Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
National Capital Region
DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS – MANILA
Manila Education Center Arroceros Forest Park
Antonio J. Villegas St. Ermita, Manila

Disciplines and
Ideas in the Social
Sciences
Social Science as Scientific
Study of Society

Quarter 1 - Week 2
Module 2
Most Essential Learning Competency:
Differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science
disciplines with the Natural Sciences and Humanities
 HOW TO USE THIS MODULE
Before starting the module, I want you to set aside other tasks that will disturb
you while enjoying the lessons. Read the simple instructions below to successfully
enjoy the objectives of this kit. Have fun!

1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of
this module.
2. Write on your notebook the concepts about the lessons. Writing enhances
learning, that is important to develop and keep in mind.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers using the answer key card.
5. Analyze conceptually the posttest and apply what you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

PARTS OF THE MODULE

• Expectations - These are what you will be able to know after completing the
lessons in the module.
• Pre-test - This will measure your prior knowledge and the concepts to be
mastered throughout the lesson.
• Looking Back to your Lesson - This section will measure what learnings
and skills did you understand from the previous lesson.
• Brief Introduction - This section will give you an overview of the lesson.
• Discussion - This section provides a short discussion of the lesson. This
aims to help you discover and understand new concepts and skills.
• Activities - This is a set of activities you will perform with a partner.
• Remember - This section summarizes the concepts and applications of the
lessons.
• Check your understanding - It will verify how you learned from the lesson.
• Post-test - This will measure how much you have learned from the entire
module.

1
 EXPECTATIONS
You will differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science
disciplines with the Natural Sciences and Humanities.
Specifically, this module will help you to:
• recognize the various research designs and methods utilized in Social
Sciences;
• make a short research proposal about a certain social issue; and
• value the significance of social science research as a powerful tool to analyze
various problems and issues in human society.

Let us start your journey in learning more on Social Science

Research. I am sure you are ready and excited to answer the
Pretest. Smile and cheer up!

PRETEST
Direction: Read each statement carefully and identify what is being asked. Write
the letter of the best answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. A standardized set of practices for building scientific knowledge such as how

to generate genuine observations, how to describe or interpret the results,
and how to make comprehensive assumptions through those outcomes,
refers to __________.
A. Empirical Process C. Research Process
B. Philosophical Method D. Scientific Method
2. In the field of Social Sciences, there are three main groups of research
methods. Which of these groups requires a researcher to gather, analyze,
and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data?
A. Empirical-Analytical Group C. Mixed Methods Group
B. Interpretative Group D. Qualitative Group
3. What mixed methods design prioritizes the gathering and examination of
qualitative data in the first or initial phase?
A. Transformative Mixed Methods
B. Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods
C. Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods
D. Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods
4. Which of the following definitions best describes the term “research”?
A. It is the process of developing specific measures for abstract
theoretical concepts.
B. It is the method used by the researchers to select a specific sample
within the target population from which they hope to collect data.

2
 C. It is considered as the construction of new scientific knowledge
and/or the application of prevailing knowledge in a new and advanced
way.
D. It is characterized as the procedure of collecting and measuring
accurate information, such as insights from numerous relevant
sources, in an established systematic way.
5. To confirm if public libraries can truly be effective therapeutic landscapes for
persons with mental health problem, Mr. Reyes, a psychologist, decides to
conduct a qualitative research. Which of the following qualitative research
designs is the most suitable for his research problem?
A. Case Study C. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography D. Phenomenological Research

Great, you finished answering the questions. You may request your
facilitator to check your work. Congratulations and keep on learning!

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Bakit lahat ng inyong budget, puro research? Aanhin ninyo ba 'yung

research? Gusto ba nung farmer ‘yung research? Hindi ba, gusto nila, tulungan niyo
sila? Bakit ba lahat ng budget niyo, research? These are the questions asked by
Senator Cynthia Villar to the Department of Agriculture during the Senate budget
hearing on October 9, 2019. The senator, who is the Chairperson of the Senate
Committee on Agriculture and Food for the 18th Congress, criticized the decision of
the Agriculture Department to allot ₱150 million of the ₱1.2 billion-proposed budget
for the National Corn Program for 2020 for research. Instead of research projects,
she pointed out that direct assistance is what the farmers truly need such as
receiving seeds, fertilizers, or machineries. Although the intention of Senator
Cynthia Villar was good, do you think farmers really do not need research? In the
first module, you have learned that Positivism can guide Social Sciences in
examining and understanding different social phenomena by way of systematic
observations, critical analyses, and interpretations of social facts, and these
Positivist methods can only be done by doing what Senator Cynthia Villar was
questioning for its essence, which is none other than research.
In this module, you will acquire information about the importance of the
several research designs and methods employed in Social Sciences in investigating
crucial issues and complexities in human society.

