PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1

THE NATURE OF RESEARCH

Developing Appreciation for Research
Session Objectives
In this fraction of the course on Practical Research 1,
SHS students are expected to attain the following
competencies:
1. define research;
2. explain the importance of research in the daily life of an
individual; and
3. describe the characteristics of research and the goals for
conducting such.
PRACTICAL RESEARCH
1
Course Description: This course develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills
through qualitative research.

Course Content:
The Nature of Inquiry and Research
Qualitative Research and Its Importance in Daily Life Identifying and Stating the
Problem
Learning from Others and Reviewing the Literature
Understanding Data and Ways to Systematically Collect Data
Finding Answers through Data Collection
Analyzing the Meaning of Data and Drawing Conclusion
Reporting and Sharing of Findings
PRACTICAL RESEARCH
1
Written Work
50%

Performance Task
50%
DEFINITION OF RESEARCH

Over the years,

Many experts have given their own definitions of the word
“research.” Different perspectives on the subject have been
adopted that resulted in the following definitions.
 Research follows a step-by-step process of investigation that uses a
standardized approach in answering questions or solving problems
(Polit & Beck, 2004).

Research plays an important role in tertiary education. Though there

are many problems confronted by higher education, developments are
realized through research. After all, its main purpose is to answer a
question or to solve an issue (Palispis, 2004).
 Research is an investigation following ordered steps leading to a
discovery of new information or concepts (Sanchez, 1999).

Research is a very careful investigation of something that purports the

contribution of additional or new knowledge and wisdom (Bassey, as
cited by Coleman & Briggs, 2002).

Research is a tested approach of thinking and employing validated

instruments and steps in order to obtain a more adequate solution to
a problem that is otherwise impossible to address under ordinary
means (Crawford, as cited by Alcantara & Espina, 1995).
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
1. The research should be systematic

There is a system to follow in conducting research as there is a

system for formulating each of its parts. There is a big system (macro)
and under it are small systems (micro). In research writing, what is
referred to as the “system” is composed of the chapters and their
elements.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
1. The research should be systematic

The macrosystem is composed of chapters that are organized in a

logical and scientific manner.

The microsystem consists of the detailed contents of each chapter.

The contents are further divided into elements that are organized
following a systematic procedure.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
2. The research should be objective.

Research involves the objective process of analyzing

phenomena of importance to any profession or to different
fields or disciplines. (Nieswiadomy, 2005).

A researcher should objectively look at the basis on which

the work is founded.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
2. The research should be objective.

He or she must never produce results out of nowhere; the results of

the research should be validated. These results must never be based
from biases.

It is very important for the researcher to clarify indicators and

boundaries within which the research is confined because these
factors could affect objectivity.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
3. The research should be feasible.

Any problem of extraordinary nature that directly or

indirectly affects any profession is a feasible problem to
study.

In settings like in the community, school, or workplace,

unusual phenomena may happen and can turn into potential
problems.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
4. The research should be empirical.

There should be supporting pieces of evidence and

accompanying details for every variable used in the study.

References and citations of facts and information that the

researcher has gathered in his or her paper must be included.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
4. The research should be empirical.

Plagiarism constitutes claiming another person’s idea or

intellectual property as one’s own.

Through proper attribution, the researcher states that the

knowledge being shared through the study was taken from
the study of other experts.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
5. The research should be clear.

The choice of variables used in the study should be explained

by the researcher.

This can be done by enriching the review of literature or by

discussing the different theories on which the selection of
the variables is based. These variables can be gathered from
different published and unpublished materials.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The research paradigm is an outline that guides the
researcher in conceptualizing and conducting the
research.

An effective research must address these two

important aspects: research foundations and research
methodology.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The research foundations refer to the fundamental
components of research such as the research problem,
purpose, specific questions to be addressed, and the
conceptual framework to be applied.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
In determining the research topic or problem, the
researcher must look at a significant real-life problem.

