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NATURE OF
INQUIRY
AND
RESEARCH
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What is inquiry and what is research?

Both inquiry and research are performed for

deeper understanding of the world—an understanding
that inspires you to create, construct or produce things
for the improvement of life, for the finding of solutions
to problems and aid for decision making, and for the
acquisition of knowledge.
But both are not exactly the same. They maybe
the same at some aspects, but there are differences
between them.

What is inquiry?

Inquiry is a term synonymous with the word “investigation”. It is asking

specific questions to probe or examine something. You use higher order
thinking strategies of inferential, analytical, critical, creative, and
appreciative thinking to discover more understandable or meaningful
things beyond such object of your inquiry.

Business

Example:
Your observation: One day you noticed customers stopped buying your bestseller
milk tea affecting your sales.

Milk tea Sales Report

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Your inquiries:
1. How many loyal customers stopped buying the bestseller milk tea?
2. How many loyal customers were initially buying the bestseller milk tea?
3. What is the level of acceptance of the loyal customers before and after the
year end sales?

Social Science (Behavioral)

Example:
Your observation: You noticed that a student who used to yield high
ranking academic grades suddenly performed poor in class activities
and rendered low ranking academic grades. His friends say his parents
suddenly separated and left him with a relative.

Your inquiries:
1. What makes the student yield high ranking academic grades?
2. What makes the student perform suddenly poor in class activities
and render low ranking academic grades?
3. What is a family stress?
4. Is there a relationship between family stress and academic
performance?
5. What are the respondent’s demographic profile as to age, gender,
religion, family status, family educational background?
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Engineering

Example 1 (Investigative)
Your observation: You noticed that lights come out when you turn the
switch on, and lights disappear when the switch is turned off.

Your inquiries:
1. What makes the light come out when the switch is turned on?
2. What makes the light disappear when the switch is turned off?

Example 2: Experimental

Your observation: You noticed pavement bricks have been severely ruined, worn out
and replacement would take some time. You are thinking of producing a brick using
coconut fiber as reinforcement material due to abundance of coconut husk wastes
produced by coconut vendors in the place.
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Your inquiries:
1. What is the composition of a conventional brick?
2. What are the factors that can make coconut fiber become a reinforcement
material for brick?
3. What is going to be the people’s level of acceptance for the coconut fiber
reinforced brick?
4. What is the flexural, compressive and tensile strength of a convention
concrete brick?
5. What is the flexural, compressive, and tensile strength of coconut fiber
reinforced brick?

Medical Science

Example
Your observation: You noticed that skin condition acne is prominent among
senior high school students. Experiences of the students with acne will tell
that ways of treating them is time consuming because acnes just keep on
coming back. You are thinking of producing an herbal soap out of makahiya
leaves.

Your inquiries:
1. What is acne and what are its causes?
2. What is a makahiya plant and what are its healing
properties?
3. What is a Staphylococcus aureus?
4. What is the process in producing the makahiya soap?
5. How can makahiya soap get rid of the acne?
6. What is the inhibition zone of the bacteria to the makahiya
soap?
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What is research?

Research on the other hand, is also

investigating. It is an extensive work of
investigation that aims to solve problems,
improve life, acquire knowledge and aid in
decision making. Inquiry as the fundamental act
of research leads into research when it yields
multiple inquiries. It is a scientific,
experimental, or inductive manner of thinking.
Starting from particular to more complex ideas,
executing varied thinking acts.

Research includes more complex acts of

investigation than inquiry because the former
follows a scientific procedure of discovering
truths or meanings about things in this world.

Similarities and Differences of Inquiry and

Research

Therefore, inquiry is a part of research, and not always the other way
around, because some inquiries do not progress into research. Inquiry is the
fundamental act of research. It is the start of every research.
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Characteristics of research
• Empirical —means based on experience
• Logical — means according to formal
argument
• Cyclical — means occurring in cycles
• Analytical — uses logical reasoning
• Critical — means analysis of merits and
faults of a work
• Methodical means following systematic
form of procedure
• Replicable — able to be copied and
reproduced exactly.

