PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 Guide Note for the Review of Inquiry Vs.

Research

Inquiry Vs. Research

Inquiry refers to the process of knowing particular information from various sources by applying various
methods. Research, meanwhile, is the careful examination of a particular fact by looking into the
evidence needed to clarify concepts. The root word “search” means looking into something closely and
systematically, while the prefix “re” means “again”. This is a process of looking for something again
thoroughly.

Example of Inquiry:
1. Asking from the LTO the list of requirements to obtain a driver’s license.
2. Finding the problems encountered by students during Math class.

Example of Research:
1. Crafting a research paper about the lived experiences of those who commute using MRT.
2. Analyzing the strategies used by teachers in teaching research.
3. Determining the factors affecting the choice of people in the market.

Therefore, inquiry is surface-level, research is careful and thorough. Always remember, inquiry is the
prerequisite to research.

There are two common approaches of research:

• Qualitative Research which abounds in words.
• Quantitative Research which deals with statistics and numerical data.

The focus of Practical Research 2 will be on Quantitative Research which has these some key features:
1. It aims to find out facts and examine hypotheses through numerical data.
2. This type of research entails a large number of respondents.
3. Suitable in making generalizations.
4. Presents statistical results.

Skills in Research Writing

As a researcher, we have to ask the following questions when we are doing research. These questions
will guide the researcher in completing the different steps in research.
1. Why am I doing research?
2. What will continuously motivate me to do research?
3. What are the needed skills for me to become a successful researcher?
4. Why do I have to experience research?

In selecting the topic of your research, the following questions must also be considered. It is very
important to consider the 5Ws when conceptualizing your research study.
1. WHAT questions pertain to your research itself, the questions that are to be addressed.
2. WHY questions refer to your purpose in doing research.
3. WHO questions refer to your participants.
 4. WHERE questions refer to where you will conduct the study.
5. WHEN questions refer to the time of the conduct of the study.

There are different sources of knowledge in research. Information can be gathered from the following:
1. Experience – This pertains to your previous involvements. If you have been into similar
situations, then these are good sources of your knowledge in research.
2. Authority – You may ask experts in the field some questions regarding your topic.
3. Deductive Reasoning – This process starts with a general idea broken down into specifics by
applying rules of logic.
4. Inductive Reasoning – This involves gathering existing data specific to be used as basis for
generalizations.
5. Scientific Approach – Deductive and inductive reasonings are combined to come up with a
logical conclusion.
In conducting your research, you need to consider the type of research that you implement.
Research can be categorized into several ways.
1. According to importance
a) Basic research is learning a certain phenomenon. This is designed to merely advance the
body of knowledge with no direct application.
b) Applied research involves systematic gathering of data, and the results will be applied in
various fields.

2. According to method
a) Qualitative Research mostly talks about behaviors and experiences of focus groups using
nonnumeric data.
b) Quantitative Research generates results by applying numerical data and is focused on a
wider populace.

3. According to process
a) Pure research is looking into certain phenomena.
b) Applied research involves conducting a study, and then the results will be applied directly to
real-life situations.
c) Action research examines a particular problem and then provides a solution to it and tests its
effectivity through research.

4. According to purpose
a) Analytical research makes use of evidence from various sources.
b) Argumentative research makes use of evidence based on a stance or point of view.
c) Exploratory research includes doing a series of experimentations for testing.

5. According to locale
a) Library research includes resources found in different learning content from the sections of
the library.
b) Field research involves conducting research in a very natural environment without modifying
anything.
 c) Laboratory research includes artificial and controlled conditions.

For you to produce good research, you need to consider the following characteristics:
1. Empirical – Research is based on clear observations.
2. Logical – Research collection follows certain data.
3. Cyclical – Research continues to seek answers to certain problems.
4. Analytical – The provision of analytical procedures is very important.
5. Replicability – Design and procedures are replicated to enable the researchers to arrive at valid
and conclusive results.
6. Critical – Research exhibits careful and precise judgments.