Formulating a research problem requires describing

the undesirable situations related to the problem and
the needed knowledge or information in order to
solve that problem.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The purpose of the research describes how the study
will fill this “knowledge gap.”

To address this purpose, the researcher must

formulate necessary questions that will help
distinguish the significant points of the research.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The research questions may be either framed in a
quantitative (how much, how often, to what extent) or
qualitative (what, why, how) manner.

The possible answers to the research questions are

the hypotheses, which will be either confirmed or
rejected by the data collected in the study.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
Lastly, the conceptual framework is an outline or
paradigm that presents the topics to be studied, the
various variables and contexts, and how these relate
to or influence each other.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The research methodology describes how the
researcher will answer the research questions in a
credible manner.

Research methods are employed to address the

research purpose and gain new information and
insights to answer the problem.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The methodology of the research includes the review
of literature, research approach and design, data
collection, methods of analysis, and conclusions.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The review of literature analyzes the existing
knowledge regarding the research topic.

It identifies gaps in information that may be addressed

by the research. It is also an important basis of the
conceptual framework of the study.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
With the existing knowledge about the study, the
research approach and design identifies what is the
best means to collect and analyze data in the study.

The design is used to clarify and improve the research

problem, purpose, and questions. Having the best way
to gather the data, the researcher will proceed to the
data collection.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
Data collection gives the methods to determine who
will be the participants in the study, how the variables
will be measured, and how data will be documented
and collected.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
The collected data will then undergo data analysis,
which consists of the strategies and methods that
makes sense of the data to answer the research
problem and questions.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
Finally, the conclusion summarizes the key results of
the study and discusses how these are relevant to the
research problem.

At this point, the research addresses the hypotheses

and determines if they are accepted or rejected. It also
addresses the knowledge gap and presents new insights
into the problem.
OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
A research paper is divided into chapters which are
then subdivided into various components of the
research study.

The following is the conventional outline of an

academic research paper:
OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background
a. Introduction, Background of the Study
b. Statement of the Problem
c. Scope and Delimitation
d. Significance of the Study
OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework
a. Review of Related Literature
b. Review of Related Studies
c. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework
d. Hypothesis of the Study
e. Assumptions of the Study
f. Definition of Terms
OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
a. Research Design
b. Respondents of the Study
c. Instrument of the Study
d. Validity and Reliability
e. Statistical Treatment
OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
Chapter 4: Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation
of Data
a. Presentation of Data
b. Analysis
c. Interpretation
d. Discussion
OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions, and
Recommendations
a. Summary of Findings
b. Conclusion
c. Recommendation
ROLES OF THE RESEARCHER
According to Nieswiadomy (2005), the researcher serves
different roles in a study. These are as follows:
1. As principal investigator
2. As member of a research team
3. As identifier of researchable problems
4. As evaluator of research findings
5. As user of research findings
6. As patient or client advocate during study
7. As subject/respondent/participant
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
Research is as important as any field of study. Its significance
cuts across all disciplines — engineering, architecture,
medicine, arts and sciences, education, management,
tourism, among others.

It also benefits all strata of society—people with diverse jobs,

different income rates, varying financial status, or distinct
social and political capabilities.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
1. Research provides a scientific basis for any practice or
methodology in any field or discipline.

This is important since an entire system or operation and all

the stakeholders of an institution or organization are at
stake. Without scientific basis, someone may be affected or
may suffer.

For example, in the field of medicine, a new drug must first be

tested to determine its efficacy in curing sickness before it
can actually be prescribed.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
2. Research is undertaken for the continuous development and
further productivity in any field.

Any system that will be utilized in any organization must first

be tried to determine its value and it must be better than the
previous system used.

Simply, research is the result of advancing knowledge from

the past.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
3. Research helps develop tools for assessing effectiveness of any
practice and operation
Such as psychological tests, intelligence quotient tests,
psychological assessments, among others.

This importance of research is observed in behavioral

science, physical science, and others as well.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
4. Research provides solutions to problems concerning almost all
issues encountered in the different areas of work.

