CHAPTER 1

THE RESEARCH PROCESS:

AN INTRODUCTION
Table of contents
1 NATURE OF RESEARCH

2 USES OF RESEARCH

3 PURPOSES OF RESEARCH

4 STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

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OBJECTIVES:

1 Explain the nature of research.

2 Review the basics of research.

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✗What is
research?

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RESEARCH
✗ A systematic, objective and comprehensive
investigation of certain phenomenon which
involves accurate gathering and recording, and
critical analyses and interpretation of all facts
about the phenomenon for theoretical or
practical ends.
-Ardales(2001)

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SOCIAL RESEARCH
✗ A specific type of research that focuses on
understanding and learning about the changes
and developments happening in the social
world to produce new knowledge.
-Neuman(2007)

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USE OF RESEARCH

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1
BASIC RESEARCH
Focuses on the advancement and
production of new knowledge.
It has the following characteristics:
Its goal is to refute or support theories that explain how the social
world works, what causes things to occur, why society changes, and
why social relations operate in that manner.
It lacks practical application.

It provides foundation for the advancement of knowledge in various

fields of study and policy areas.
It is bounded by scientific method and requires the highest degree of
academic scholarship.

The research problems and topics are varied and diverse.

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2
APPLIED RESEARCH
Focuses on addressing a specific concern or
usually offers a solution to a social
problem.
It has the following characteristics:
Research conducted is part of the job.

Research problem are very specific according to the demands of the

superiors.

Rigor and standards of scholarship depend on the use of research

results.

The goal of the research is to provide generalizations to areas of

interests of the sponsors.

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EXAMPLES OF APPLIED RESEARCH
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A
EVALUATION RESEARCH STUDY
This is done to assess the effectiveness of a
program, policy, or campaign.
B
ACTION RESEARCH STUDY
This is a type of applied research that
“treats knowledge as a form of power and
abolishes the division between creating
knowledge and using knowledge to engage
in political action.”
C
SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT RESEARCH STUDY
This research study gives the possible
effects or outcomes of a planned
intervention or probable changes that
might happen in the future.
PURPOSES OF RESEARCH

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1. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH
It has the following purposes:
✗ To satisfy the researcher’s curiosity and desire
for better understanding
✗ To examine the viability of undertaking a more
extensive study
✗ To develop the methods to be used in the
future studies

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2. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
It has the following functions:
✗ Provides a detailed and accurate picture of the
situation
✗ Clarifies a sequence of steps or stages
✗ Documents a casual process or mechanism
✗ Reports on the background or context of a
situation

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3. EXPLANATORY RESEARCH
It has the following goals:
✗ To test the predictions or principles of a theory
✗ To elaborate and expand the explanation of a theory
✗ To extend or develop a theory to new issues or
topics
✗ To support or contradict an explanation
✗ To connect issues or topics with a general principle
or theory
✗ To determine which of the explanations is
considered the best answer
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 Selecting
a topic
Communica- Identifying
ting the
research research
findings question

Developing
Interpreting
a research
data
design

Gathering
Analyzing or
data collecting
data

Steps in the Research Process

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