As a researcher, you also need to be equipped with the appropriate skills. These characteristics
include intellectual curiosity, prudence, healthy criticism, and intellectual honesty. You must also
consider the difference between research and common sense. Compared to common sense, an
observation made by the researcher should be systematic, arguable, and challengeable.

Moreover, following the code of ethics in research is of utmost importance. This includes the
following:
1. The conduct of research should not cause any disruption.
2. Expectations from the participants should be clearly explained.
3. Confidentiality and anonymity of data must be taken into consideration.
4. The right to privacy and confidentiality must be observed most of the time.

REFERENCE
• Cabading, J., & Brawner, F. (2022). Practical Research 2 (pp.508). Rex Bookstore
 Guide Note for the Review of the Chapter I of a Traditional Research Paper

Introduction discusses your topic and its importance.

• Topic or the subject matter - It define and elaborate using methods of paragraph development
classification and giving example.
• Importance of the topic – Cite the role that the topic plays in your life and benefits you derive
from it.

Background of the study - The background section, therefore, should provide general information about
the topic of your research and emphasize the main aims of the study. Please ensure that you only discuss
the main and relevant aspects of the studies that have led to your aims.
• Reasons for choosing the research topic – Emphasize what motivates you to choose the topic.
• Purpose of the study – Discusses the objective of the study.

Theoretical Framework – from the article written by the Sacred Heart University Library (n.d.), the
theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study. This
introduces the theory which explains why the research problem under study exists.

Conceptual Framework – According to Walden University Library (n.d.), a conceptual framework

includes one or more formal theories (in part or whole) as well as other concepts and empirical findings
from the literature. It is used to show relationships among these ideas and how they relate to the
research.

Statement of the Problem – According to Bwisa (2018), a statement of the problem is used in research
as a claim that outlines the problem addressed by a study. As of its construction, there should be a
general statement of the problem followed by the specific question or sub-problems. (Gonzaga, 2015)

Hypothesis – for quantitative research ONLY – gives us a supposition or proposed explanation made on
the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Scope and Delimitation – It should include the following:

• A brief statement of the general purpose of the study.
• The subject matter and topics studied and discussed.
 • The locale of the study, where the data were gathered or the entity to which the data belong.
• The population from which the respondents were selected.
• The period of the study. This is the time, months, or years, during which the data were
gathered.

Additional note: The difference between scope and limitation:

For example, you want to study the effects of bullying on middle school children.
• Scope – Could include the face-to-face or physical bullying and the cyber-bullying.
• Limitation – Occurrences that arise in your study that is out of your control.

Significance of the Study – also known as the rationale of the study, is important to convey to the reader.
Its purpose is to make clear why your study was needed and the specific contribution your research
made to furthering academic knowledge in your field. (Discover PHDs, 2020)

Definition of Terms – This gives the readers an understanding of the concepts or factors that will be
discussed throughout the study, as well as contextual information as to how you will be using those
concepts in your study. Terminologies may be defined constructively (literally) or operationally
(contextually).
 LESSON 1: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative Research
• It makes focuses on specific things by means of statistics that involve the collection and study of
numerical data to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and
generalize results to wider populations.
• Emphasize objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of
data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-existing
statistical data using computational techniques.
• Quantitative research is helpful when you collect data from a large group of diverse respondents.
It is also a good method to use when your audience is more receptive to results in the form of
facts, graphs, charts, and statistics.
• Researchers typically use quantitative data when the objective of their study is to assess a
problem or answer the “what” or “how many” of a research question. In essence, the goal of
quantitative research studies is to understand the relationship in a population between an
independent variable and one or more dependent variables.

Examples:
• A survey was conducted among teenagers to study the impact of usage of mobile phones on
children.
• This sample of the survey includes youths and teenagers of 15-30 years age groups.
• So, the question was asked by 150 respondents of which 100 are male and 50 are female
whether the children it is beneficial to give mobile phones to children or not.
• The answer contains the seven-point scale option, where 7 is strongly agreed, 6 is agreed, 5 is
slightly agreed, 4 is neutral, 3 slightly disagree, 2 disagree and 1 strongly disagree.

