SUBJECT: PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 (QUARTER 1)

GRADE LEVEL: GRADE 12

LESSON 1 – NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A GOOD TEAM PLAYER
1. Know your role. A research paper has several components that each of you need to accomplish. It is important
that each member should know his or her role.
2. Know how to collaborate. Collaborating is one of the key things you need to practice and apply when writing
your research paper.
3. Admit your accountability. Mistakes are inevitable in group work. If you unintentionally made an error, do not
blame your co-members. Own your mistakes, act upon them, and lock for solutions.
4. Be flexible. Know how to adjust and adapt to the tasks assigned to you, especially if the deadline is already near.
5. Have an optimistic mindset. Cheer your group mates that all of you can do it and finish right on time.
6. Be committed to the team. Fully invest in your team and always aim to achieve the best results. Improve what
needs to be improved, and present the best output that you can.

 Research is a collection of data and information for the advancement of knowledge (Shuttleworth & Wilson, 2008)
or a process of steps to collect and analyze data to increase understanding of a topic or issue (Creswell, 2008).
Research is also a creative work taken under a systematic approach to increase knowledge acquisition (OECD,
2002).
QUALITATIVE VS. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 Qualitative research collects non-numerical data to understand or explain concepts, opinions, situations, or
experiences. It digs into the deeper explanations of how’s and why’s. Data are gathered mainly through narrations,
observations, anecdotes, written literature, and interviews.
 Quantitative research is focused on analysis of numerical data and form conclusions from samples drawn from
the population. Quantitative research can also predict the future behavior of a phenomena based on existing data.
Data can be extracted from scales and instruments where numerical rating is needed.
 Aliaga and Gunderson (2000), describe quantitative research as “explaining phenomena by collecting numerical
data that are analyzed using mathematically-based methods (in particular statistics).
CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
1. It is objective NOT subjective. Precision and accuracy of measurement and analysis is the target of the
concepts. Furthermore, intuitions and guesses is not practice or used in developing conclusions or solution to a
problem.
2. Research questions are clearly defined. Familiarity of the topic of the research have to be more focus so that
it will be clear to the readers and researcher have to be advance in what he is looking for.
3. Research instrument is clearly structured. The instrument of the study is well-organized and plan, and with
different dimensions and scales. It is a structured research tools like questionnaires or checklist.
4. Numerical presentation of data. Data are organized and presented in the form of numbers and statistics. It is
also presented in the form of tables, charts, graphs and figures that consolidate large numbers of data to show
trends, relationships, or differences among variables.
5. Large sample size. The greater the sample sizes the more reliable data analysis. This is to avoid biases in
interpreting the results. It also requires normal population distribution curve. A minimum of 20% of the population
can be used as respondents of a research.
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6. Replicated but not duplicate. Reliable quantitative studies can be replicated or repeated but not duplicated to
verify or confirm the correctness of the results in another setting. Validity of the findings may eliminating the
possibility of spurious conclusions.
7. Data can be used to predict future outcomes or forecast. Through complex mathematical calculations ad with
the aid of computers and formulated formulas scenarios can be predicting future results.
8. Data can be used to verify existing facts and develop new concepts. A research can validate an existing
fact. In some cases, research can be used to develop new ideas needed to make life more comfortable.
ADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
1. Very objective
2. Numerical and quantifiable data can be used to predict outcomes.
3. Findings are generalizable to the population.
4. There is conclusive establishment of cause and effect
5. Fast and easy data analysis using statistical software.
6. Fast and easy data gathering
7. Quantitative research can be replicated or repeated.
8. Validity and reliability can be established
DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
1. It lacks the necessary data to explore a problem or concept in depth.
2. It does not provide comprehensive explanation of human experiences.
3. Some information cannot be described by numerical data such as feelings, and beliefs.
4. The research design is rigid and not very flexible.
5. The participants are limited to choose only from the given responses.
6. The respondents may tend to provide inaccurate responses.
7. A large sample size makes data collection more costly.
TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