Steps in research:
1. Identifying topic or problem
2. Gathering data
3. Developing theories
4. Formulating hypothesis
5. Analyzing data
6. Drawing conclusions

“The data you work on in research do

not come mainly from yourself but also
from other sources of knowledge like
people, books, artworks, among others.”
 Quantitative
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research
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Quantitative research involves collection of numerical data. Expressions like

numerical forms, objective thinking, statistical methods and measurement are

elements of a quantitative research.
It is a way of making any phenomenon or any sensory experience clearer or
more meaningful by gathering and examining information about such person,
thing, place, or event appealing to senses.

Example: [Business]
1. Counting and analyzing how many loyal
customers stopped buying the bestseller milk
tea where you arrived at 12, 231
2. Determining how many loyal customers
were initially buying the bestseller milk tea
where you arrived at 18,469.
3. Computing for the level of acceptance of the
loyal customers before and after the year end
sales using quantitative scaling where you
arrived at 3.02 (before) and 1.93 (after).
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Example: [Social Science-Behavioral]

1. Determining high ranking grades where you
arrived at 96, 97, 98, and 99.
2. Determining poor academic grades where
you arrived at 75, 76, 77 and 78.
3. Determining stress levels 1-10 where you
arrived at 5, 6, 7 and 8
3. Computing for the strength of relationship
between the family stress with academic
performance where you arrived at .7328
interpreted as strong relationship of
variables.

Example: [Engineering-Investigative]
1. Determining the electric current flowing in
the battery with 1 atom thick wire and 1
electron per atom.
2. Measuring flow of electron per second
where you arrived at 2 amperes.
3. Determining electric provisions when
battery dies.
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Example: [Engineering-Experimental]
1. Determining the measurement of
aggregates and other materials and
ingredients needed to produce
conventional brick.
2. Computing for the people’s level of
acceptance about the coconut fiber
reinforced brick using Likert scale and
weighted mean.
3. Computing for compressive, flexural
and tensile strengths of traditional and
coconut fiber reinforced brick.

Example: [Medical Science]

1. Describe what is acne and what are its
causes.
2. Describe the bacteria and is biological
studies.
3. Measure the inhibition zone in diameter
of the bacteria to the produced herbal soap
from makahiya and you arrived at 43 mm
interpreted as sensitive.
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Characteristics of Quantitative Research

• Objective
• Uses numbers and figures
• Focuses on the object of the study
• Exclude own thoughts and feelings about
the subject or object
• Characterized by real or factual
• Analogous to scientific or experimental
thinking
• It does not just identify problems but
theorize, hypothesize, analyze, infer and
create.

Strengths of Quantitative Research

• Samples of individuals can be selected to
ensure that the results will be the
representative of the population studied.
• Structural factors that determine how
inequalities are produced can be
analyzed.
• Quantitative estimates can be obtained of
the magnitude and distribution of impact
• Standardized approaches permit the
study to be replicated with the production
of comparable findings
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Your journey continues…

Let us take a thorough analysis of the difference between

the qualitative and quantitative research

STANDARDS QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

MENTAL SURVEY OF Exists in the physical world Results from social

REALITY interaction

CAUSE-EFFECT Revealed by automatic

Explained by people’s
RELATIONSHIP descriptions of
objectives and desires
circumstance or conditions

RESEARCHER’S
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE Objective; least Subjective; sometimes
OBJECT OR SUBJECT OF THE involvement of the personally engaged
STUDY researcher

EXPRESSION OF DATA, DATA

ANALYSIS, AND FINDINGS Numerals, statistics Verbal language (words,
visuals, objects)

RESEARCH PLAN Plans all the research Takes place as the

aspects before collecting research proceeds
data gradually

BEHAVIOR TOWARD Control or manipulation Desires to preserve the

RESEARCH ASPECTS/ of research conditions by natural setting of research
CONDITIONS the researcher features

OBTAINING KNOWLEDGE
Scientific method Multiple methods

PURPOSE Evaluates objectives and

Makes social intentions
examines cause and
understandable
effect relationship
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STANDARDS QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

DATA-ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE Mathematically based Thematic codal ways,

method competence based

STYLE OF EXPRESSION Impersonal, scientific

Personal
or systematic

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE More inclined to purposive

Random sampling as sampling or use of chosen
the most preferred samples based on some
criteria

SAMPLE SIZE Sample size is determined

Typically small
if total population exceeds
30

SUITABILITY FOR STUDYING Suitable for studying Not suitable for collecting
large population data over a large area