Characteristics of Quantitative Research:

• It is objective.
• Research questions are clearly defined.
• The research instrument is clearly- structured.
• There is a need to present numerical data.
• A large sample size is required.
• It can be replicated.
• Data can be used to predict future outcomes.
• Data can be used to verify existing facts and develop new concepts.

Advantages of Quantitative Research

• Allows the researcher to measure and analyze data.
• Relationship between independent and dependent variable is studied in detail, which is
advantageous because the researcher is more objective about the findings of the research.
• Used to test hypotheses in experiments because of its ability to measure data using statistics.
Disadvantages of Quantitative Research
• Does not study things in a natural setting or discuss the meaning things have for different people
as qualitative research does.
• In some cases, a large sample of the population must be studied; the larger the sample of the
people researched, the more statistically accurate the results will be. As such, the timeline
complexity, and cost of the research will be increased.
Importance of Quantitative Research
• The quantitative approach is so vital; even in our daily lives, because in most, if not all things we
do in life, we measure to see how much there is of something. The quantitative method is part of
our daily life, even from birth; data are constantly being collected, assessed, and re-assessed as
we grow.
• It is useful in obtaining an objective understanding of people, things, places, and events in this
world.
• Effectively gather information (provide solid evidence) on the size of the population so,
therefore, it allows you to permit generalizations to be made about large populations on smaller
samples.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative

Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research
Discover ideas with general
research Objects
Observe and interpret
Unstructured. Free form
Research is intimately involved.
Research are subjective.
Small samples – often in natural
setting.
Research Aspect Quantitative Research
Test hypotheses or specific
Common Purpose
Research Questions
Approach Measure and test
Structured response. Categories
Data-collection Approach
provided
Researcher is uninvolved. Results
Research Independence
are objective.
Large samples to produce
Samples
generalizable results.
 LESSON 2: VARIABLES

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” or various which means to undergo changes or to differ
from, variables have different or varying values in relation to time and situation.
• A variable in research simply refers to a person, place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to
measure in some way.

BASIC TYPES OF VARIABLES

• Independent variables are those that cause changes in the subject
• Dependent variables are those that bear or manifest the effects caused by the independent variables

VARIABLE RELATIONSHIPS
In a scientific way of studying cause-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
between the independent and dependent variables. Being extra variables, they form this other type of
variables called extraneous variables.

OTHER TYPES OF VARIABLES

1. Constant / Control – do not undergo any changes during an experiment. Example: Sunlight
2. Attribute – characteristics of people: intelligence, creativity, anxiety, learning styles, etc.
3. Covariate – included in the research study to create interactions with the independent and
dependent variables.
4. Continuous – quantitative in nature and is used in interval or ratio scale of measurement. Example:
Distance, time.
5. Dichotomous – has only two possible results: one or zero, yes or no.
6. Latent – cannot be directly observed like personality traits. hidden
7. Manifest – can be directly observed to give proofs to latent variables. shown
8. Exogenous – found outside an identified model
9. Endogenous – found inside; as a part of identified mode.
 LESSON 3: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROBLEMS

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Research Problem dealt more with the precision and specificity of the problem. Furthermore,
the quantitative research problem describes the trends and patterns of a phenomenon.

A quantitative research problem is not only characterized by precision, specificity, or stability, but
also geared toward a possible result, the qualitative research problem is described as expansive,
widespread, and developing and it is focused more on processes rather than on outcomes.