3
 LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON

Decoding Ana Gram

(Critical Thinking)
Directions: Rearrange the anagram or jumbled letters to form the word or term
that is being defined in each item. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
__________1. I Miss Pivot – it is a philosophical theory that believes that every
reasonable claim can be systematically verified or certified through
empirical sciences or is capable of logical or mathematical evidence
__________2. Accelerant Sinus – these areas of study focus on examining all
natural phenomena that happened, or are currently happening, in the
world through tangible evidences like artifacts, fossils, and natural
forces
__________3. Ashe Minuit – these disciplines study several human conditions and
the ways wherein the human experiences are treated and documented
__________4. Access Silicone – these fields systematically study the various facets
of human society, several social phenomena, and the effects of these
happenings on people’s lives
__________5. Fichte Midsection – it is the methodical and analytical procedure of
acquiring knowledge

DISCUSSIONS
Lesson
Social Science Research
1 Designs and Methods
In the first module, you have found out that Social Sciences utilize the
scientific method in studying their own distinctive subject matters and in
producing scientific data and information that explain various social phenomena.
In addition, the scientific method was slightly defined in that lesson. However, that
given definition for the term was not enough for you to
recognize the true significance of the scientific method.
So, the question now is: What precisely is the scientific
method? According to Anol Bhattacherjee’s Social
Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices
(2012), scientific method is the systematic process that
refers to a standardized series of practices for
constructing scientific knowledge such as how to create Figure 1: Scientific Method
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File
:High_School_Chemistry.pdf

4
genuine observations, how to explain the results, and how to make comprehensive
assumptions using those outcomes. It is a set of processes that people can utilize
to gather scientific knowledge about anything under the sun, to enhance that
knowledge, and by acquiring knowledge, to try interpreting why and/or how
numerous phenomena happen. This experimental technique which is also called
empirical science enables people to objectively and independently examine
established theories and earlier findings, and subject these hypotheses to several
deliberations, modifications, or improvements. Any discipline that does not employ
the scientific method in testing its fundamental laws or theories cannot be
considered as a scientific discipline. That is why the scientific method is vital in the
field of Social Sciences since it directs the entire branch of inquiry in investigating
and grasping several social phenomena using scientific methods such as
systematic observation, which can only be accomplished by doing social science
research. Social science research is a necessary instrument in examining various
burning social issues and problems. Moreover, this inquiry provides
recommendations for the betterment of the people’s lives and the society.

RESEARCH
What is research? Generally, research is characterized as the formulation of
new scientific knowledge (inductive research) and/or the employment of prevailing
knowledge in a new and innovative manner to establish or attain new ideas,
conclusions, and techniques (deductive research). This systematic inquiry aims to
discover and explain new scientific facts, modify the existing laws and theories in
view of these facts, and apply the new and improved laws and theories in practice.
The goal of research is to recognize the laws and hypothesize theories that can
interpret various natural or social phenomena, or in other words, to construct
scientific knowledge. Also, the aim of this detailed study is to find the truth about
anything around us; although this one is quite complicated since there may not be
a single universal truth and the formulated scientific knowledge may be far from
what is real at times. These are the reasons why research projects have always
recommendations for further studies intended for the improvement of the existing
knowledge.
In Social Sciences, research is considered as an essential tool because the
people and the society are benefiting from it. Research, as the process of acquiring
knowledge in Social Sciences, is beneficial since it helps individuals deal with the
different social issues and problems that are affecting them. While on the subject,
what are the stages or steps of the research process that guide people in doing
research?

RESEARCH PROCESS
For a research to be considered as a scientific research, it should follow the
scientific method. That is why research projects such as social science research
share similar objective with the scientific method, which is to build scientific
knowledge or to examine the prevailing laws and theories in a specific discipline.

5
Moreover, research utilizes the stages or procedures in the scientific method in the
quest of advancing knowledge, although scientific research has more stages. The
table below shows the steps of the research process that are needed to be observed
in pursuing research. These stages are categorized into four phases: Exploration,
Research Design, Research Execution, and Research Report (Bhattacherjee, 2012).
However, this generalized design cannot be applied to all kinds of research projects.
It can be revised to match the needs of a specific research project.

