Practical Research 1 Quarter 3 – Module 1: Importance of Research in Daily Lives

What is It If you think research is not for you, let me give you some instances that you might have applied “researching”.
Can you still recall when your Math teacher- asked you to solve a mathematical problem that you cannot understand?
Thus, no matter how you try you cannot find the right answer or concepts behind it Most probably, you ask somebody to
help you out or you open your cellphone and search for a video tutorial. Can you still recall when you first played your
favorite online game, and no matter how much you try, you still cannot defeat your opponent’s hero? I think what 5 you
did was to ask your friend or an expert to help you out or you searched on the internet for answers. The process that you
have done is research. You had a problem, you established your methods on how to solve your problem, you conducted a
literature review or an actual interview and survey, then you came up with solutions. These requires you to search and to
overcome your problems. Research flows in the same manner. Doing research does not necessarily mean creating
extraordinary things like Mark Zuckerberg who developed Facebook or even Zhang Yiming who created TikTok.
Etymologically, research came from “re” and “search”. "Re" is a prefix that means again and search is a word which
means to look for. Therefore, research is to look for something (Chapman 1979). There are two (2) things that we need to
take note of in this definition. First, research is not only about the discovery of something unknown, it is coming up with a
new explanation of something that is known. Second, research is a process. It is a process of searching for something to
solve an existing problem or difficulty to solve. Research is also understood as a systematic investigation or inquiry entailing
collection of data, documentation of critical information, analysis, interpretation of information (Williams 2007). From the
given definition, this highlights the manner how research is conducted. It is systematic. The question is, how does it
becomes systematic and what makes it systematic. The term systematic entails the structure. To understand the word
system, just imagine your body. Are your hands located in your ears? Or is your nose located on your chin? Of course, you
will reason out that your hands are located to where it should be and your nose is located in the middle of your face. The
manner of how your body parts are structured and organized implies the system. Research as systematic means it follows
the structure or method. Therefore, whenever collecting data, documenting information, analyzing, and interpreting
information are conducted, a particular method is used. On the other hand, research can be also viewed as the formation
of new knowledge and the employment of previous or existing knowledge into a new and creative way (O’Donnell 2012).
Imagine these two (2) scenarios: mother giving birth to a baby and a potter molding a pot. The creation of new knowledge
can be compared to a mother giving birth. The mother stands for the research itself and the baby is new knowledge. Thus,
through research, new knowledge is born. On the other hand, a potter molding a pot can be paralleled to the use of
existing knowledge in a new creative way. Here, 6 the potter stands for the researcher, the clay as the existing knowledge,
and the pot itself is a new knowledge made creatively.

Lesson 2 Research Experiences and Knowledge

Research is very significant on our lives, it has gradually changed human life through history.

Here are the five (5) importance of research to our daily lives.

1. Research aims for truth (Rolfe 2002).

2. Research improves quality of human life (Bornmann 2013).
3. Research saves life(Cancer Research UK 2019).
4. Research gathers necessary information (Igwenagu 2016).
5. Research explores humanity (Lee, Tran, and Lee 2007).

Practical Research 1 Quarter 3 – Module 2: Characteristics, Processes and Ethics of Research

characteristics are features or qualities that distinguish a person, place, or thing.

Characteristics of Research (Cristobal & Cristobal, 2017)

1. Research should be systematic. - The researcher needs to carry out a series of interrelated steps in conducting the
study.
2. Research should be objective. - The researcher needs to present information that are purely based on truths.
3. Research should be feasible. - The researcher needs to consider the possibility and practicality of conducting the
proposed study.
4. Research should be empirical. - The researcher needs to employ appropriate methods, either quantitatively or
qualitatively, to produce evidence-based information.
5. Research should be clear. - The researcher needs to use comprehensible language to present information and
convey explanation throughout the research process.

Lesson 2 The Research Process

process refers to a series of steps or actions taken to achieve a particular end or goal.