RESOURCES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROBLEM

1. Agencies of the government, or any non-government institutions
2. Your own experience or genuine interest in something
3. Previous research findings which you want to validate or consider as studies suffering from some
inconsistencies or discrepancies
4. Present political social or economic issues in society
5. Review of related literature

GUIDELINES IN FORMULATING QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROBLEMS & QUESTIONS

1. Formulate a research problem that is researchable; meaning, open to empirical investigation.
2. See to it that you state your quantitative research problem clearly, concisely, and possibly, if
under APA referencing style, not beyond 12 words.
3. Have your research problem focus on a general understanding of your research topic.
4. Construct a research problem that mirrors the importance of carrying out the research for
finding answers or solutions to a problem.
5. Let your quantitative research problem state the variables and their relationships with one
another.
6. Construct an introductory statement to present your research problem, which is the main
problem of your research.
7. State your research questions or sub-problems, not in the form of yes-or-no questions, but
informative questions.
8. Express your research problem and research questions either in an interrogative or declarative
manner, but some research books say that the former is more effective than the latter form.

TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

A quantitative research problem can generate a set of research questions or sub-problems that fall under
any of these types of research questions:
1. Descriptive research questions – ask questions on the kind, qualifications, and categories of the
subjects or participants.
2. Relation questions – are questions about the nature and manner of connection between or
among variables.
3. Casual questions – reasons behind the effects of the independent variable on the dependent
variable is the focus of these types of research questions.
 LESSON 4: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

• Quantitative Research Problem dealt more with the precision and specificity of the problem.
Furthermore, the quantitative research problem describes the trends and patterns of a
phenomenon.
• A conceptual framework is a graphical presentation of your concepts or ideas on the basic
structure or components of your research as well as on the relationships of these elements with
one another.
• A theoretical framework gives and explains theories, principles, generalizations, and research
findings that have some connections to your research study.

PURPOSE OF CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

• Shows organization, order, and direction of your research study • It enables the readers
to obtain a general understanding of the research.
• Gives people a notion of the research activities you want to perform.
• Serves the purpose of clarifying concepts and their relationships with one another in a research
study.

CONCEPT MAP
• Made up of varied figures that represent your concepts on the varied features of your research
such as research questions, review of related literature, research methodology, and variables.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• The theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study.
The theoretical framework introduces and describes the theory that explains why the research
problem under study exists.
• Example: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to study the life cycle of social media platforms. Note that
you can use multiple theoretical frameworks as needed for your study.

POINTERS IN WRITING CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

1. Familiarize yourself with the objective of the conceptual framework
2. Base the contents of the conceptual framework on your own understanding of the elements and
the relationships of the research features.
3. See to it that the entire conceptual framework is related to the objective of the research.
4. Let others read your conceptual framework for comments or feedback for improvement
purposes.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• The conceptual framework presents the overall structure of the study, and the theoretical
framework within it explains the relationships that are explored within the study.
• The theoretical and conceptual framework explains the path of research and grounds it firmly in
theoretical constructs. The overall aim of the two frameworks is to make research findings more
meaningful, and acceptable to the theoretical constructs in the research field and ensure
generalizability.

LESSON 5: HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS
• A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or an answer to a question about variables, their
relations, and other facts involved in the research.
• It is inferential thinking that makes you guess something based not only on whatever experience
or factual knowledge you have about such a thing but also on conclusions that are logically
drawn by other research studies.
• A hypothesis has to be tested through analytical investigation to prove how true or false it is.

PURPOSE OF HYPOTHESIS
1. They guide you on which aspects of the research to focus on.
2. They provide opportunities to prove the relationship between variables.
3. They give the right direction of the research.
4. They outline your thoughts on your manner of summarizing the results and of explaining the
conclusions.
5. They push for an empirical study to prove the existence of a relationship of variables and the
effects of an independent variable on the dependent variable.

HYPOTHESIS VS RESEARCH QUESTION

HYPOTHESIS RESEARCH QUESTION
Hypothesis is predictive in nature. Research question is inquisitive in nature.
A tentative prediction about the relationship The questions that a research study sets to
between two or more variables. answer.
Can be used if there is significant knowledge or Can be used if there is little previous research on
previous research on the subject. the subject.
Mainly used in experimental Can be used in both quantitative and qualitative
quantitative studies. studies.
Does not allow a wide range of outcomes. Allows a wide range of outcomes.
CATEGORIES OF HYPOTHESES
⮚ Null hypotheses (H0)
- This states the absence of a relationship between the independent variable and dependent
variable.
⮚ Alternative hypotheses (H1)
- States the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable.

