Practical Research 1

Prepared by: Nichelle Ann L. Sabado

 Define Research
Research follows a step-by-step process of
investigation that uses a standardized approach in
answering questions or solving problems (Polit & Beck,
2004).
Research is a continuous undertaking of making known
the unknown (Sanchez, 2002).
Research is a very careful investigation of something
that purports the contribution of additional or new
knowledge and wisdom (Bassey, as cited by Coleman
& Briggs, 2002).
Motivation Question:

Why do we need to study

Research?
Lesson 1 Topics:
Importance of Research
Characteristics of Research
Research Paradigm
Research Foundation
Research Methodology
Outline of the Research Paper
Role of the Researcher
Goals for Conducting Research
 Importance of Research
1. Research provides a scientific basis for
any practice or methodology in any field
or discipline.
2. Research is undertaken for the
continuous development and further
productivity in any field.
3. Research helps develop tools for
assessing effectiveness of any practice
and operation
 Importance of Research
4. Research provides solutions to problems
concerning almost all issues encountered in
the different areas of work.
5. Research impacts decision-making.
6. Research develops and evaluates
alternative approaches to the educational
aspects of any discipline.
7. Research aims to advance the personal and
professional qualifications of a practitioner.
 Characteristics of Research:
1. The research should be systematic
 System composed of the chapters and its
elements.
a. Macrosystem- is composed of chapters that are
organized in a logical and scientific manner.
b. Microsystem- consist of the detailed contents of
each chapter. The contents are further divided into
elements that are organized following a systematic
procedure.
 Characteristics of Research:
2. The research should be
objective
3. The research should be feasible
4. The research should be
empirical
5. The research should be clear
 Research Paradigm
Research Paradigm is an outline that guides the
researcher in conceptualizing and conducting the
research.
Aspects of Research Paradigm:
 Research Foundations refer to the fundamental
components of research such as the research problem,
purpose, specific questions to be addressed, and the
conceptual framework to the applied.
 Research Methodology describes how the researcher will
answer the research question in a credible manner. The
methodology of the research include the review of
literature, research approach and design, data collection,
methods of analysis, and conclusions.
 Research Foundations
 Research Problem- must be a real life problem.
 Formulating a research problem requires describing the undesirable
situations related to the problem and the needed knowledge or
information in order to solve that problem.
 Purpose of the research describes how the study will fill
the “knowledge gap.”
 Research Question may be either framed in a
quantitative (how much, how often, to what extent) or
qualitative (what, why, how) manner.
 Conceptual Framework- is an outline or paradigm that
presents the topics to be studied, the various variables
and contexts, and how this relate or influence each
other.
 Research Methodology
 Review of Literature analyzes the existing knowledge
regarding the research topic.
 Research Approach and Design identifies what is the best
means to collect and analyze data in the study.
 Data Collection gives the methods to determine who will be
the participants in the study, how the variables will be
measured, and how data will be documented and collected.
 Data Analysis consist of the strategies and methods that
makes sense of the data to answer the research problem
and questions.
 Conclusion summarizes the key results of the study and
discusses how these are relevant to the research problem.
 Outline of the Research
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
Paper
a. Research Design
Chapter 1: The Problem and Its b. Respondents of the Study
Background
c. Instrument of the Study
a. Introduction, Background of the
d. Validity and Reliability
Study
e. Statistical Treatment
b. Statement of the Problem
Chapter 4: Presentation, Analysis,
c. Scope and Delimitation
and Interpretation of Data
d. Significance of the Study
f. Presentation of Data
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework
g. Analysis
e. Review of Related Literature
h. Interpretation
f. Review of Related Studies
i. Discussion
g. Conceptual Framework/
Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions,
theoretical Framework
and Recommendation
h. Hypothesis of the Study
j. Summary of Findings
i. Assumptions of the Study
k. Conclusion
j. Definition of terms
l. Recommendation
Roles of the Researcher:
1. As principal investigator
2. As member of research team
3. As identifier of researchable problems
4. As evaluator of research findings
5. As user of research findings
6. As patient or client advocate during study
7. As subject/ respondent/ participant
Goals for Conducting Research
1. To produce evidence-based practice
2. To establish credibility in the profession
3. To observe accountability for the
profession
4. To promote cost-effectiveness through
documentation
Motivation Question:

