuel, BB and Medel, P.C.)
Parel defines research as "a systematic study or investigation of something for the purpose of
answering questions posed by the researcher." (Cited by Sanchez, p. 2)
research in its broadest sense Is an attempt to gain solutions to problems. More precisely, it is the
collection of data in a rigorously controlled situation for the purpose of prediction or explanation.
(Treece and Treece, p. 3)
:comprehensive form, research may be defined as a purposive, systematic and scientific process of
gathering. analyzing, classifying, organizing, presenting and interpreting data for the solution of a
problem, for prediction, for invention, for the discovery of truth, or for the expansion or verification
of existing knowledge, all for the preservation and improvement of the quality of human life,
PURPOSE
The main or principal purpose and goal of research is the preservation and
improvement of the quality of human life. All kinds of research are directed
toward this end, "The purpose of research is to serve man," and "The goal
of research is the good life." (Good and Scates, pp. 9. 14)
"To satisfy man's craving for more understanding to improve his judgment,
to add to his power, to reduce the burden of work, to relieve suffering, and
to increase satisfactions in multitudinous ways- these are the large and
fundamental goals of research." (Good and Scates. p. 15)
MORE SPECIFIC PURPOSES AND GOALS OF RESEARCH
1. To discover new facts about known phenomena.
2. To find answer of problems which are only partially solved by existing methods and
information
3. Improve existing techniques and develop new instruments or products
4. To discover previously uncategorized substances or elements
5. Discover pathways of action of known substances and elements
6. To order related, valid generalizations into systematized science
7. To provide basis for decision-making in business, industry, education, government, and in
other undertakings.
8. To satisfy the researcher's curiosity.
9. To acquire a better and deeper understanding about one phenomenon that can be known and
understood better by research
10. To find answers to queries by means of scientific methods.
11. To Expand or verify existing knowledge.
12. To improve educational practices for raising the quality of school products.
13. To promote health and prolong life
14. To provide man with more of his basic needs - more and better food clothing, shelter, etc.
15. To make work, travel and communication faster, cashier, and more comfortable.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
RESESARCH
Research is simply a systematic and refined technique of thinking, employing
specialized tools, instruments and procedures in order to obtain a more adequate
solution of a problem than would be possible under ordinary means. It starts with a
problem, collects data or facts, analyze these critically, and reaches decisions based
on actual evidence. It involves original work instead of a mere exercise of personal
option. It evolves from a genuine desire know rather than a desire to prove
something, seeking to know my only what but how much, and measurement is
therefore a central feature of it.
W.B. Crawford
1. RESEARCH GATHERS NEW KNOWLEDGE OR DATA
FROM PRIMARY OR FIRST- HAND SOURCES.
It is not research when one merely restates or merely reorganizes
what is already known or what has been written Research places
emphasis upon the discovery of general principles. It goes beyond
the specific groups and situations investigated, and, by careful
sampling procedures, infers qualities of the entire population
from those observed in the smaller group
2. RESEARCH IS EXPERT, SYSTEMATIC AND ACCURATE
INVESTIGATION.
The researcher knows what is already known about his problem.
He proceeds from this point, carefully planning his procedures.
Data are gathered, recorded, and analyzed with as much
accuracy as possible. He uses such valid data-gathering
instruments as he can find or devise, and employs mechanical
means to improve on the accuracy of human observation,
recording, and computation of data.
3. RESEARCH IS LOGICAL AND OBJECTIVE, APPLYING EVERY
POSSIBLE TEST TO VERIFY THE DATA COLLECTED AND THE
PROCEDURES EMPLOYED.
The researcher constantly strives to eliminate personal
feeling and preference. He resists the temptation to seek only
the data that support his hypothesis. There is no attempt to
persuade or to prove. The emphasis is on testing, rather than
on proving the hypothesis. The researcher elevates clear
thinking and logic. He suppresses feeling and emotion in his
analysis.
4. RESEARCH ENDEAVORS TO ORGANIZE DATA IN
QUANTITATIVE TERMS, IF POSSIBLE, AND EXPRESS THEM AS
NUMERICAL MEASURES.
Research is patient and unhurried. The researcher is willing to
exert painstaking effort, suspending judgment to permit the data
and logic to lead to a sound conclusion. He realizes that
significant findings do not come as a result of hurried and
careless procedures. Research requires courage. The researcher is
willing to follow his procedures to conclusions that may be
unpopular and bring social disapproval.
