Nature of Inquiry and Research

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 The word RESEARCH was coined from
the French word “ cerhier” which
means to seek.
 The prefix “re” means to repeat.
 Literally, research is to repeat looking
for something. Research signifies
finding the truth again about ideas and
problems which were in existence
before in different perspectives.

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• Quantitative Research= is an
objective, systematic empirical
investigation of observable
phenomena though use of
computation techniques.

• is concerned with numbers and its

relationship

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 Characteristics of Quantitative Research

1. Objective
 Seeks accurate measurement and
analysis of target concepts. It is not
based on mere intuitions and guesses.

2. Clearly defined research questions

 Well –defined research questions which
answer’s the objectives.

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 Types of Questions

1) Open-ended question. The questions are

listed in a way that it allows the respondents
to freely express himself or herself on the
subject or issue. It does not enumerate
alternative responses.
Examples
1. How are you affected by the change of the
secondary curriculum?
2. What do you suggest to improve the delivery of
instruction?
 Types of Questions

2) Fixed Alternative Question. This is

otherwise called the closed type of question
which provides a list of choices among
enumerated alternatives. Hence, the subject
responses are limited to a specific
alternative.
Example
1. What is the status of the projects initiated
by your school towards developing skills of
SHS Students? 5 Very Much Initiated 4 Much
Initiated 3 Moderately Initiated 2 Slightly
Initiated 1 Not Initiated at all
 Characteristics of Quantitative Research

3. Structured research instruments

Data are normally gathered normally
gathered using structured research tools
such as questionnaires to collect
measurable characteristics of the
population like age, socio-economic
status, number of children, among
•
others.

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 Characteristics of Quantitative Research

4.• Numerical data

Data are in the forms of numbers and

statistics, often organized and presented
using tables, charts, graphs and figures
that consolidate large numbers of data
to show relationships.

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 Characteristics of Quantitative Research

5.Large Samples Sizes

To arrive at more reliable data analysis

a normal population distribution curve is
present.
This requires a large number sample
size, depending on how the
characteristics of the population vary.

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 Characteristics of Quantitative Research

• 6. Replication
 Reliable quantitative studies can be
repeated to verify or confirm the
correctness of the results in another
setting.

7. Future Outcomes
 By using complex mathematical
calculations and with the aid of
computers, if-then scenarios may be
formulated thus predicting future resu lts.
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Strengths of Quantitative Research

It is objective. Since it provides

numerical data, it can’t be easily
misinterpreted.

The use of statistical techniques

facilitates sophisticated analyses and
allows you to comprehend a huge amount
of vital characteristics of data.
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 Numerical data can be analyzed in a quick and
easy way.

 Quantitative studies are replicable.

Standardized approaches allow the study to be
replicated in different areas or over time with
the formulation of comparable findings.

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 Weaknesses of Quantitative Research

 Requires a large number of respondents.

•  It is costly.
 The information contextual factors to help interpret the
results or to explain variations are usually ignored. It
does not consider the distinct capacity of the
respondents to share and elaborate further information
unlike the qualitative research.
 If not done seriously and correctly, data from the
questionnaires may be incomplete and inaccurate.
Researchers must be on look-out on respondents who
are just guessing in answering the instrument.
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 Activity: Find your partner and complete the
following statement.

 Research is important to a teacher because________.

 Research is important to a doctor because__________.
 Research is important to an engineer because_________.
 Research is important to an entrepreneur because_______.
 Research is important to student because__________.

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 Assignment: (Group)

 Using Venn Diagrams, show the similarities and

differences between Qualitative and Quantitative research.