Research process is a systematic manner in which the researcher approaches his/her area of study to produce
knowledge that the community will consider to be worthwhile within the field (Rao, 2017). Understanding such
process is an important step towards executing any study.

five phases of the research process along with their definition (Whittemore & Melkus, 2008).

Now, here’s the simplified flow of the significant steps you need to take in conducting a study as presented by Rao
(2017):

1st step Define the research problem -To begin your research, you must look at a significant real-life problem.
2nd step Review the literature.- Read various publications or surf the internet to become aware of the previous
works already done about the chosen topic.
3rd step Formulate hypothesis. -A hypothesis is a theoretical statement in solving a logical relationship between
variables.
4th step Prepare the research design.- Identify what is the best means to collect and analyze data in the study
to clarify and improve the research problem, purpose, and questions.
5th step Collect data.- Use an appropriate data collection method to elicit the needed information.
6th step Analyze data. Utilize strategies and methods that make sense of the data to answer the research
problem.
7th step Interpret and report the findings. -Put the information in perspective and present the solution to the
proposed problem based on the findings of the investigation.

Respect for intellectual property The researcher should not plagiarize. Credit should be given to who or where
it is due. All authors cited and sources used in the study should be properly acknowledged. - Plagiarism refers
to the act of illegally using another person’s ideas, works, processes, and results. Thus, it constitutes claiming
 an intellectual property as one’s own that can be penalized through Republic Act 8293 known as the
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

For instance, a researcher may decide to undertake a scientific research. If he/she takes a quantitative
approach, he/she will use statistical data to provide an explanation of the phenomenon. On the other hand, if
the researcher chooses qualitative approach, the goal of the study will be to discuss and analyze the underlying
concepts and theories related to the research topic.

For you to easily understand the similarities and differences between the two research methods, here is a short
definition of terms that you have to be familiar with.
• contact time – the period when the researcher interacts with the research subjects or participants to obtain
relevant information
• hypothesis – a statement usually predicting the relationship between variables that can be tested by
scientific research
• outlier – a statistical observation in a set of data that is inconsistent with the majority of the data
• output replicability – capable of repetition, imitation or reproduction
• research instrument – a measurement tool designed to obtain, measure and analyze data from research
subjects around the research topic
• sample size – the number of subjects to be taken from the target population of the study
• trend – an assumed development in the future that will have a long-term and lasting effect; prevailing style or
preference
• validity – the functional quality of research instrument on obtaining data and producing results based on the
purpose of the study
• variable – any characteristic that can have different values or traits that may vary across research
participants

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Practical Research 1 Quarter 3 – Module 4: Characteristics, Strengths and Weaknesses, Kinds, and Importance of
Qualitative Research

1. (characteristics) : It refers to a distinguishing trait, quality, or property.

2. (strengths) : It means a strong attribute or inherent asset.
3. (weakness) : It is the quality or state of being weak.
4. (kind) : It pertains to a group united by common traits.
5. (importance) : It implies the significant worth of something.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

1. Qualitative research is naturalistic. A study to be conducted by the researcher should be based on real-life
situations. Likewise, the researcher should also unfold the study in a natural manner, that is, the findings are
derived from the analysis of authentic data gathered from the participants.
2. Qualitative research is purposeful. In conducting a qualitative type of study, the researcher should select the
participants in a purposive manner, that is, they will be selected because they either have easy access to the
information needed or simply have the knowledge to provide a great deal of information needed to the study.
3. Qualitative research is detailed. A thick description of gathered data from the participants makes this type of study
a detailed one. It is important that the researcher should capture the direct quotations of the responses of the
participant/s from the conducted interview or observation.
4. Qualitative research requires engagement and neutrality. Direct contact with the people, situation, and
phenomenon under investigation should be established by the researcher. Immersing oneself would enable the
researcher to acquire personal experiences and insights which are essential to better understand the phenomenon.
5. Qualitative research follows an inductive procedure. As the researcher immerses himself/herself in the
phenomenon under investigation, specific details and data will be gathered from the target participant/s.
6. Qualitative research is viewed in a holistic perspective. A study in a qualitative type cannot be simply done in a
linear and cause and effect relationship approach. Rather, it requires the researcher to view the whole
phenomenon under investigation in a complex system, that is, different variables can either cause or effect the
phenomenon.