Phases of the Research Process Steps of the Research Process

Exploration – it involves the selection of
research questions for further
investigation, the analysis of available
literature in the area of inquiry to know
the present condition of knowledge in that
area, and the identification of theories
that may help answer the selected
research questions of interest
Research Design – it is involved with the
development of a series of activities to be
performed in order to satisfactorily answer
the research questions identified in the
exploration phase; it covers the selection
of a research method, the
operationalization of concepts of interest,
and the formulation of a suitable sampling
strategy; it can be called as Strategy of
Inquiry
Research Proposal
This multipart proposal specifies all the decisions made by the researcher in the early
stages of the research process and the justifications behind each decision. It addresses the
following: what research questions the researcher desires to answer, the prior condition of
Research Questions – these are the specific
questions regarding a behavior, event, or
phenomenon of interest that a researcher
desires to seek answers for in his/her
research project
Literature Review – its objectives are the
following: (1) analysis of the current condition
of knowledge in the area of investigation, (2)
identification of the major authors, scholarly
articles, theories, and findings in that
research area, and (3) identification of the
related studies in that area; it is a way of
utilizing others’ works that are relevant to the
one being undertaken
Theories – these can help a researcher in
exploring the desired research questions in
his/her scholarly study; these can assist a
researcher in identifying the concepts or
constructs that are logically related to the
target behavior, occurrence, or phenomenon;
even though these are not yet proven,
theories can lead to further discussion
Operationalization – it is the procedure of
developing specific measures for abstract
theoretical concepts; it has two steps: (1) the
specification of operational definitions that
explain precisely how the concepts or
constructs of interest will be empirically
measured and (2) the exploration of published
literature in the area of investigation to see if
there are present approved measures
identical to the researcher’s operational
definitions that can be utilized directly or
modified to measure the researcher’s
theoretical concepts
Research Method – this involves the
selection of methods of inquiry to be
employed in order to collect data that will
eventually help the researcher in addressing
his/her desired research questions and
describing accurately his/her topic of
interest; this is done together with the
Operationalization

6
 knowledge in that area of inquiry, the theories that the researcher hopes to make use of
together with the hypotheses to be tested, how to measure the desired concepts or
constructs, what methods of inquiry to be utilized and why, and the sampling procedure of
interest. This serves as a beneficial tool for seeking evaluations from other researchers and
identifying possible problems with the research project that is being undertaken. It also
describes the expected outcomes and the benefits that the people and the society can
acquire from the completion of the research project
Pilot Testing – it is a tremendously significant
stage of the research process because it helps
in the detection of possible issues in the
research design and measurement
instruments; it guarantees that the
instrumentations used in the research are
accurate and reliable measures of the desired
concepts; it improves the questions, formats,
and scales of the research instruments
Data Collection – this is defined as the
process of gathering and measuring accurate
information such as insights from several
Research Execution – it includes the
relevant sources in an established systematic
pilot testing of measurement
way that allows a researcher to answer his/her
instruments, the collection of data, and
research questions of interest, test his/her
the analysis of data
hypotheses, and evaluate the results; the data
gathered may be qualitative or quantitative
depending on the research methods utilized
Data Analysis – it is the procedure of analyzing
and interpreting the data collected from a
variety of sources for the intention of drawing
conclusions regarding the desired research
questions; this is the stage of the research
process wherein the classification and
organization of the data gathered take place; it
may be qualitative or quantitative depending
on the type of the data gathered
Research Report
It involves the documentation of the whole research process and its findings in the form of
a research paper, dissertation, or monograph; it lays out in sufficient detail all the
decisions made by the researcher in every stage of the research process and the reasons
behind each decision, as well as the results of each phase of the research process.
Table 1: Functionalistic Research Process
Research Design is one of the phases of the research process. This
procedure is characterized as a comprehensive plan for an empirical research
project that aims to sufficiently answer research questions of interest or test
specific hypotheses in a logical manner. It establishes a “blueprint” of the activities
to be taken by a researcher such as data collection, data analysis, and data
interpretation, in order to effectively address the questions in his/her research
project. In the field of Social Sciences, there are several research designs that can
be employed by the researchers in studying various facets of a certain society.
These research designs have developed over the years as computer technology has
advanced the researchers’ ability to analyze and interpret data and complex models
and as research experts have articulated new ways of administering social science
research projects. Now, the question is: What are the available research designs
that can be utilized by the researchers for them to answer specific questions in
their research projects?

7
TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN

Research Designs can be grouped into three categories: Quantitative,

Qualitative, and Mixed Methods (Creswell, 2014).

1. QUANTITATIVE DESIGNS, also called as Positivist Designs, are intended for

theory testing. These research designs analyze objective theories through the
examination of the relationship among variables. These variables will be measured
by using quantitative research instruments such as questionnaires and tests with
the intention of analyzing the quantifiable or numeric data through statistical,
mathematical, or computational techniques. Also, Quantitative Designs try to find
generalized patterns based on an objective perspective on what is real.

