LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Title: Meaning and Importance of Research

Topics: 1. What is research?
2. Basic types of researches
3. Assumptions, characteristics and importance of research
4. Research process
Time frame: 6 hours
Introduction:
As a college student, you are expected to write research. Even in your daily life, you do research.
Through research, you can find solutions to your problems, find answers to your questions and satisfy your
curiosity. This unit intends to provide you with the basic ideas of research.
Objectives:
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
1. define research,
2. identify and differentiate the types of researches/research projects, and
3. articulate assumptions and refine understanding of the significance of doing research.
Pre-test:
How do you understand the word “research”?
Write here: __________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Learning activities:
I. Defining terms
What is “research”? This word is consisting of two syllabi re- which means again, once more, or anew,
and –search, which means examine carefully, or test carefully. Based on these definitions, we can deduce
that the combined syllabi mean “examining an issue again and carefully” through asking relevant questions
about it in search for answers.
Research can be formal or informal. In your daily life you perform informal research, such as which
material is cheaper but with high quality. However, as a college student, you are expected to do formal
research.
The following are definitions of formal research.
1. Research is the systematic search for knowledge about existing phenomena which are
unknown to us.
Example: This means that we seek knowledge about things in a systematic way in order to understand
them. When we say systematic, it means there is a process or a procedure. For example, in order for
scientists to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus, they have to know first the protein sequence
of the virus.
2. Research is the search for answers about questions of our everyday life.
Write what you understand of this definition here: ____________________________________________

ES 140 – Research Methods 1

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. “Research is a (1) systematic search for (2) adequate information to reach (3) objective
knowledge of a (4) specific topic.”
a. Why is research systematic?
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
b. What is adequate information?
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
c. What is objective knowledge?
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
d. What is a specific topic?
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________

4. Research as a systematic intervention to search for knowledge in order to build a new theory
or test an existing one?
a. What is a theory?
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
b. What is theory building?
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
c. What is theory testing?
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________

II. What are the basic types of research?

1. Research can be Descriptive and/or Analytical
a. A descriptive research aims to provide a description of a state of affairs, of a phenomenon,
and of an idea as it exists. An example of this research is a Social Weather Stations or
SWS survey of the president’s satisfaction rating.
b. An analytical research aims to analyze the existing data to provide a critical evaluation of
them. An example of this research is the UP scientists’ projection on how many Filipinos
will have COVID-19 by the end of the month. This projection is based on the analysis of
the existing data.
2. Research can also be Applied or Fundamental
a. An applied research (sometimes called action and/or evaluation research) aims to find
solution for immediate problem facing a particular community or a particular organization.
They have a practical significance for the community. An example of this type is the
research for vaccine against the COVID-19 virus.
b. A fundamental research (sometimes called Basic or Pure research) aims to make a
generalization or formulate a theory using the collected data. This type is concerned with

ES 140 – Research Methods 2

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
human behavior and aims to make generalizations about the way human being behaves.
Researches of this type have no practical significance, but they are of interests to scholars
these research can provide a more theoretical understanding about particular phenomena
or issue. An example of this type of research is a psychological or sociological research
on the Filipinos’ DDS/Dilawan mentality.
3. Research can either be Qualitative or Quantitative - What form of data do I need?
a. A quantitative research is after data in the form of numbers analyzed by means of
numerical comparisons. An example of this type is a research on nonisothermal welding
in fused filament fabrication (see sample paper, Coasey,et al, 2020). This type of research
is more common with STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
b. A qualitative research is after quality, and data are in the form of words spoken by people
researched about their lived experiences, or of words of your descriptions of what you
have observed and experienced analyzed by descriptive comparisons of phenomena.
Data are gathered through interviews or observations, and researchers get involved in the
life and situations of those being researched. An example for this type is a research on the
level of investment of Filipino Wattpad writers. This type is more common in the Humanities
field (philosophy, language, literature).
Characteristics of quantitative research:
i. Identification of research Problem - based on the trends in the field, or the requirement for the
researcher to provide explanations for the reasons of the occurrence of things in a particular place.
ii. Literature Review - done prior to research; aims to justify the need for studying the research problem
proposed and the research questions that may be raised for the proposed study problem.
iii. Research Questions - narrow and specific; aim to obtain measurable data focusing on the identified
variables within a hypothesis
iv. Data Collection - contains standardized questions, e.g., questionnaires and checklists
v. Analysis of obtained Data- done by mathematical procedures known as statistics; the analyzed data
are presented in terms of numerals in tables, figures, graphs, charts, and histograms.
vi. Reporting of Findings-follow a predictable format: introduction, literature review, methods or
methodology, results, and discussion of the results
vii. Evaluation of Research Done—checks whether there is an extensive literature review to justify the
problem studied, a good research question and hypothesis for your research, rigorous and impartial
methods for data collection, an application of appropriate statistical procedures, a good relationship
between the interpretation made and the data obtained (i.e., the interpretation should follow from the
data).
Characteristics of qualitative research
i. Identification of research Problem—does not follow a particular trend in the field and the variables to
be tested are not known; the researcher will need to explore the variables in the course of the study