Some issues include the tardiness of employees, incentives

given to the staff, sportsmanship among school athletes, and
implementation of a “clean and green” program in school.
This also applies to higher level problems.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
5. Research impacts decision-making.

It is a common mistake for people to make decisions without

solid information to back them up. It requires time, effort,
and sometimes money to gather the evidence needed for
making a sound decision.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
6. Research develops and evaluates alternative approaches to
the educational aspects of any discipline.

This enables the students to gain broad knowledge and

specialized skills for safe practice.

For example, research can help determine whether lecture is

a better method than experiment in teaching Science.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH

7. Research aims to advance the personal and professional

qualifications of a practitioner.
GOALS FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH
Research is a scientific endeavor which serves many goals in
different fields (workplaces, profit or non-profit
organizations, governmental or non-governmental entities),
educational disciplines (medicine, engineering, sciences, arts,
humanities, and information technology), and even in the
personal life of the researcher.
GOALS FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH
1. To produce evidence-based practice.
GOALS FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH
1. To produce evidence-based practice.
2. To establish credibility in the profession.
GOALS FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH
1. To produce evidence-based practice.
2. To establish credibility in the profession.
3. To observe accountability for the profession.
GOALS FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH
1. To produce evidence-based practice.
2. To establish credibility in the profession.
3. To observe accountability for the profession.
4. To promote cost-effectiveness through documentation.
SUMMARY
1. Research should be systematic, objective, feasible, empirical,
and clear.
SUMMARY
2. The research paradigm guides the researcher in formulating
and implementing the research. It ensures that the research
foundations and methodology are well-defined and organized.
The research foundations refer to the fundamental components
of research such as the research problem, purpose, specific
questions to be addressed, and the conceptual framework to be
applied. The methodology of the research includes the review of
literature, research approach and design, data collection,
methods of analysis, and conclusions.
SUMMARY
2. The research foundations refer to the fundamental
components of research such as the research problem, purpose,
specific questions to be addressed, and the conceptual
framework to be applied.

The methodology of the research includes the review of

literature, research approach and design, data collection,
methods of analysis, and conclusions.
SUMMARY
3. As a researcher, one can play the role of a principal
investigator, a member of a research team, an identifier of
researchable problems, an evaluator of research findings, a user
of research findings, a patient or client advocate during study,
and a subject/ respondent/ participant.
SUMMARY
4. Research is very important. It provides scientific basis for any
discipline and its continuous development. It helps develop tools
to improve the effectiveness of solving various problems, and
formulate solutions to problems concerning almost all issues.

It also allows the evaluation of alternative approaches to the

educational aspects of any discipline.
SUMMARY
5. The goals of conducting research are to produce evidence-
based practice; to establish credibility in the profession; to
observe accountability for the profession; and to promote cost-
effectiveness through documentation.
CHECK-UP
Write TRUE if the statement is correct, FALSE if it is incorrect.
1. Research entails an investigation of new facts leading to the
discovery of new ideas, methods, or improvements.
2. The microsystem is the composition of chapters organized in a
logical and scientific manner.
3. In settings like the community, school, or workplace, unusual
phenomena may happen and can turn into potential problems.
4. Plagiarism constitutes claiming another person’s idea or
intellectual property as one’s own.
5. Research provides an artistic basis for any practice or
methodology in any field or discipline.
CHECK-UP
Write TRUE if the statement is correct, FALSE if it is incorrect.
6. According to Crawford, researchers serve different roles in a
study such as principal investigator, member of a research team,
financier of the study, among others.
7. Research aims to advance the personal and professional
qualifications of a practitioner.
8. One of the goals of research is to produce results-based
practice.
9. Every action conducted by a professional must have a
rationale.
10. Research promotes cost-effectiveness through
documentation.
APPLICATION
Answer the following questions. (Google Classroom)
1. What is research?
2. What is the importance of having a good research foundation
and methodology?
3. What is the importance of research in your education as a
student?
 4. As a student, what do you want to research on? Why?