TYPES:
a. Survey Research – it is a non-experimental research design that focuses on
measuring the variables by means of quantitative research instruments, such as
tests and questionnaires, and analyzing the effects of these variables through
statistical, mathematical, or numerical methods; this offers quantitative or numeric
descriptions of practices, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, or situations of a certain
population by examining a specific sample within that population; this research
design comprises the Cross-Sectional Survey, which measures the independent
(e.g. genders) and dependent (e.g. test score) variables at the same point in time;
and the Longitudinal Survey, which measures the independent variables at an
earlier point in time than the dependent variables. It can be called as Field Survey.
Example: Distance Education and its Effects on the Academic Achievement of
the Senior High School Learners

b. Experimental Research – this research design is intended to analyze cause-

effect relationships in a firmly controlled context by segregating the cause or the
certain treatment from the effect in time, providing the cause or the specific
treatment to one group of subjects (experimental group) but restraining it from
another group (control group), and determining how the mean affects these two
groups; it seeks to verify if a cause or a certain treatment affects the result of an
experiment; this covers the True Experimental Design, which uses random
assignment or random placement in assigning the subjects to various groups in an
experiment, and the Quasi-Experimental Design, which does not employ or follow
random assignment
Example: The Impact of Integrating Peace Education in teaching Disciplines and
Ideas in the Social Sciences

2. QUALITATIVE DESIGNS, also called as Interpretative Designs, are intended for

theory building. These strategies of inquiry explore and interpret the meanings that
people or groups of people ascribe to a specific social or personal issue. The
common process among the Qualitative Designs includes the development of
questions and strategies, the collection of data in the informants’ settings, the
analysis of data that is inductively building from specific themes to general themes,
and the interpretation or “sense-making” of the meanings of the data. Moreover,

8
Qualitative Designs search for subjective interpretations of the different social
phenomena from the viewpoints of the subjects or persons involved.

TYPES:
a. Narrative Research – it is a strategy of inquiry that aims to comprehensively
explore the life experiences of individuals and the meanings they ascribe to these
experiences; it is a research design from the Humanities wherein the researcher
asks a small sample of participants to tell stories about the topic of interest for
him/her to obtain valuable information that can used in his/her research project;
this research design is different from other types of research design for the reason
that the data gathered from the participants are frequently retold by the researcher
into a chronologically or thematically coherent story
Example: A Narrative Inquiry of Learners’ Perceptions Regarding Alternative
Delivery Mode (ADM) Modules

b. Phenomenological Research – this qualitative research design from Philosophy

and Psychology concentrates on describing the commonality among the lived
experiences of several individuals within a specific group who have all experienced
a certain phenomenon; its ultimate goals are to establish a universal meaning or
essence of the experience, event, or situation and to attain a deeper understanding
or description of the nature of a specific phenomenon
Example: The Lived Experience of Being an Online Seller during the Enhanced
Community Quarantine (ECQ) Period

c. Grounded Theory – it is a type of inductive research design that came from

Sociology in which a researcher utilizes a systematic set of techniques in order to
formulate a focused abstract and conceptual theory regarding a specific
phenomenon grounded in the perspectives which are considered as data of the
participants; its main objective is to develop a scientific explanation for a certain
phenomenon by recognizing the fundamental elements of that phenomenon
(specific) and then classifying the relationships of those elements to the process
and context of the experiment (general)
Example: A Grounded Theory Exploration of Career Decisions among Senior
High School Learners

d. Ethnography – this interpretative research design from Anthropology and

Sociology emphasizes the significance of exploring a specific social phenomenon
such as an event, an interaction, or a relationship within the context of its culture,
which means that a researcher should study the common patterns of behavior,
system of communication, and action of an intact group of people by deeply
immersing himself/herself in its natural environment over a prolonged period of
time (8 months to 2 years), and not by using impersonal methods of data collection
like survey instruments; it is a strategy of inquiry wherein a researcher engages
with the chosen cultural group, observes its daily life, records what he/she truly
perceives about it, and hypothesizes regarding the evolution and behaviors in that
specific group; it can be referred to as Field Research Design or Participant
Observation

9
 Example: Coping with Work-Related Stress during the Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: An Ethnographic Study

e. Case Study – it is a strategy of inquiry that is characterized as an in-depth

analysis of a specific issue or phenomenon such as an event or an activity in one or
more real-life settings over an extended period of time, rather than a wide-ranging
statistical survey or an all-encompassing comparative inquiry; it is frequently
utilized by the researchers in narrowing down wide-ranging fields of research into
one or a few conveniently researchable examples; this research design can be used
by a researcher in testing a theory or prevailing knowledge (Positivist) or in
formulating a new theory or scientific knowledge (Interpretative); its strength as a
research design is its ability to explore a wide variety of cultural, social, and
political aspects possibly connected to the desired phenomenon that may not be
known before or not much is known; it can be called as Case Research
Example: Dog as an Emotional Support Animal: A Qualitative Case Research