Example question: Does consuming a coffee affects the quality of sleep?

Null Hypothesis (H0) Alternative Hypothesis (H1)
H0: Consuming a coffee does not affect the H1: Consuming a coffee affects the quality of
quality of sleep. sleep.

GUIDELINES IN FORMATTING HYPOTHESES

1. Express your hypotheses in a declarative sentence;
2. Support your hypotheses with ideas based on theories, known facts, previous studies, or your
own experience and wisdom.
3. Establish a logical relationship between the hypotheses and the research problem.
4. Have your hypotheses predict the nature of the relationship between or among variables.
5. Ascertain the possibility of having some means of testing, analyzing, and investigating your
hypotheses.
6. Avoid wordiness, by using clear, exact, or specific language in stating the hypothesis.
 LESSON 6: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

• Is one major activity in research that makes you examine or study again the concept or ideas
related to your research that people managed to publish in books, journals, or other reading
materials in the past.

PURPOSE OF RRL
• To find out the connection of your research to the current conditions or situations of the world
• To know more about the theories or concepts underlying your research and to learn from them
with respect to your own research study
• To discover the relation of your research with previous research studies • To obtain
information on the accuracy or relevance of your research questions
• To familiarize yourself with technical terms related to you research.

2 BASIC METHODS
• Traditional - for qualitative; reviews provide a broad overview of a research topic with no clear
methodological approach
• Systematic review are overviews of the literature undertaken by identifying, critically appraising
and synthesizing results of primary research studies using an explicit, methodological approach

STEPS IN CONDUCTING A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

1. Clarifying the research questions
2. Planning the research based on your understanding of the research questions
3. Searching for literature
4. Listing criteria for considering the values of written works
5. Evaluating the quality of previous research studies
6. Summarizing the various forms of knowledge collected

CITATION OR IN-TEXT CITATION –

Refers to authors cited within the main body of the paper. Example:
• Critser (2003) noted that despite growing numbers of overweight Americans, many health
care providers still “remain either in ignorance or outright denial about the health danger to
the poor and the young” (p.5)
• Many health care providers still “remain either in ignorance or outright denial about the
health danger to the poor and the young” despite the growing numbers of overweight
Americans (Critser, 2003, p.5)

BIBLIOGRAPHY/REFERENCES
It can be found at the concluding or end part of the paper. Example:
 • Doe, J. 2011. The Title. PhD diss., University of Mars.
• Johnstone, Ian M. 2011. Gaussian estimation: sequence and multiresolution models.
• Johnstone, I.M., and B.W. Silverman. 2005. “EbayesThresh: R programs for Empirical Bayes
Thresholding.” Journal of Statistical Software 12 (8): 1-38

TWO COMMON REFERENCING STYLES American Psychological Association (APA) and Modern Language
Association (MLA) Style

Aspects APA Style MLA Style

Full surname, then followed by Full surname first, followed by

Writing the Author’s name initials of the first and middle full first name and optional
name. initial of the middle name.
Italicized title with only the
Underlined or italicized the title
Writing the title of the beginning word capitalized
with all content words
reading materials (exception: capital for every
capitalized.
proper noun).

Written after the Written after the publisher’s

Writing the copyright date
author’s name. name.

In-text citations contain In-text citations contain

In-text citation styles author’s name and year of author’s name and page
publication. numbers

Commas are used in in-text Commas are not used in in-text

citations. citations

ETHICAL STANDARDS IN LITERATURE-REVIEW WRITING

1. Acknowledge the owners of the borrowed ideas and put quotation marks around copied words
from books or articles.
2. Proper citation and referencing are your way of freeing yourself from plagiarism.