Introduction to

Research Methodology
L E T HI PHUO NG A NH
Contents


1 What is Research?
2 Basic Steps in Doing Research
EWWW!
 EWWW!
YUCK!

RESEARCH
Definition of Research

What is research?
Definition of Research

studious inquiry or examination

especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at...
• the discovery and interpretation of facts
• the creation or revision of acceted theories or laws in
the light of new facts
• or practical application of such new or revised
theories or laws
 Definition of Research
studious inquiry and examination

research question
People get research questions by observing things around them, seeing problems
that exist, reading reports about other research studies, etc.
EWWWW!
How many people actually
wash their hands after
peeing or pooping?
RESEARCH QUESTION

collecting data

Research methods
Definition of Research
investigation or exprimentation aimed at the discovery and
interpretation of facts

Descriptive research Research that describes something that’s

going on in the world
Definition of Research
investigation or exprimentation aimed at the discovery and
interpretation of facts

Descriptive research Research that describes something that’s

going on in the world

Experimental research Research that includes an experiment

Wash your hands after you pee
and/or poo!
Definition of Research
investigation or experimentation aimed at ...
the discovery and interpretation of facts
Definition of Research
investigation or experimentation aimed at ...
the discovery and interpretation of facts

Discovery of fact:
only 10% of guys wash hands after peeing/ pooing.

Interpretation of fact:
Not enough guys are washing hands and they need to be
taught a lesson!
Definition of Research

investigation or experimentation aimed at ...

the creation or revision of accepted theories or laws in the
light of new facts

Theory: An explanation of how/why things happen

Inductive: Research that uses data to build theories

I just can’t find any theories about
guys not washing their hands after
peeing or pooping :(
I’ll make my own theory
about it!
Definition of Research

investigation or experimentation aimed at ...

the creation or revision of accepted theories or laws in the
light of new facts

Theory: An explanation of how/why things happen

Inductive: Research that uses data to build theories

Deductive: Research that uses data to test, improve or

build upon existing theories
Since there’s already a theory out
there, I’ll use my data to test that
theory
Definition of Research
investigation or experimentation aimed at ...
practical application of such new or revised theories or laws

I’ll use my new knowledge

for practical good!
So far...
Definition of research
studious inquiry or examination
especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at...
• the discovery and interpretation of facts
• the creation or revision of accpeted theories or laws in the light of new facts
• or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws

Descriptive research vs. Experimental research

Inductive research vs. Deductive research

Data, research methods, theory

 How do U know what U know?
• Problem: Which reaches C first?

research is distinguished from speculation

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 Is this research?
• Research is grounded in data, not
imagination.
• Data: pieces of reality

28
Is this research?

29
Is this research?

An advertisement proudly boats about its product with

certain attributes testified by some kind of research
 sales pitch
Research is different from the use of research

30
Is this research?

At a university, students collect data from here and there and
then reorganizing them in their paper.
information gathering:
should be systematic and produce some new knowledge to
be considered research
Research implies a problem of complexity that requires conscious efforts
with clarified methodology

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TASK 1: Reading comprehension
Identify the following elements in each research report:
• Researchers
• Topic
• Time of the study
• Place of the study
• Participants
• Research methods
• Major findings
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 TASK 1: Reading comprehension
• Researchers: N/A
• Topic: The most important factor for a woman in marriage
• Time of the study: N/A
• Place of the study: the U.S.
• Participants: Five thousand couples in the National Survey of
Families and Households. Women in the sample ranged between 20
and 60. Half worked either full or part-time.
• Research methods: Interview

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 TASK 1: Reading comprehension
• Major findings:
• The most important factor for a woman isn't money or who does
the housework, but the emotional engagement of her husband.
>> The findings don't support the common perception that
equity is the most important quality in a happy marriage.
• Women are happier when they are at home and when their
husbands are the primary breadwinners.
• Women appreciate when their husbands give them the financial
security to make choices.
• Married women are happier when they feel housework is shared
by their spouse but not necessarily divided equally.
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Components of research

Research is a systematic process of inquiry consisting of

three elements or components:

(1) a question, problem, or hypothesis,

(2) data, and
(3) analysis and interpretation of data.
(Nunan, D. 1992, p. 232)
Contents


1 What is Research?


2Basic Steps in Doing Research
 Research
areas
Literature
Conclusions review

Imperical
Theoretical
research
interpretation
questions

Research
Answering
design
the RQs
(Planning)

Data Data
analysis collection
Identifying research areas
• Determine the general topic for investigation

Experience Reading Interest

General Topic
Example

• Group work
39
Identifying research areas
• Narrow the general topic
• Identify problem areas
- Problem areas are more specific than general topic
- Problem areas are:
+ what have been little known or unknown
+ what you are interested in finding out
Example Group work

In-class group work

Students’ participation in in-class group work

Factors influencing students’ participation

in in-class group work
41
 Experience Reading Interest

General Topic

Reading to see what is available (Preliminary Review)

Changing or adjusting research problem

42
 Research
areas
Literature
Conclusions review

Imperical
Theoretical
research
interpretation
questions

Research
Answering
design
the RQs
(Planning)

Data Data
analysis collection
 Research Literature
General Topic Review
Problem
Review the literature
What has been
found out and
published on
the topic?
Review the literature
What is left for
me to find out?

THE GAP
 Research
areas
Literature
Conclusions review

Imperical
Theoretical
research
interpretation
questions

Research
Answering
design
the RQs
(Planning)

Data Data
analysis collection
Formulate research questions

This study is to answer

these following
quesitons....
Formulate research questions

Good research questions

 worth asking
 answerable
What type of research question is problematic?
• It starts with “How can I…”
• It suggests a “yes” or “no” answer.
• Should..?
• It is rhetorical.
• It includes vague or ambiguous language.
NCSALL Practitioner Research Group

on Learner Motivation, Retention, and Persistence, 1998.

50
Example
Topic: Factors influencing students’ participation in in-class
group work
Research questions:
1. What factors facilitate EFL students’ participation in in-class
group work?
2. What factors inhibit EFL students’ participation in in-class
group work?

51
 Research
areas
Literature
Conclusions review

Imperical
Theoretical
research
interpretation
questions

Research
Answering
design
the RQs
(Planning)

Data Data
analysis collection
Construct research design
HOW
• sources of data
• data collection
• data analysis

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

 Research
areas
Literature
Conclusions review

Imperical
Theoretical
research
interpretation
questions

Research
Answering
design
the RQs
(Planning)

Data Data
analysis collection
Execute the research plan

• Collect data
• Analyse data
 Research
areas
Literature
Conclusions review

Imperical
Theoretical
research
interpretation
questions

Research
Answering
design
the RQs
(Planning)

Data Data
analysis collection
 TASK 2: Research Questions Practice
Give comments on the following research questions:
a) How much do ULIS’s students know about critical thinking?
b) How do ULIS’s lecturers rate the necessity degree of having critical
thinking instruction in the curriculum or in their syllabuses?
c) Is the participation level of second year students at ULIS – VNU in
group work satisfactory?
d) What recommendations can be made for the employment of
humor in foreign language classroom?
e) Should process approach be applied to teaching writing for
second-year students at ULIS, VNU?
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Course description

• know basic concepts and principles of research

• practice in carrying out the first steps in conducting a research
study
• write major parts of a research report in FELTE
• read critically research reports in FELTE

58
Course Assessment
• Participation: 10%
• Group Assignment 1 (Due Week 5): 10%
• Group Assignment 2 (Due Week 12): 10%
• Group Assignment 3 (Due Weeks 14 – 15): 20%
• Final Written Test: 50%

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THANK YOU