3. MIXED METHODS DESIGNS, differently, involve the collection of both

qualitative and quantitative data, the integration of these two types of datum, and
the use of special research designs that may include philosophical assumptions
and theoretical frameworks. The shared core assumption among the Mixed
Methods Designs is that the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods
offers a more comprehensive understanding of a specific research problem or a
more holistic explanatory framework that produces feasible solutions for a certain
problem than either of the methods alone. These research designs reflect a new
"third way" epistemological model that occupies the theoretical space between
Positivist Designs and Interpretative Designs. Now, let us go back to the previous
question: What are the available research designs that can be utilized by the
researchers for them to answer specific questions in their research projects?

TYPES:
a. Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods – this research design uses concurrent
timing, a timing within mixed methods designs in which a researcher carries out
both the qualitative and quantitative strands during a single phase of the research
process and prioritizes the strands evenly; this form of mixed methods design takes
place when a researcher simultaneously collects both qualitative and quantitative
data at roughly the same time, independently examines both forms of datum, and
then logically merges or converges the qualitative and quantitative results during
the overall interpretation in order to formulate a comprehensive analysis of a
specific research problem; it can be referred to as Convergent Design
Example: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Investigation of Distance
Education for Learners with Special Educational Needs

b. Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods – it is a type of research design that

employs sequential timing, a timing within mixed methods designs wherein a
researcher implements the quantitative and qualitative strands in two different
interactive phases of the research study; this mixed methods design prioritizes the
gathering and analysis of quantitative data in addressing the research problems of

10
a specific study; it is considered sequential owing to the fact that the first or initial
phase, which involves the collection and examination of quantitative data, is
subsequently followed by the second phase, which includes the gathering and
investigation of qualitative data; this research design is considered explanatory
since the initial quantitative results are explained in more details by the qualitative
results; it can be called as Explanatory Design
Example: The Impact of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on Family Resilience:
An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Approach

c. Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods – this form of mixed methods design,

although it also utilizes sequential timing, is the opposite sequence of the
Explanatory Design since it prioritizes the collection and examination of qualitative
data in the first or initial phase; it is a strategy of inquiry in which a researcher
uses the initial qualitative results to build the research instruments that are
suitable for the participants of the study, to determine the applicable research tools
to employ in the second phase, which is the quantitative phase, or to point out the
variables that need to go into a follow-up quantitative research; it is considered
exploratory because it explores the views and opinions of the participants regarding
the phenomenon of interest and the initial qualitative results, or the exploratory
results, will be explored further by the quantitative results; it can be referred to as
Exploratory Design.
Example: The Quarantine Culture: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed
Methods Study

When it comes to scientific research, every researcher has the freedom of

choice or the right to choose. In this manner, all researchers are free to select the
type of research design that is most suitable in addressing their desired research
questions. Aside from that, all researchers are also free in picking the specific
research methods that they will utilize in gathering, examining, and interpreting
data for them to accurately explain their topics of interest. With reference to
research methods, what are the research methods that can be used by the
researchers in order to precisely describe their desired phenomena?

RESEARCH METHODS

The selection of specific research methods to be employed in order to collect,

analyze, and interpret data depends on the overall aims of the study and on the
subjects or research participants he/she wants to examine or investigate.
Considering these two factors will help a researcher choose the best research
method/s for his/her study and, as a result, will help him/her achieve his research
goals. In some cases, one specific research method may be better suited for the
study than others since data from different research methods vary in quantity and
quality. However, when a researcher is dealing with a multifaceted social
phenomenon, a multi-method approach may be more appropriate because it can
generate understandings or insights that may not be gained using a single research
method. In this circumstance, it is advantageous for a researcher to consider the
full range of possibilities of data gathering.

11
 In the field of Social Sciences, there are three major groups of research
methods: Empirical-Analytical, Interpretative, and Mixed Methods Groups.