APPROACH
Objective Subjective

AIM Test hypothesis, test Explore complex human

theories issues

PHILOSOPHICAL
FOUNDATION Deductive Inductive

ASSESSMENT OF
OUTCOMES Validity and reliability Adequacy
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STANDARDS QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

PRINCIPLE OF SAMPLE SIZE

Representation Saturation

TOOLS or INSTRUMENTS
Interviews, Focus
Survey questionnaire
group discussion

MEASURES OF UTILITY ON
RESULTS Generalizability Transferability

**Notice that quantitative research

involves sensory experience; using your senses
in determining measurement and counting of
data (you use eyes, nose, ear compared to
abstract of qualitative; you use understanding
and wisdom)
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experimental
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research
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Lesson 3: Experimental Research

Classifications of Quantitative Research:

• Experimental Research

• Non-experimental Research

Experimental Research
Experimental research is a quantitative
research that manipulates some level of
independent
. variable and then measures the

outcome through the dependent. variable . It

determines cause
. and effect
. relationship.

The quantitative research treats or deals with

the object or subject of the research in a
definite or exact manner and determines the
extent of the effects or influence of the
treatment on the object, then discovers the
causes of such effect.
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Two groups are involved in any

experimental research:

the experimental group, the one

on which the treatment or
influence is applied

and the control group, which

does not receive any
treatment.

.
.

Two categories of experimental research

a. True experimental

b. Quasi-experimental
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True experimental research

• Done in a laboratory or in
the field
• Uses random selection of
participants
• Measures the effect of
independent variable (cause)
to the dependent variable
(effect)
• The researcher can control
the independent variable
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Quasi experimental research

• Alternative to determine cause

and effect between two variables
but cannot be subjected to
experimental control.

• Most of the time, this design is

used on a naturally given
phenomena (something that
cannot be controlled) and its
effect to people.
• No random assignment of
.
participants
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Types of Quasi-Experimental
Research

• Matched comparison — choosing

a treatment group and another
group that has similarities with
the treatment group.

• Time series- them series of pre-

tests and post-tests.

• Single-subject — controls
treatment and condition applied
to just one individual or group.
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Non-experimental
research
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Non-Experimental Research

Non-Experimental research is a
way of finding truths about a
subject by describing the
collected data about such
subject and determining their
relationships
. or connections
. with
one another.

Any treatment or conditions is

not involved in this type of
research. But there is a
measuring variable here; once
you do a non-experimental
research, you deal both with
qualitative and quantitative.
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Non-Experimental Research

is a research that lacks the

manipulation of an independent
variable and random X
assignments of participants to
conditions.

It determines correlation,
interaction, connection or
relationship of variables
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The desire to discover people’s

thoughts, views, feelings and
attitudes about a certain societal
issue, object, place or event
causes you to use non-
experimental research.

The variables should be

measurable, meaning they can be
counted or subjected to scale.
It can be about a single
variable, rather than a
statistical relationship between
two variables.

It can be a non-causal statistical

relations between variables.
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It can be a causal relationship,

but the independent variable
cannot be manipulated, or
participants cannot be
randomly assigned to
conditions.

It collects data through survey,

observation, historical studies,
case studies, documentary
analysis, etc.
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Characteristics of Non-
Experimental Research

1. It is incapable of establishing
cause-effect relationships; by
itself, it is able, if it takes place in
conjunction with other
experimental and quasi-
experimental research methods

2. It involves ways of data

analysis:
Primary — analysis of data
collected by the researcher
himself
Secondary — examination of data
collected by other people
Meta-analysis — analysis of data
expressed numerically
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3. It uses research method that is

applicable to both quantitative and
qualitative data.
4. It collects data through survey,
observation, historical studies,
case studies, documentary
analysis, etc.

Survey research is a
method of research
that aims at knowing
what a big number of
people think about
some sociological
issues
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The data it collects from these

people serving as the
“representatives or informants”
explain or describe the society’s
thoughts, attitudes and feelings
towards these issues.

Strengths of Survey Research

1. It is versatile . It can tackle any

issue.
2. It is efficient. It is not costly in
terms of money
and time.
3. Generality. It can get a good
sample.
4. It can provide confidentiality,
safeguarding the privacy and
anonymity of the respondents.
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Ethical Standards

1. Avoid risk of harming any

people, the environment,
property or animals.
2. Preserve privacy and
confidentiality.
3. Do not plagiarize the works of
others.
4. Grant and limit authorship to
substantial contribution.
5. Do not twist conclusions.
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Types of Non-Experimental
Research:

• Descriptive — aims to accurately

and systematically describe a
population, situation or
phenomenon. It answers the
questions what, when, where and
how.
Identifies characteristics,
frequencies, trends, correlations
and categories.

