LESSON 1: UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH
Research
 an organized inquiry carried out to provide information for solving problems.
 It is the cornerstone of every science.
 It is a process in looking at solution of a given problem which can be used as basis for:
o policy formulation
o policy enhancement or improvements
 a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our
understanding of the world in general and of the phenomenon under study in particular
Undergraduate Research
 any research effort undertaken by the undergraduate student that advances the
knowledge of the student in an academic discipline and leads to new scholarly insights or
the creation of new works that add to the wealth of the discipline
Thesis
 a technical report or scientific paper that describes original research results that contain
data that have been collected, analyzed, interpreted, and presented in organized form
USM Proposed Research, Development and Extension Agenda (2022- 2031):
 Quality Learning, Skills Development, and Literacy
 Social Development, and Strong Institutions
 Preservation of Culture
 Environmental Protection, and Risk Reduction
 Food Security and Poverty Reduction
 Good Health and Well-being
 Innovations in Science, Engineering, and Technology
 Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Management
Why conduct research?
 Students, professors, researchers, research centers, government, practitioners, newspaper
people, TV networks, market research firms, schools, hospitals, social service, political
parties, consulting firms, HR departments, public interest organizations, insurance, law
firms conduct research as part of their jobs, to be better informed, less biased decisions,
in contrast to guessing, hunches, intuition, and other personal experience.
Therefore, Research concerns with:
 WHAT (Facts & Conclusions) and
 HOW (Scientific; Critical Components).
Research is an iterative process that eventually seeks to explain or solve an identified
problem.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
Research is:

Systematic
− There exist specific rules to follow.

Logical
− It requires the application of the rules of correct thinking.
− The entire process helps the researcher to draw valid conclusions and to check
generalizations

Controlled
− It is well-planned. It has delimitation and framework.

Empirical
− The undertaking is based on the reality and only data are used to support whatever
claims are to be made as regards the findings of the investigation.

Critical
− It makes use of thorough analysis. It exhibits careful and precise judgment.

Analytical
− It utilizes proven analytical procedures in gathering the data

Reductive
− The process of research simplifies and organizes seemingly unrelated data into
understandable forms.

Cyclical
− It starts with a problem and ends with a problem. That is, research results open
new directions research.

Replicable and Transmittable
− Some researchers undergo the same study for the purpose of validating the results
and widening the scope of the applicability of the findings.
Calmorin and Calmorin (1996) enumerated 10 characteristics or qualities of a good researcher.
These are, in acrostics:










R – Research-oriented
E – Efficient
S – Scientific
E – Effective
A – Active
R – Resourceful
C – Creative
H – Honest
E – Economical
R – Religious
TYPES OF RESEARCH
(1) According to Purpose – Purpose of Research: Explore, Describe, and Explain
a. Fundamental/Pure/Basic Research
− lab research
− starting point for the search of new knowledge
− provides a foundation for knowledge and foundations that are generalizable to
many policy areas, problems or area of study
− source of the tools: methods, theories, ideas
− research is driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific question
o main motivation is to expand man’s knowledge, not to create or invent
something there is no obvious commercial value to the discoveries that result
from basic research.
For example, basic science investigations probe for answers to questions such as: How
did the universe begin? What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of? How
do slime molds reproduce?
b. Applied Research
− evaluation, action, social impact
− refers to scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems
− is used to find solutions to everyday problems, cure illness, and develop innovative
technologies, rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledge's sake.
For example, applied researchers may investigate ways to:
o Improve agricultural crop production
o Treat or cure a specific disease
o Improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or modes of transportation
(2) According to Methods
a. Historical Research
− the purpose is to collect, verify, synthesize evidence to establish facts that defend
or refute your hypothesis
− uses primary sources, secondary sources, and lots of qualitative data sources such
as logs, diaries, official records, reports, etc.
− analysis of events that occurred in the remote or recent past
− can show patterns that occurred in the past and over time which can help us to see
where we came from and what kinds of solutions we have used in the past
− The steps involved in the conduct of historical research are:
1. Identification of the research topic & formulation of the research problem
or question.
2. Data collection or literature review
3. Evaluation of materials
4. Data synthesis
5. Report preparation or preparation of the narrative exposition
b. Descriptive Research
− referred to as survey research, is aimed at characterizing phenomena and identifying
association among selected variables. Descriptive research can be used to:
o describe the characteristics of certain groups
o estimate the proportion of people in a specified population who behave in a
certain way
o make specific predictions
o Some specific examples of descriptive studies include:
 The proportion of farmers who adapt organic farming
 Target farmer's evaluation of new agricultural program
 Finding the most frequent disease that affects the children of a town
− It attempts to describe and explain conditions of the present by using many subjects
and questionnaires to fully describe a phenomenon.
− Survey research design /survey methodology is one of the most popular for
thesis/dissertation.
c. Case and Field Research Design
− also called ethnographic research
− uses direct observation to give a complete snapshot of a case that is being studied
− useful when not much is known about a phenomenon; uses few subjects
d. Developmental or Time Series Research Design
− Data are collected at certain points in time going forward.
− There is an emphasis on time patterns and longitudinal growth or change
e. Quasi Experimental Research Design
− This research design approximates the experimental design but does not have a
control group. There is more error possible in the results.
f. Experimental Research Design
− This design is most appropriate in controlled settings such as laboratories.
− assumes random assignment of subjects and random assignment to groups (E and C).
− It attempts to explore cause and affect relationships where causes can be manipulated
to produce different kinds of effects.
− Because of the requirement of random assignment, this design can be difficult to
execute in the real world (non laboratory) setting
g. Causal Comparative or Ex Post Facto Research Design
− This research design attempts to explore cause and affect relationships
o where causes already exist and cannot be manipulated.
o It uses what already exists and looks backward to explain why
h. Correlational or Prospective Research Design
− It attempts to explore relationships to make predictions.
− It uses one set of subjects with two or more variables for each.
i.
Exploratory Research
− is a type of research conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined
− helps determine the best research design, data collection method and selection of
subjects
− The results of exploratory research are not usually useful for decision-making by
themselves, but they can provide significant insight into a given situation
General Approaches to Research:
1. Qualitative
 explores attitudes, behavior and experiences through such methods as interviews
of focus group
 it attempts to get an in-depth opinion from participants
2. Quantitative
 generates statistics using large-scale survey research
 using methods such as questionnaires or structured interviews
 involves analysis of numerical data and their relationship
3. Mixed-Method Approach
 combination of the elements of quantitative and qualitative approach
o for the purposes of breadth and depth of understanding and corroboration
 definition have evolved over time
The Research Process
Chapter 1: Research Topic
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Study Design
Chapter 3: Measurement
Data Collection
Chapter 4&5: Interpretation and Conclusion
Data Analysis