1. Empirical-Analytical Group – it is the group of research methods that

approaches the study of Social Sciences in a similar way that the researchers
analyze the Natural Sciences; this group concentrates on objective knowledge,
closed-ended or instrument based questions that can only be answered by
predetermined responses such as yes or no, which can be found on a test or on a
checklist, and operational definitions of the variables to be measured; it is the
group of research methods that uses deductive reasoning, which employs
prevailing knowledge as a foundation for formulating hypotheses that need to be
examined or tested through statistical analysis and interpretation; this group is
focused on explanation since it uses quantitative research instruments; it can be
called as Quantitative Group

2. Interpretative Group – this group of research methods is focused on exploring

and understanding a specific phenomenon in a comprehensive and holistic
manner; it is a group of research methods wherein a researcher visits a research
site, observes the behavior of the subjects or research participants living in it, and
conducts interviews at large with the use of open-ended questions, in which the
key informants or participants are allowed to talk openly regarding a phenomenon
of interest so that the important information will emerge from them; its primary
goal is to analytically disclose the meaning-making practices or lived experiences of
the subjects or research participants through text analysis and theme
interpretation; this group requires careful analysis of the variables involved since it
concentrates more on subjective knowledge; it can be referred to as Qualitative
Group

3. Mixed Methods Group – it is the group of research methods wherein both

qualitative and quantitative data are gathered, examined, and interpreted; this
group requires a researcher to create interpretations across both the qualitative
and quantitative collections of data; it is the group of research methods in which
the research instruments can be altered, such as behavioral checklists with open-
ended questions.
Empirical-Analytical Group Interpretative Group Mixed Methods Group

Predetermined responses Emerging responses Both predetermined and

Closed-ended or instrument
based questions
Attitude data, census data,
observational data, and
performance data
Statistical analysis
Statistical interpretation
Table 2: Groups of Research Methods in Social Sciences
Open-ended questions
Audiovisual data, document
data, interview data, and
observation data
Image and text analysis
Interpretation of themes or
patterns
emerging responses
Both open-ended and closed-
ended questions
Numerous forms of data
drawing on all possibilities
Both statistical and text
analysis
Across databases interpretation

12
 ACTIVITIES
Activity 1.1. Picture of Reality
Objective: Recognize the various research designs and methods utilized in Social
Sciences
Directions:
1. Analyze the picture below and identify three social issues reflected in it.
2. Choose research designs and research methods that are suitable in
addressing the social issues.
3. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
4. Answer the guide questions that follow.

Image courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/fotograzio/19370461966

Social Issues Research Design Research Method

Guide Questions:
1. Why did you choose those research designs in addressing the
social issues reflected on the picture?
2. Why did you choose those research methods in addressing the
social issues reflected on the picture?

Activity 1.2. Project: Proposal

Objective: Make a short research proposal about a specific social issue
Directions:
1. Create a short research proposal about a certain social issue that is
compelling to you.
2. Write your research proposal on a short bond paper.
3. Follow the research proposal outline using an Arial font style and 12 font
size.

13
 Research Proposal Outline
I. The Main Issue or Problem – present the research issue or problem; explain
the importance of studying the issue or problem
II. The Research Questions – introduce the main issue or problem that your
research paper will address in a form of questions
III. The Rationale – explain the reason/s why the research issue or problem is
compelling to you
IV. The Prior Knowledge – describe what you already know about the research
issue or problem; also, explain what more you need to learn about the research
issue or problem
V. Methodology – present your chosen research design and research methods;
also, describe your intended audience

Rubrics

Criteria Highest Possible Points

Content (presence of ideas) 30 points
Feasibility (practicability) 30 points
Organization (order) 20 points
Style (choice of words) 10 points
Conventions (grammar, spelling) 10 points
Total 100 points

Activity 1.3. Acrostic Expression

Objective: Value the significance of social science research as a powerful tool to

analyze various problems and issues in human society

Directions:

1. Using the word “research,” make an acrostic poem about the importance of
social science research in analyzing numerous problems and issues in the
society.
2. Create your output creatively and imaginatively.
3. Write your acrostic poem on a bond paper.

R–
E–
S–
E–
A–
R–
C–
H–

14
 Rubrics

Criteria Highest Possible Points

Content (presence of ideas) 40 points
Organization (order) 20 points
Creativity (artistry) 20 points
Style (choice of words) 10 points
Conventions (grammar, spelling) 10 points
Total 100 points

REMEMBER
• Commonly, research is considered as the construction of new scientific
knowledge and/or the employment of an existing knowledge in a new and
innovative manner to create or achieve new ideas, inferences, and
techniques.
• The stages of the research process are grouped into four phases:
Exploration, Research Design, Research Execution, and Research Report.
• Research Design is defined as a wide-ranging plan for an empirical research
project that aims to satisfactorily answer desired research questions or
examine certain hypotheses in a logical way.
• Research Designs can be broadly clustered into three categories:
Quantitative (theory testing), Qualitative (theory building), and Mixed
Methods (both theory testing and theory building).
• Research Method includes the selection of methods of inquiry to be utilized
in order to gather data that will eventually help the researcher in answering
his/her research questions of interest and explaining accurately his/her
desired topic.
• In Social Sciences, there are three main groups of research methods:
Empirical-Analytical (quantitative), Interpretative (qualitative), and Mixed
Methods Groups (both quantitative and qualitative).