5. RESEARCH IS CAREFULLY RECORDED AND REPORTED.
Every term is carefully defined, all procedures are described in
detail, all limiting factors are recognized, all references are
carefully documented, and all results are objectively recorded. A
conclusions and generalizations are cautiously arrived at, with
due consideration for all of the limitations of methodology, data
collected, and errors of human interpretation
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH (SUMMARY)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Research is systematic.
Research is controlled.
Research is empirical.
Research is analytical.
Research is objective, unbiased, and logical.
Research employs hypothesis.
Research employs quantitative or statistical methods.
Research is original work.
Research is done by an expert.
Research is accurate investigation, observation and description.
Research is patient and unhurried activity.
Research requires an effort-making capacity.
Research requires courage.
RESEARCH VS. PROBLEM-SOLVING
RESEARCH
1. There may not be a problem, only interest in answering a question or
a query.
2. A Research problem is more rigorous and broader in scope
3. The research problem is not necessarily defined specifically.
4. All research is intended to solve some kind of problem, but this is not
the primary aim
5. Research is conducted not primarily to le problem but to make a
contribution to general knowledge.
6. Research is concerned with broad problems, current phenomena, and
wide application through generalization. It is concerned with defining
and outlining the properties of phenomena, with forecasting future
occurrences so that they may be predicted and controlled, and with
describing the relationship or phenomena by explaining how and why
certain events occurred or could have occurred. In this process
research also generates more problems to explore (Folta and Deck).
PROBLEM-SOLVING
1.
2.
3.
4.
There is always a problem to be solved.
A problem to be solved is less rigorous and less broad
The problem to be solved has to be defined specifically and
identified definitely
Problem solving does not always involve research
5.
Problem solving is always Intended to solve problem.
6.
Problem solving is concerned with a specific problem and once
the problem is solved that is the end of it
KINDS AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF
RESEARCH
ACCORDING TO PURPOSE:
• Predictive or prognostic research has the purpose of determining the future operation of
the variables under investigation with the aim of controlling or redirecting such for the
better. "Predictive research proposes to give the result from one specific educational
practice or pattern and seeks to establish a close statistical connection between
characteristics of students and a prediction of educational out come."
• Directive research determines what should be done based on the findings This is to remedy
an unsatisfactory condition if there is any.
• Illuminative research is concerned with the interaction of the components of the variable
being investigated, as for example, "interaction of the components of educational systems
and aims to show the connections among, for example, student characteristics,
organizational patters and policies, and educational consequence."
ACCORDING TO GOAL
• Basic or pure research is done for the development of theories or principles. It is conducted for
the intellectual pleasure of learning. Much of this kind of research has been done in psychology
and sociology. (Manuel and Medel. p. 18)
• Applied research is the application of the results of pure research. This is testing the efficacy of
theories and principles. For instance, a principle says that praise reinforces learning. To determine if
this is true, one conducts an experiment in which there are two classes. In one class, he uses praise
but in the other class there is no praise at all. All other things are kept equal. At the end of the
experimental period, he gives the same test to the two classes. If the scores of the pupils in the class
with praise are significantly higher than those in the class without praise, then the principle is true.
ACCORDING TO LEVELS OF INVESTIGATION
• In exploratory research, the researcher studies the variables pertinent to
a specific situation.
• In descriptive research, the researcher studies the relationships of the
variables.
• In experimental research, the experimenter studies the effects of the
variables on each other. (Treece and Treece. Jr.. p. 6)
ACCORDING TO TYPES OF ANALYSIS
• In the analytic approach, the researcher attempts to identify and isolate
the components of the research situation,
• The holistic approach begins with the total situation, focusing attention
on the system first and then on its internal relationships. (Treece and
Treece)
ACCORDING TO SCOPE
• Action research This type of research is done on a very limited
scope to solve a particular problem which is not so big It is
almost problem solving.