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 Kinds of Quantitative Research

The kind of research is dependent on

the researcher’s aim in conducting
the study and the extent to which the
findings will be used.
Descriptive Research= concerned with
describing the nature, characteristics
and components of the population or a
phenomenon. There is no manipulation
of variables or search for cause and
effect related to the phenomenon.
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 Kinds of Quantitative Research

Descriptive research is used for example

if, you want to know how many hours
senior high school students spend in
social media, the number of
malnourished students who failed in the
achievement test, how healthy is the
food served during recess in the public
school.
 Kinds of Quantitative Research

Correlational Research= it is the

systematic investigation of the nature of
relationships or associations between and
among the variables without necessarily
investigating into casual reasons
underlying them.
 Kinds of Quantitative Research

For example, if pre-board examination

results cab be used to predict performance
in the Licensure Examination for Teacher
(LET), then the higher the pre-board
grade, the higher most likely be the score
in LET.

Sex and Mathematical ability

Occupation and Life Span
 Kinds of Quantitative Research

Evaluation Research- aims to assess the

effects , impacts or outcomes of practices,
policies or programs.
Assessing the implementation of nursing
care in the hospital and determining the
impact of a new treatment procedure for
patients are examples of evaluation
research.
 Kinds of Quantitative Research

Survey- is used to gather information from

the groups of people by selecting and
studying samples chosen from a population.

Causal-comparative research- it is also

known as ex post facto (after the fact). This
kind of research derives conclusion from
observation and manifestation that already
occurred in the past and now compared to
some dependent variables.
 Kinds of Quantitative Research

Example:
A researcher is interested in how weight
influences stress- coping level of adults.
Here the subjects would be separated into
different groups (underweight, normal
weight, overweight). This is an ex post
facto because a pre-existing
characteristics (weight) was used from
the groups.
 Kinds of Quantitative Research

Experimental research- utilizes scientific

method to test cause- and – effect
relationships under controlled by the
researcher.
Example:
A teacher would like to know if a new
teaching strategy is effective or not so
he/she teaches one section using the new
strategy and teaches another comparable
section without the new strategy, then an
achievement test was given to the two
sections.
 VARIABLES

A variable is a central concept in the

research. It is a measurable
characteristics in the value. It may vary
one group to another, one person to
another or even with the same person.

A variable is anything that may assume

assume varied numerical or categorical
values.
 VARIABLES

For instance, SEX is a variable, it may be

MALE or FEMALE but it won’t be applicable as
a variable if the setting of the research is an
exclusive school for girls.

Socio-Economic status is a VARIABLE, it

may range from zero to billion pesos.
 VARIABLES

Educational Attainment of Parent is a

variable, it may be from did not attend to
school to doctorate degree.
 Types of Variables

Continuous variable and Discrete Variable

Dependent and Independent Variable

 Types of Variables

Continuous variable- is a variable that

can take infinite number on the value
that can occur within the population.

Its values can be divided into fractions.

Examples of this type of variable

include age, height and temperature.
 Types of Variables
Discrete variable or also known as
categorical or classificatory variable
which is any number of distinct values
and which cannot be divided into
fractions like sex, blood group, and
number of children in the family.

Simply, your age can be 17.5 years old

so it is a continuous variable but your
parents cannot have 4.5 children so it is a
discrete variable.
 Types of Variables

Independent Variable- the cause variable

or the one responsible for the conditions that
act on something else to bring about changes.

Dependent Variable- also called the

outcome variable is the result or effect of the
changes brought about by another variable.
(usually the Independent Variable.)
Example: In a certain study, a group of
students was subjected to aroma therapy
using essential oils while reading and
another group read under normal
conditions, then after a month booth
groups took a reading comprehension
test score is the dependent variable and
exposure to aroma therapy is the
independent variable.
 Types of Variables

This is because the test score is

dependent on whether or not the student
was exposed to aroma therapy.

The independent variable, exposure to

aroma therapy, is independent because it
is something that brought about the
change.
Aroma Therapy
(independent variable)

Test Score
(dependent variable)
Examples:

1.Promotion affects employees’ motivation

 Independent variable: promotion
 Dependent variable: employees’ motivation

2. A researcher is interested in knowing

“How stress affects mental state of human
being?”
Independent: stress
Dependent: mental state of human beings.

The researcher can directly manipulate the

stress levels and can measure on how those
stress levels change the mental state