Strengths and Weakness of Qualitative Research

Strengths:
1. Qualitative research complements quantitative data. Interview and observation are the common instruments
used in the conduct of a qualitative study.
2. Qualitative research provides more detailed information to explain complex issues. Since this type of research
study requires the researcher to immerse himself/herself in the phenomenon under investigation, direct
experiences can be acquired.
3. Qualitative research is cost efficient. Small number of participants is usually considered in qualitative research.
Hence, less resources will be needed to accomplish the study.
Weaknesses:
1. Qualitative research cannot generalize the findings to the study population. The use of a small number of
participants in qualitative research may result in limited responses.
2. Qualitative research is more difficult to analyze. Unlike quantitative research which deals with numeric data and
can be interpreted through statistical formula, qualitative research presents non-numeric data which are all based
on the subjective responses of the participants.
3. Qualitative research is time consuming. Though qualitative research utilizes a small number of participants, this,
however, demands the researcher to spend more time in dealing and engaging with them.

Kinds of Qualitative Research

there are six (6) widely used qualitative research kinds namely: (1) phenomenological; (2) ethnographic; (3)
grounded theory; (4) case study; (5) historical; and (6) narrative.

1. Phenomenological. This kind of qualitative research focuses on subjective lived experiences of the participants
in order to understand phenomenon. Here, the researcher is concerned with the feelings of the participants
 regarding a particular event or activity, hence, the uniqueness of their lived situations can be described.
Interview is the common instrument used for its data collection with the suggested sample size ranging from 5
to 25.
2. Ethnographic. It is a kind of qualitative research which concentrates on the study of a group of people in a
particular environment. To characterize behaviors, cultures, challenges, and possible occurring themes, the
researcher is required to engage himself/herself with the participants through immersion in an extended
period of time. Observation, along with the use of interview and survey, is an essential instrument for this type
of study.
3. Grounded Theory. This kind of qualitative research intends to explain a phenomenon through developing a
theory. In comparison with phenomenological study that primarily describes lived experiences, grounded
theory aims to provide explanation and theory behind those lived experiences. Interview and supporting
documents are the commonly used data collection instrument for its participants approximately ranging from
20 to 30 or until data achieve saturation.
4. Case Study. It is a qualitative research kind which allows the researcher to have an intensive analysis of the
phenomenon. The aim of this study is to accurately describe the case through an in-depth examination of a
single person or single institution. With this, thorough interview, observation, and documentation are all
utilized as multiple data collection instruments.
5. Historical. This qualitative research kind is concerned with the identification, evaluation, and synthesis of past
event data. Further, it aims to understand present patterns and to anticipate future choices through clearly
relating the past event data which are obtained from sources such as documents, relics and artifacts, and oral
reports.
6. Narrative. Life accounts of individuals based on their personal experiences are typically obtained and analyzed
in the conduct of this kind of qualitative research. The primary objective of the study is to extract meaningful
context based on the documented experiences. Unlike phenomenological research which focuses on describing
and explaining a phenomenon through the lived experiences of the participants, narrative research focuses
merely on the nature of the story told by the participants.

Importance of Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is known for providing meaning to understand an existing phenomenon. With this, the
perspectives, expressions, and activities of the participants play a vital role to unveiling the local context across
different fields. The development in any fields such as in education, business, medical and health allied
services, etc. is made possible by means of qualitative research. For example, the researcher may study the
experiences of individuals and their access to health care by determining their perspectives. These solicited
responses reflecting their experiences, attitudes, and circumstances may help the researcher to understand the
phenomenon, hence, suggestions for improvement and development can be sought. Now that you have
already explored qualitative research through its characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, kinds, and importance,
it is no doubt that you have already acquired important details needed for pursuing the conduct of such study
leading to a successful result.