In education, it is a firing-line or on the job type of problem solving or research used by
teachers, supervisors, and administrators to improve the quality of their decisions and
actions; it seeks more dependable and appropriate means of promoting and evaluating
pupil growth in line with specific and general objectives and attempts to improve
education practices without reference to whether findings would be applicable beyond the
group studied. (Good,1963)
ACCORDING TO CHOICE OF ANSWERS TO
PROBLEMS
• In evaluation research, all possible courses of action are specified and
identified and the researcher tries to find the most advantageous
• In developmental research, the focus is on finding or developing a more
suitable instrument or process than has been available. (Treece and Treece,
Jr., p. 6)
ACCORDING TO STATISTICAL CONTENT
• Quantitative or statistical research is one in which inferential statistics are
utilized to determine the results of the study. Inferential statistics such as
correlation, chi-square, analysis of variance, etc. are used to test the hypothesis.
This type of research usually includes comparison studies, cause-and-effect
relationships, etc.
• Non-quantitative research. This is research in which the use of quantity or
statistics is practically nil. This is especially true in anthropological studies where
description is usually used. Descriptive data are gathered rather than quantitative
data.
ACCORDING TO TIME ELEMENT
• Historical research describes what was.
• Descriptive research describes what is.
• Experimental research describes what will be. (Treece & Treece)
Historical, descriptive, and experimental are the three major research
methods. All other methods, kinds, and types of research whatever they are
called fall under these three major methods.
OTHER TYPES AND KINDS OF RESEARCH ARE NAMED
ACCORDING TO THE AREA OR FIELD OF ACTIVITY.
sociological research,
social research,
psychological research,
anthropological research,
physical research,
chemical research,
industrial research,
economics research,
health research,
nursing research,
curriculum research,
educational research,
and countess others
SOME HINDRANCES TO SCIENTIFIC
INQUIRY
Errors in Personal Judgment
SOME HINDRANCES TO SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
1. TRADITION.
• This is accepting that customs, beliefs, practices, and superstitions are
true ant and parts of the daily lives of men. No effort is used to find out
whether they are true or not.
2. AUTHORITY
This is accepting without question, an opinion about a certain subject which
is given by cone was considered an authority on the subject.
3. INACCURATE OBSERVATION
This is describing wrongly what is actually observed
4. OVERGENERALIZATION
This is establishing a pattern out of a few instances.
5. SELECTIVE OBSERVATION.
This is persisting to believe an observed pattern from an overgeneralization
and ignoring other pertinent patterns.
6. MADE-UP INFORMATION
This is making up information to explain away confusion
7. ILLOGICAL REASONING.
This attributing something to another without any logical basis
8. EGO-INVOLVEMENT IN UNDERSTANDING.
This is giving an explanation when one finds himself in an unfavorable
situation.
9. MYSTIFICATION.
This is attributing to supernatural power, the phenomena that cannot be
understood. This is accepting that there are things which are beyond human
intelligence to understand and which are reserved only to a supernatural
being. Thus, no effort is exerted to make a scientific inquiry about these
phenomena.
10. TO ERR IS HUMAN.
This is an attitude that admits the fallibility of man.
11. DOGMATISM.
This is an addition. This is an unwritten policy of certain institutions and
governments prohibiting the study of topics that are believed to run
counter to the established doctrine of such institutions or governments.
Thus, in communistic states, it is unlikely that one studies and write about
the beauty of democracy, The same is true in a democracy.There is a veiled
prohibition to study and write about the beauty and adoption of
communism.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH
1. Determining (recognizing) the problem:
2. Forming a hypothesis:
3. Doing the library search;
4. Designing the study,
5. Developing the instruments for collecting data:
6. Collecting the data:
7. Analyzing the data:
8. Determining implications and conclusions from the findings
9. Making recommendations for further research.
PRINCIPLE OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. Rigid control- refers to the manipulation of the research variable.
2. Objectivity - means that there should be no bias or partiality in treating the results of the
inquiry
3. Systematic organization - proper and accurate tabulation of data as well as presenting
them in statistical tables ready for interpretation
4. Rigorous standards - setting up of standards or principles which serve as bases for
evaluating the findings of a study. Such standards should not be changed to suit the
expectations of the researcher. The principle also refers to the accurate statistical
computation and interpretation of quantified data.
*Variables are those things that vary in quantity and quality which are to be manipulated by
the researcher.
DESIGNING THE STUDY
• Choose the right problem
• Form hypothesis
• Library research
• Decide what method to be used
• What population will be studied,
• Sampling design, statistical treatment