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Read, Reflect, React (3R)
(Critical Thinking, Communication and Character)

Do the 3R (read, reflect and react) on the criticism of Sen. Cynthia Villar
about the decision made by the Agriculture Department to allot ₱150 million for
research out of the ₱1.2 billion pesos, which was the proposed budget for the
National Corn Program for 2020. Make a reaction paper about her statement and
incorporate what you have learned from the lesson on your reaction paper.

15
Directions:

1. Read the statement below

2. Write a reaction paper on a separate sheet.

“Bakit lahat ng inyong budget, puro research? Aanhin ninyo ba

'yung research? Gusto ba nu’ng farmer ‘yung research? Hindi ba, gusto
nila, tulungan niyo sila? Bakit ba lahat ng budget niyo, research?”
– Senator Cynthia Villar

Rubrics:
Criteria Highest Possible Points
Content (presence of ideas) 10 points
Organization (order) 4 points
Style (choice of words) 4 points
Conventions (grammar, spelling) 2 points
Total 20 points

POSTTEST
Direction: Read each statement carefully and choose the letter of the best answer.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Ms. Cruz, a researcher, made interpretations across both the qualitative and
quantitative databases in order to satisfactorily answer her desired research
questions. Which of the following groups of research methods did she use?
A. Empirical-Analytical Group C. Mixed Methods Group
B. Interpretative Group D. Qualitative Group
2. When a researcher hopes to investigate a specific issue or phenomenon such as
an activity or an event, in one or more real-life settings over a long period of
time, what qualitative research design is the most appropriate to use?
A. Case Study C. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography D. Phenomenological Research
3. Social Sciences are also employing the scientific method in analyzing their own
distinguishing subject matters and in constructing scientific data and
information that explain numerous social phenomena. Which of the following
descriptions about scientific method are true?
I. It allows people to objectively and autonomously study established
theories and earlier conclusions, and subject these hypotheses to
numerous debates, modifications, or enhancements.
II. It is a series of processes that people can employ to collect scientific
knowledge about anything under the sun, to improve that knowledge,
and, by attaining knowledge, to try to understand why and/or how
several phenomena happen.
III. It is the systematic procedure that refers to a standardized series of
practices for building scientific knowledge such as how to create true

16
 observations, how to describe the results, and how to make wide-ranging
assumptions using those results.
IV. It includes the selection of research questions for further examination,
the investigation of accessible literature in the area of inquiry to know the
current condition of knowledge in that area, and the identification of
theories that may help answer the desired research questions.
A. I, II B. I, II, III C. II, III, IV D. III, IV
4. Mr. Ocampo, a social worker, wants to gather information about his clients’
history and strengths so that he can systematically identify their actual needs.
Which of the following research methods is the best for Mr. Ocampo to attain
his objective?
A. Interview B. Observation C. Questionnaire D. Survey
5. As a future researcher, what mixed methods design will you use if you want to
employ the initial qualitative results in determining the suitable research
instruments to use in the second phase, which is the quantitative phase?
A. Transformative Mixed Methods
B. Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods
C. Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods
D. Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods

17
 REFERENCES

Books

Dela Cruz, A. R., Fadrigon, C., & Mendoza, D. (2016). Disciplines and Ideas in the
Social Sciences. Quezon City, Philippines: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Tatel, C., Jr. (2016). Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences. Manila,
Philippines: Rex Book Store, Inc.

Online Sources

Abelarde, R. (2018, July 26). DISS (Disciplines within Social Sciences). Retrieved
from https://www.slideshare.net/RoseannAbelarde/diss-disciplines-within-
social-sciences

Aguilar, K. (2019, October 9). Villar hits DA for high budget on corn research: ‘Baliw
na baliw kayo sa research’. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net
/1175450/villar-hits-da-for-high-budget-on-corn-research-baliw-na-baliw-
kayo-sa-research

Allard, M. (2014, April 11). The Elements of Social Science. Retrieved from
https://medium.com/synapse/the-elements-of-social-science-325b905c9ccf

Bhat, A. (n.d.). Data Collection: Definition, Methods, Example and Design [Blog Post].
Retrieved from https://www.questionpro.com/blog/data-collection/

Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices

(2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.
cgi?article=1002&context=oa_textbooks#:~:text=The%20scientific%20method
%2C%20as%20applied,action%20research%2C%20and%20so%20forth.

