Research is a “systematic investigation designed to extent the knowledge of what is already known of

the physical, biological, or social world” (Univ. of San Diego).

Research is a “ truth-seeking activity contributes to knowledge, aimed at describing or explaining the

world, conducted and governed by those with a high level of proficiency or expertise” (Coryn, 2007).

Coryn (2007) extracted the said definition into three parts and explained the essence of each part;

1. Research is truth seeking, which refers to the search, or investigation, of or for a body of real
things, events, or facts, or the explanation of them;
2. Research describes, which involves representing or giving an account of and explains which
is about giving reason for or cause of; both of which contribute to knowledge; and
3. Research is conducted and governed by those who have the requisite proficiency or
expertise; meaning research is conducted by one who is an expert in a branch of knowledge
derived from training or experience.

Generally, research is to produce knowledge through inquiry and discovery. As a process, research is a
systematic inquiry that entails collection of data; documentation of critical information; and analysis and
interpretation of that data/ information, in accordance with suitable methodologies set by specific
professional fields and academic disciplines (Hampshire College).

Research is a “systematic inquiry that uses disciplined methods to answer questions or solve problems.
The ultimate goals of research are to develop, refine, and expand a body of knowledge” (Polit & Beck,
2004, p.4)

Research is “the continuing discovery and exploration of the unknown” (Sanchez, 2002, p.2)

Research is diligent, systematic inquiry or investigation to validate and refine existing knowledge and
generate new knowledge” (Burns & Grove, 2007, p.3)

4 MAIN TYPES OF RESEARCH (PATTON, 1990)

(Retrieved from http://www.personal.psu.edu/wxh139/research_talk.htm)
1. Basic Research: The purpose of this research is to understand and explain, i.e. the research is
interested in formulating and testing theoretical construct and propositions that ideally
generalize across time and space. This type of research takes the form of a theory that explains
the phenomenon under investigation to give its contribution to the knowledge. This research is
more descriptive in nature, exploring what, why and how questions.

2. Applied Research: The purpose of this research is to help people understand the nature of
human problems so that human beings can more effectively control their environment. In other
words, this type of research pursues potential solutions to human and societal problems. This
research is more prescriptive in nature, focusing on how questions.

3. Evaluation Research (summative and formative): Evaluation research studies the processes and
outcomes aimed at attempted solution. The purpose of formative research is to improve human
intervention within specific conditions, such as activities, time and groups of people; the
purpose of summative evaluation is to judge the effectiveness of a program, policy, or product.

4. Action research: Action research aims at solving specific problems within a program,
organization, or community. Patton (1990) design and data collection in action research tend to
be more informal, and the people in the situation are directly involved in gathering information
and studying themselves.

The importance of research in our daily lives

Research is important because it predicts what will happen. Through this, we get to caution ourselves in
doing or not doing something; it warns us not to pursue an action, and encourages us to continue a
certain act, as well.

Research is important because it evaluates what happened in our lives. It gives you an idea why things
are not turning out the way you wanted. It provides areas that you need to improve on in your program
delivery, for example.
Research Question

Research usually begins with a question, which is research question.

- Is the research insignificant in relation to the current problems of the world?

- Will the research build upon existing knowledge about the phenomenon?
- Will the research apply, test, or develop theories?

Research design is like a blue print for the collection, processing, measurement, and analysis of data. It
specifies the type of evidence or data needed to answer your research question as well as the
procedures and techniques not only for obtaining or accessing the data but also for analyzing and
interpreting these. Questions that are relevant to the research design include, but are not limited to the
following:

- What types of data do you need to enable you to answer your research question?
- How will you collect the data? Are the data both available and accessible?
- Will there be an adequate number and suitable diversity of respondents to the research?
- How will you analyze the data?
- Is there sufficient time and resources for data collection and analysis?

Research methodology usually includes the rationale for the research design. The rationale provides the
justification for your research design. It bridges the ontological and epistemological assumptions or
positions to your choice of data collection and analysis methods and procedures.

- Ontology refers to the nature or object of social reality while Epistemology refers to the process
or act of knowing or acquiring knowledge.

Research Method is a technique for gathering evidence. One could reasonably argue that all evidence-
gathering techniques fall into one of the three categories: listening to (or interrogating) informants,
observing behavior, or examining historical traces and records.

Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Quantitative Qualitative
Purpose To study relationships, cause and effect To examine a phenomenon as it is, in rich detail
Design Developed prior to study Flexible, evolves during study
Approach Deductive; tests theory Inductive; may generate theory
Tools Uses preselected instruments The researcher is primary data collection tool
Sample Uses large samples Uses small samples
Analysis Statistical analysis of numeric data Narrative description and interpretation

Characteristics of Research

1. Systematic. There is a system to follow in conducting research as there is a system for writing
each chapter. There is a big system (macro) and under this are little (micro) systems. The macro
system is the composition of chapters in an organized, logical, and scientific manner. The micro
system is the formulation of the detailed content of each chapter. The contents are further
divided into elements.
2. Objective. Research is an objective process of analyzing phenomena of importance to any of the
different professional and academic fields or disciplines (Nieswiadomy, 2004). Objectively, a
researcher looks at the bases on which the work is founded. He must never produce results out
of nowhere; the results must never be based on biases nor out of respect for any personality, or
organization. It is very important for the researcher to clarify indicators and boundaries within
which the researcher is confined because these factors could affect objectivity.
3. Feasible. In any profession, any problem of extraordinary (phenomenon) that directly or
indirectly affects the profession is a feasible problem to study. In settings like community,
school, or workplace, unusual phenomena happen and turn into potential problems.
4. Empirical. There should be adequate pieces of evidence discussing the different variables use in
the study. The researcher must present evidence for the details appearing in his/her paper.
Referencing of facts and information that researcher has gathered in his/her paper must not be
neglected. All sources should be properly cited. Through proper citation, the researcher states
the knowledge being shared has come from other experts. Plagiarism constitutes claiming an
idea-another person’s intellectual property- as one’s own.
 5. 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 are based. There must be sufficient indicators for each variable.
These variables must be gathered from different published and unpublished materials, when
located and used, these materials must be properly referenced in the manuscript.

Empirical vs. Nonempirical sources of knowledge

Empirical indicates that the information, knowledge and understanding are gathered through
experience and direct data collection.

Nonempirical sources of information include forms of introspection, vicarious experiences and

other people’s analysis of events (Black 1999, 3-4).

Scientific inquiry falls under empirical approaches or bases for understanding. Scientific inquiry
requires systematic observation as its foundational element and is undertaken by scientist, natural and
social scientist alike. Scientific explanations, therefore, proceed from systematic observation, and are
different from “common sense” explanations that are based on everyday observations.

Systematic observation is different from observation that we do everyday occurrences of our

lives. It is done with a known purpose, for instance, to gather data or test hypotheses.

“Everyday observations are haphazard, careless, and not systematic, whereas those carried out
by scientists endeavor to be specific, objective, well focused and systematic, to the extent that they
could be replicated by someone else” (Black, 1992).

BASIS FOR
UNDERSTANDING

NONEMPERICAL EMPERICAL

AUTHORITY INTELLECTUAL COMMON INFORMAL SYSTEMATIC

ACTIVITY KNOWLEDGE PAST
PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES
A A L I
U U O N GATHERING / TESTING
T T G S ORGANIZING HYPOTHESIS
H H I P DATA (SCIENCE)
O O C I (CLASSIFICATION)

R R R
I I A
T T T
A A I
R T O
I I N
A V
N E

Scientific Knowledge refers to generalized body of laws and theories to explain a phenomenon or behavior of interest
that are acquired through scientific method.

Laws are observed patterns of phenomena or behaviors, while theories are systematic explanations of the underlying
phenomenon or behavior.

Scientific Research’s Purpose “is to discover laws and postulate theories that can explain natural or social
phenomena, or in other words, build knowledge,” hence, theories and observations become vital elements of
scientific research. Inferring conclusions from observations only while ignoring theory according to (Bhattacherjee,
2012) is not a valid research. Sometimes, there may not be a single universal truth, but rather an equilibrium of
“multiple truths.” Theory and evidence (observations) are two pillars upon which scientific knowledge is based.
“Theories provide meaning and significance to what we observe, and observations help validate or refine existing
theory or construct new theory. Any other means of knowledge acquisition, such as faith or authority cannot be
considered science “(Bhattacherjee, 2012).