ES 140 – Research Methods 3

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
ii. Literature Review—not significant at the beginning of the research; does not provide any directions
for the research questions and show the importance of the problem. The research question and the
importance of the problem of research will depend on the views of participants and the way you
understand them in the course of research.
iii. Purpose and Research questions—broad and open–ended; not necessary to state a hypothesis in
qualitative research
iv. Data Collection—the researcher learns from the participants; the research involves extensive
interaction between the researcher and the “participants” (not “subjects”)
v. Data Analysis—the whole is broken into its parts and is figured out how they work together; data
gathered are in the form of text, and the analysis involves the division of the text into segments; no
statistics are used
vi. Reporting of Findings—does not have a predictable format
vii. Evaluation of Research—requires being realistic and persuasive to convince readers of its credibility;
the validity of qualitative research does not mostly depend on the instrument used; rather, it depends
on the searcher, who conducts the research: the researcher’s skills, competence, and rigor; the
researcher is always the primary instrument for understanding people’s worldviews, perceptions and
experiences
4. Research can either be Field and/or Library Research – Where is the source of data?
a. A research is a field research if the study source of data may be from the researcher’s empirical
work done in a particular field.
b. A research is a library research if the data is from written materials in the library.
5. Research can either be deductive or inductive - What do I want to do with the obtained data, or
what type of reasoning do I want to follow?
a. In deductive reasoning the researcher draws a specific conclusion from general premises; top-
down reasoning
Example: All medical doctors study medicine.
Mary studied medicine.
Therefore, Mary is a medical doctor.
b. In inductive reasoning the researcher moves from the specific to the general; bottom-up reasoning
III. Assumptions, characteristics and importance of research
1. Basic assumptions - Assumptions are personal beliefs that is supported by no or very limited
evidence. These are the assumptions on the phenomenon of research.
i. We assume that events are patterned, so they never occur accidentally or randomly. Therefore,
events can be studied and understood.
ii. We assume that the existing nature can be studied and understood. Nature includes, but not
limited to, human beings and what they always do in their various contexts.

ES 140 – Research Methods 4

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
iii. We assume that knowledge is superior to ignorance. However, scientific knowledge is tentative
and changing.
iv. We assume that all natural phenomena have their natural causes. What we see and experience
were caused by nature to be the way they are. Therefore, it is the task of research to uncover or
determine why things are, the way they are.
v. We assume that knowledge is acquired through theory and practice.
2. Importance of Research for Community Development
Why is research important for human development? Why should researchers spend time and energy
conducting research about existing phenomena, idea, or situations around them?
i. Research provides people voice from what they speak.
ii. Research is important for improving the well-being of rural and urban societies, countries, and
continents.
iii. Research is important for countries to formulate policies in regard to the lives of their people.
iv. Research is important in business and market operations.
v. Research is important in solving social problems and hence maintaining the required social
equilibrium.
vi. Research is important for technological advancement.
vii. Research enables students attain academic awards in universities and colleges.
viii. For professional researchers, research is a means to earn a living.
ix. Research is important because it enables the generation of new theories and the testing of existing
theories possible.
IV. The
research
process

Fig. 1. The research journey

ES 140 – Research Methods 5

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Short exercise: Look at the Fig. 1 and try to identify the actions that will be done for each phase. Refer
to the stages mentioned in the characteristics of qualitative/quantitative research (e.g. Identification of the
research problem, which phase will it belong?).
Example: Phase 1 – Identification of the research problem,
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Fig. 2. The research process

Short exercise: Look at Fig. 2 and try to explain how you understand the diagram.
Write here: _______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Self-evaluation:
Think of a possible topic/s for your research. Note down the thoughts that occur to you on the topic
you have chosen. Write freely and do not worry about grammatical or stylistic issues. It will help you develop
the path along which your research will proceed.
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Review of concepts:
A research is a careful examination of issue. It seeks to explain an unknown
phenomenon/phenomena in a systematic manner. A research is an activity which uses adequate information
in order to produce new knowledge about a particular topic. A research could be descriptive, which provides

ES 140 – Research Methods 6

LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
a description of a state of affairs, of a phenomenon or an idea or it could be analytical, which provides a
critical evaluation of them. A research could be applied which means it aims to find a solution for immediate
problem or it could be fundamental, which has no practical significance but could provide a more theoretical
understanding about a particular phenomenon or issue. A research is quantitative if it is after data in the
form of numbers analyzed by means of numerical comparisons, and it is qualitative if it is after quality and
data in the form of words.
---------------------------- Tear this part and submit to your instructor -------------------------------------------------------
Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________________
Course/year/section: __________________
Post-test:
Think of your chosen research topic (again!) and identify the type of research that you will have.
Example: My research will be about the investment of Filipino Wattpad writers. It is descriptive in nature as I
will be describing how the Filipino Wattpad writers employ the capital (semiotic, linguistic, technological)
available to them as they engage in the online writing platform Wattpad. The research is fundamental as it
will have no practical application to the community, but it will allow me to have a deeper understanding as to
how Filipinos use language and other semiotic resources, which in turn will explain the language ideology in
the Philippine society. It will be a qualitative research which will involve observation of the participants’
interaction with the other users in the platform and conducting an interview with them. The data of the study
will be collected from an online writing platform making it a field research.
Write here: _________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
References:
Kumar, R. (2011). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage.
Mligo, E.S. (2016). Introduction to research methods and report writing: A practical guide for students and
researchers in social sciences and humanities. Resource Publications.

ES 140 – Research Methods 7