Bonquin, C. (2019, October 10). Villar questions Agriculture Department's 'crazy'

obsession with corn research. Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/
news/2019/10/10/Cynthia-Villar-Department-of-Agriculture-corn-
research.html

Chambers, T. (2013, July 11). Qualitative Research in Corporate Communication

[Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/com9640epstein/
?p=543#:~:text=Phenomenology%20is%20an%20approach%20to,experience
%20within%20a%20particular%20group.&text=Through%20this%20process
%20the%20researcher,profound%20understanding%20of%20the%20pheno
menon.

Creswell, J. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods

Approaches (4th ed.). Retrieved from http://englishlangkan.com/produk/
E%20Book%20Research%20Design%20Cressweell%202014.pdf

18
Creswell, J. (n.d.). Choosing a Mixed Methods Design. Retrieved from https://us.
sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/35066_Chapter3.pdf

Davidson, A. (2001). Grounded theory. Retrieved from http://faculty.washington.

edu/wpratt/MEBI598/Methods/Grounded%20theory.htm

Department of Education. (2014, February). Disciplines and Ideas in the Social

Sciences [Curriculum Guide]. Retrieved from https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-
content/uploads/2019/01/Disciplines-and-Ideas-in-the-Social-Sciences.pdf

Northern Illinois University. (n.d.). Data Collection. Retrieved from

https://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/n_illinois_u/datamanagement/dct
opic.html#:~:text=Data%20collection%20is%20the%20process,test%20hypot
heses%2C%20and%20evaluate%20outcomes.

Ortega, J. (n.d.). Discipline and Ideas in the Social Sciences Lecture Notes. Retrieved
from https://www.academia.edu/26431130/Discipline_and_Ideas_in_the_
Social_Sciences_Lecture_Notes

Research. (n.d.). In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved from https://dictionary.

cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/research

Research. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/research

Research Methodology. (n.d.). Data Collection Methods. Retrieved from

https://research-methodology.net/research-methods/data-collection/

Salkind, N. (2010). Narrative Research. Retrieved from https://methods.sagepub

.com/reference/encyc-of-research-design/n259.xml

Scientific Method. (2017, April 28). In Biology Dictionary. Retrieved from https://
blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2012/03/citing-an-edition-of-a-book-in-apa-
style.html

Sir Denz Modules. (2019, July 1). DISS Discipline and Ideas in Social Sciences [Blog
Post]. Retrieved from https://sirdenzmodules.blogspot.com/2019/07/diss-
discipline-and-ideas-in-social.html

University of Southern California. (2020, May 9). Organizing Your Social Sciences
Research Paper. Retrieved from https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide

Virginia Tech. (2018, September 21). Research Methods Guide: Research Design &
Method. https://guides.lib.vt.edu/researchmethods/design-method

Western Sydney University. (2020, January 6). Definition of Research. Retrieved

from https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/research/researchers/preparing
_a_grant_application/dest_definition_of_research

19
 Acknowledgement

Writer: Paul Gavasan – Teacher III

Editor: Amalia C. Solis – EPS
Reviewers: Ma. Teresa B. Berondo, MT II (Content)
Irish Mellie U. Nomorosa, Teacher III (Language)
Management Team: Maria Magdalena M. Lim – Schools Division
Superintendent – Manila, Aida H. Rondilla – Chief Education Supervisor,
Lucky S. Carpio – EPS, and Lady Hannah C. Gillo, Librarian II – LRMS

20
 REFLECTIVE LEARNING SHEET
Name: ____________________________________________ Grade and Section: ___________

School: __________________________ Date: __________ Subject Teacher: ______________

Quarter: 1st Module No.: 2 Week No.: 2

MELC: Differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science disciplines with the
Natural sciences and Humanities.

Objectives:

1. Value the significance of social science research as a powerful tool to

analyze various problems and issues in human society
2. Create a journal entry examining the role of the social science research in
addressing the social impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-
19) Pandemic

Topic: Social Science Research Designs and Methods

Journal Entry

Directions: Based on what you have learned from the lesson, create a journal
entry about the role of the social science research in addressing other social
problems brought by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, such as
Distance Learning (blended, online, offline learning for pupils/students), high
unemployment rate, cancellation of the worship services, mental health and
psychosocial issues, increase in domestic violence, and many more. Write your
journal entry on a separate sheet of paper. Reminder: Reading news articles and/or
surfing the internet about the role of the social science research in addressing social
issues is/are highly recommended.

21
22
Decoding Ana Gram
1. Positivism
2. Natural Sciences
3. Humanities
4. Social Sciences
5. Scientific Method
Pretest Posttest
1. d 1. c
2. c 2. a
3. c 3. b
4. c 4. a
5. a 5. c
ANSWER KEY