1. Non-Experimental Research. Describe a situation or phenomenon. Relationship between two or more variables
without any interference from the proponent. Researchers collect data without making changes or introducing
treatments.
a. Descriptive Research. Describe the nature, characteristics and components of the population or a
phenomenon. Manipulation of variables or search for cause and effect is not applicable. Determine the
frequency with it occurs and to find general attributes of the presently existing situation.
Examples:
- How many hours senior high school students spent in playing online games?
- How many malnourished students who failed in the achievement test?
- How healthy is the food served during lunch time in the public schools?
- Factors Affecting the Academic Performance of Senior High School Students
b. Correlation Research. Correlation research is a non-experimental research design strategy which enables
researchers to determine the relationship between two or more variables. A research design investigates
relationships between two variables. It measures the degree of their relationship or associations.
Example:
- Performance in Mathematics and Score in Practical Research 2
- Sex and mathematical ability
- The Relationship Between Playing Online Games and the Grade-point Average

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2. Experimental Research. This kind of research is centrally concerned with constructing research that is high in
causal (internal) validity. It uses scientific approach. Researchers collect data with making changes or introducing
treatments.
a. True-Experimental Research. To test the true cause and effect relationships of variables involve in the
study. According to Prieto, et al., it offers the highest internal validity of all the designs.
b. Quasi-Experimental Research. This kind of research is almost the same as that of True Experimental
Design. The only difference is the absence of random assignment of subjects to other conditions.
IMPORTANCE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ACROSS FIELDS
1. Knowledge production. To discover relatively new knowledge for whatever important purpose it may serve.
2. To find solutions to a problem. Desire some answers to the problems we encounter in our daily lives. To
develop, improve, or enhance was of doing things.
3. Human convenience. Research is done to make the lives of human beings easier. Humans crave convenience,
by allowing us to spend our time on what we find meaningful, like hobbies, personal goals, or people.
4. Research precedes progress. Progress will never happen without research. Whatever development we have
today this is all because of research.
5. Make the world better
RESEARCH VARIABLES
 Variables refer to any factor or construct that can be measured, described, controlled or manipulated in a study.
 Quantitative Variables. These are numbers from data that can be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided.
 Categorical Variables. These variables represent groupings or strata. They are mostly represented in numbers
but cannot be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided.
 Experimental Variables. These are variables that may be constant, controlled, or manipulated in an experiment.
 Variable is anything that has a quantity or quality that varies. For instance, during the quarantine period, your
mother planted tomato seedlings in pots. Now common understanding from science tells you that several factors
are affecting the growth of tomatoes: sunlight, water, kind of soil, and nutrients in soil. How fast the tomato
seedlings will grow and bear fruits will depend on these factors. The growth of tomatoes and the number of fruits
produced are examples of the Dependent Variables. The amount of sunlight, water, and nutrients in the soil are
the Independent Variables.
 If there is an existing relationship between the independent and dependent variables, then the value of the
dependent variable varies in response to the manipulation done on the independent variable. The independent
variable is also identified as the presumed cause while the dependent variable is the presumed effect. In an
experimental quantitative design, the independent variable is pre-defined and manipulated by the researcher
while the dependent variable is observed and measured. For descriptive, correlational, and ex post facto
quantitative research designs, independent and dependent variables simply do not apply.

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 TYPES OF VARIABLES
TYPES OF VARIABLES CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES
1. Discrete Variables Quantitative Numerical variables that - Number of
can only assume countable students in an
values auditorium
- Audience capacity
of a concert ground
2. Continuous Quantitative Numerical variables that - Area of school
Variables can assume infinite values ground
- Power bank
- Capacity in mAh
3. Dichotomous Categorical Only two answers are - Sex (male/female)
Variables possible; yes/no outcomes - Coin flipping
(heads/tails)
4. Nominal Variables Categorical Numbers are used for - Student ID number
naming or identification - Address
5. Ordinal Variables Quantitative Numbers are used for - Honor roll
ranking/order - Winners in a race
6. Interval Variables Quantitative Distance between two - Scores
variables are meaningful; - Attendance
there is no “absolute zero”
7. Ratio Variables Quantitative Distance between two - Height
variables are meaningful; - Weight
there is “absolute zero” - Length
8. Independent Experimental Variables that are The amount and type of
Variables manipulated to affect the fertilizer for the plant
outcome of an experiment
9. Dependent Experimental Variables that are affected
The amount of fruits
Variables when manipulating the produced by the plants
independent variable;
when the amount and type
outcome variables of fertilizer are changed
10. Control Variables Experimental Variables that are not The amount of water,
manipulated nor changed sunlight and location that
are held constant
11. Confounding Experimental Variables that influence The types of plant utilized
Variables both the independent and to test the effect of fertilizer
dependent variables and the amount of fruits
produced

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