• Correlational research
attempts to determine the level
or strength of two or more
quantifiable variables does not
mean that one variable causes
the other.
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• Causal Comparative — Causal

comparative research
attempts to determine relationship
between independent variable and
dependent variable after an action
or event has already occurred.
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variables
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Variables

Variables are “changing

qualities or characteristics” of
persons, or things like age,
gender, intelligence, ideas,
achievements, confidence, and
so on that are involved in your
research study. Made up of the
root or base word “vary” which
means to undergo changes or to
differ from, variables have
different or varying values in
relation to time and situation.
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In research, especially in a
quantitative research, one
important thing you must focus
on at the start of your study is to
determine the variables involved
in your study.

Unless you spend some time

pondering on variables in your
research, your work has no
chance of attending its goal. Your
research problem or research
topic to which you devote much
of your initial research time
finalizing stands great, if it has
wordings on the basic variables
involved in your study.
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Basically, variables are of

two types: independent variable
and dependent variable.

Independent variables are those

that cause changes in the subject,
while dependent variables are
those that bear or manifest the
effects caused by the independent
variables. Hence, in a causal
relationship, the cause comes
from the independent variable; the
effects, on the dependent variable.
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For instance, to determine the

positive effects of one modern
grammar theory called SFG
(Systematic Functional Grammar)
on IC (Intercultural Competence),
you apply this theory in varied
ways like realizing this in a
collaborative, oral, or written
activity. In this case, the SFG
serves as the independent variable
and the IC as the dependent
variable.
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In an experimental research,
the independent variable
being the condition or
treatment applied to the
experimental group, is under
the control or manipulation
of the researcher or
experimenter.
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In a scientific way of studying

cause and effect relationships,
these two variables, independent
and dependent are part and
parcel of the research because
the first one is the cause; the
second, the effect that you can
subject to any form of
measurement.

However, as you carry out the

research, it is possible that one,
two or more variables or extra
variables crop up to create an
impact on the relationship of
independent and dependent
variables. Being extra variables,
they from this other type of
variables called extraneous
variables.
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For example, in the case of SFG

vs. IC, (the first as the independent
variable; the second as the
dependent variable) extraneous
variable like age, gender or
personality traits may suddenly
surface to create effects on the
relationships of the two basic
variables. Such extraneous
variables are called participant
variable if they refer to the moods,
emotions or intelligence of the
subject; situational variables, if
they pertain to the nature of the
place: smelly, chilly, cold, hot
spacious, and the like.
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Extraneous variables are to be controlled

by you, the experimenter. But if they do
not give in to your control, they become
confounding variables that can strongly
influence your study. Dealing with these
types of variables gives you difficulty in
determining the real cause of changes in
the dependent variables; that is whether
it is due only to the independent variable
or to the combination between the
confounding and the independent
variables.

The involvement of confounding

variables in the research results in the
production of “mixed up, confusing or
bewildering results.” Involved not within
the research situation but outside the
research process, the extraneous
variables exists as “nuisance variables,”
whose potency need to go down to
prevent it from affecting the results
negatively .
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Other Types of Variables

Constant are those that do not
undergo any changes during
experiment.
Attribute characteristics of people
like intelligence, creativity, anxiety,
learning styles, etc.
Discrete are quantitative or
numeric variable obtained by
counting. They are measured as
whole units. Cannot take the value
of fraction between one and the
next closest value.
Continuous can take any value
between a set of real numbers and
can include values as small as the
instrument of measurement
allows.
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Covariates are those included in

the research study to create
interactions with the independent
and dependent variables
Dichotomous has only two
possible results; one or zero.
Latent cannot be directly
measured or observed like
personality traits
Manifest can be directly measured
or observed to give proofs to
latent variables.
Extraneous are variables that are
not intentionally intended for
studying(not included in the study)
Confounding a type of extraneous
variable that directly affects how
the independent variable acts on
the dependent variable.
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Categorical those that characterize

or describe the quality of
data.(also known as qualitative
variable)