How does research differ

across fields?
Lesson 2 Topics:
 General form of Research
 Research Design
 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
 Quantitative Research
 Qualitative Research
 Characteristics
 Value
 Common Types
 Strengths and Weaknesses
General Forms
of Research:
Scientific
Research
Research in the
Humanities
Artistic Research
Scientific Research
 It is a research method that seeks to explain
naturally occurring phenomenon in the
natural world by generating credible
theories.
 It is a systematic process that involves
formulating hypotheses, testing prediction
using relevant data and other scientific
methods, and finally coming up with a
theory. As such this study requires rational
and statistical evidence to draw
conclusions.
Research in the Humanities
It is a research that seeks to define the
purpose of human existence by
tapping into historical facts and future
possibilities.
This form of research derive
explanations from human experiences
that cannot be simply measured by
facts and figure alone.
Artistic Research
 This research provides alternative
approaches to establish concepts by
conducting practical methods as substitutes
for fundamental and theoretical ones.
 The main purpose of this research is to
expound on the current accepted concepts
and open them to further interpretation.
 This research generates new knowledge
through artistic practices such as defining
new concepts, creating new processes, and
devising new methods.
Research Design
Research Design helps researchers
to:
Clearly identify and describe the
research problem or topic, and justify
the selection of the appropriate design
to be used
Review and synthesize previous
studies and literature related to the
topic
Clearly identify hypotheses that are
significant to the problem
Research Design helps researchers
to:
Determine the data necessary to test
the hypotheses and explain how the
data will be obtained
Describe the methods of analysis that
will be used on the data gathered in
order to evaluate the hypotheses of
the study
Examples of Research Design:
 Action Research  Cohort Design
 Casual Design  Cross-Sectional
 Descriptive Design Design
 Experimental  Longitudinal Design
Design  Sequential Design
 Exploratory Design  Mixed-method
Design
Action Research
 This research design follows a cyclical
process, first the researcher identifies a
problem and determines a plan of action to
address it. then, the action plan is
implemented and data is gathered to
determine the effects of the action
implemented.
 This research design is pragmatic and
solution-driven, and any information
gathered is used to identify and implement a
solution to the problem.
Casual Design
This research explores how a
specific change impacts a certain
situation.
This research design employs
hypotheses that seek to establish a
cause-and-effect relationship
between variables. It seeks to
determine whether variable X
caused variable Y.
Descriptive Design
This research design answers who,
what when, where and how questions
related to a particular research
problem.
This design is used to obtain
information about the present situation
to gain an understanding of a certain
phenomena.
Experimental Design
In this design, the researcher
controls the factors and variables
related to a certain phenomena
and tries to change or manipulate
one or several factors to
determine the possible effects.
Cohort Design
This research identifies a group of
people sharing common
characteristics who are then studied
for a period of time.
The researcher seeks to identify how
these groups are affected by certain
factors or changes and relates the
information gathered to the research
topic or problem.
Cross-sectional Design
This research looks into a large
group of people, composed of
individuals with varied
characteristics.
The researcher seeks to determine
how these individuals are affected
by a certain variable or change and
gathers data at a specific period of
time.
Longitudinal Design
 This research follows a group of people
over a long period of time. Throughout the
period of study, observations are made on
the group to track changes over time and
identify factors that may have caused
them.
 This design also explores casual
relationships over time and determines
how long these relationships last and the
extent of their effects on the group being
studied.
Sequential Design
 This research is carried out in stages to
gather sufficient data to test the
hypothesis.
 This design is often combined with a
cohort or cross-sectional study as it
identifies specific groups for each stage. At
the end of each stage, the data is
collected and evaluated. If there is
insufficient data, the researcher then
proceeds to the next stage with a new
group of subjects.
Mixed-method Design
This research combines aspects of
various research designs and
methods.
It primarily combines qualitative and
quantitative research methods to gain
a complete picture of the research
problem and gather data that will fully
determine he validity of the
hypotheses.
 Qualitative and Quantitative
Research Methods
Quantitative Research
 the traditional positivist
scientific method which
refers to a general set of
orderly, disciplined
procedures to acquire
information. (Polit and Beck,
2004)
 It gather empirical evidence
that is within the realm of
senses. The method used in
the analysis of data is
usually statistical in nature.
Qualitative Research
 The naturalistic method of
inquiry of research which deals
with the issue of human
complexity by exploring it
directly. (Polit and Beck, 2008)
 This type of research attempts
to explain the human
experience with its dynamic,
holistic and individualistic
aspects through the
perspective of the individual
himself.
 Comparison between Quantitative and Qualitative
Research
Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
Involves processes, feelings, and
Aims to characterize trends and motives(the why’s and the how’s)
patterns. and procedures in-depth and
holistic data.
Usually starts with neither a theory
Usually concerned with generating
nor hypothesis about the
hypothesis from data rather than
relationship between two or more
testing a hypothesis
variables
Uses structure research
Uses either unstructured or semi-
instruments like questionnaire or
structured instruments
schedules

Uses large sample sizes that are Uses small sample sizes chosen
representatives of the population purposely

Source: Hand out distributed by the SSREI, UP Baguio, 2009

 Comparison between Quantitative and Qualitative
Research

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Has high output replicability Has high validity

Used to gain understanding of

Used to gain greater understanding
individual differences in terms of
of group similarities
feelings, motives and experiences

Uses structured processes Uses more flexible processes

Methods include census, survey,

Methods include field research,
experiments and secondary
case study and secondary analysis.
analysis

Source: Hand out distributed by the SSREI, UP Baguio, 2009