Part I: Characteristics, Process, and

Ethics of Research
MODULE 1 WEEK 1 HAND OUT
Many students are overwhelmed when they are asked to do research. It
could be due to the misconception that it is only for scientists and doctorate
students. But what exactly is research?
To explain further, the following are some of the significant characteristics of research, the
process of doing them, as well as important ethical practices in conducting research.

Characteristics of Research
Research gather’s relevant information Research promotes understanding of
and produces novel knowledge history

Research improves the quality of life Research contributes to one’s personal

and professional development

Marks of Good Research

REALISTIC
– a good research requires you to gather data and obtain as much
information about the area of study

ANALYTICAL
– a good research follows a process is conducted in a scientific,
systematic, and structure manner using standard methods. It yields
results which are validated accordingly

SOLUTION ORIENTED
– a good research provides possible solutions to real-world problems
and offers potential technological advancements and developments

PRACTICAL
– a good research offers practical, innovative, and novel solutions and
contributions to different bodies of knowledge 

SCHOLARLY
– a good research follows the highest ethical standard compared to
that of a scholar
 Part I: Characteristics, Process, and Ethics of Research

The Research Process

MODULE 1 WEEK 1 HAND OUT

Choose a topic START HERE

Pick whatever topic interests
you. It can anything that
caught your attention or
literature reviews made you curious.
will allow you to Identify problem
study what has statements
already What will be tested,
been researched in examined, or studied?
relation to your Gather and review
topic that remain literatures
unexplored, they are Read and review all
called research gaps. published literature on
The objective of any your topic
Establish
research is to bridge
the research frameworks
Prepare your main
gap or to
theories and concepts,
significantly add to a
the thought flow of the
body of knowledge Design the
whole paper
methods
How will you collect
data, how will you test,
how will you analyze?
Collect data
Gather the needed
data. This takes time
and etiquette.
Analyze & Validate data
Check, compute, analyze your data
if you have met your objectives.
Validate each finding. This will
decide if you finalize or reconduct Re-conduct
Check or redo each
process until you reach
Finalize, Critic, Present valid and reliable results
When you paper has met its objectives
and is properly validated. you can now
finalize and present your work

VALIDITY CONSTRUCTS YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR RESEARCH

Parameters Reliability Operational

Clear measures us
ually Consistency in
your Terms
demographics or y Formal definition of yo
measures (surve main concepts within
ur
sociographics of yo d
ur instruments) an the paper or field of
study
statistical results
study

Validity constructs – these pertain to terms, phrases, concepts, and ideas

that are directly relevant to answering the research questions or objectives
According to Donna M. Mertens, research is “systematic inquiry that is designed to collect, analyze, and interpret
data to understand, describe, or predict phenomenon”.
 Part I: Characteristics, Process, and Ethics of Research

Ethics in Research
MODULE 1 WEEK 1 HAND OUT

As researchers, it is always important to pursue integrity, honesty,

objectivity, competence, and diligence at all times.
We should also avoid three major pitfalls and malpractices of doing
research.

Ethical Practices Expected in Research

 Honesty 
report data, results, methods and procedures, and publication status. Do not
fabricate, falsify or misrepresent data.
 
Objectivity
strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer
review, personnel decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of
research where objectivity is expected or required. Avoid or minimize bias or self-
deception.

Integrity
keep your promises and agreements; acts with sincerity; strive for consistency of
thought and action.
 
Carefulness
avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own
work. Keep good records of research activities such as data collection, research
design, and correspondence with agencies.
 
Openness 
share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
 
Respect for Intellectual Property
honor patents, copyright and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use
unpublished data, methods, or results without permission. Give credit where credit
is due. Give proper acknowledgement or credit for all contributions to research.
Never plagiarize.
 
Confidentiality
protect confidential communications and personal information of your
respondents, if any.
 Part I: Characteristics, Process, and Ethics of Research
MODULE 1 WEEK 1 HAND OUT
Ethical in Research (cont.)
 
  cont.
Social Responsibility -
strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social
harms through research, public education, and advocacy.
 
Competence -
maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through
lifelong education and learning.
 
Legality –
know and obey relevant laws and institutional and government policies.
 
Animal Care –
show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research. Do not
conduct unnecessary or poorly designed animal experiments.
 
Human Subjects Protection –
when conducting experiments on human subjects, minimize harms and
risks and maximize benefits; respect human dignity, privacy and autonomy; take
special precautions with vulnerable populations; and strive to distribute the
benefits and burdens or research fairly.

Unethical Practices Unaccepted in

Research
Plagiarism –
the act of copying another person’s work, ideas, or words without appropriate
acknowledgement of the original source.
 
Falsification –
is the act of maneuvering data in such a way that another person will be inclined to
believe that said data is true and correct.
 
Fabrication –
is the act of inventing or making up data and then reporting it true.