The Nature and Functions of Research

The Meaning of Research ResearchOn the basis of its structure, the word research or re-search implies that the person has To search again, to take another more careful look, to find out more. (Selltiz and others, 1976)

is a systematic, objective and comprehensive investigation of certain phenomenon which involves accurate gathering, recording and critical analyzing and interpreting of all facts about the phenomenon.Research ..

Major Types of Research In general, there are two major types of research the pure or theoretical and the applied or practical.

Pure or theoretical conducted for the sake of knowing. Its main objective is to test or arrive at a theory with the ultimate goal of establishing general principles conducted for the sake of knowing.. (Fox, 1969)

Major Types of Research

Applied or practical done so as to obtain knowledge for useful ends. In this kind of research, the intention is not just to obtain knowledge but to use that knowledge to solve certain difficulties or discomfort.

The Research ProcessProblem/ObjectivesTheoretical/Conceptual FrameworkHypothesesResearch Design Data CollectionData Processing and AnalysisData Interpretation and DiscussionConclusions and Recommendations/implications

Functions of ResearchSome of the general functions of research:

corrects perceptions as well expands them gathers information on subjects or phenomena we lack or have little knowledge about develops and evaluates concepts, practices and theories develops and evaluates methods that test concepts, practices and theories obtains knowledge for practical purposes like solving problems on population explosionprovides hard facts which serve as basis for planning, decision-making, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The Role of Research ResearchPlanningImplementationMonitoringEvaluation

Research Problem and Objectives

The Research ProblemA problem is researchable when: there is no known answer or solution to it such that a gap in knowledge exists there are possible solutions, the effectivity of which is untested or unknown yetthere are answers or solutions, the possible result of which may seem or may be factually contradictorythere are several possible and plausible explanations for the undesirable conditionwhen the existence of a phenomenon requires explanation

Sources of a Research Problem

personal experience symposia, dialogues or ordinary meetings journals, books, theses or dissertations and mass media theories

Good Research ProblemThe following criteria will be useful in choosing a good research problem: problem should be of great interest to the researcher problem should be relevant and useful to a specific group of people good problem is novel in that it possesses the element of newness of freshness problem should be well-defined or specified

Good Research Problem problem should be measurable problem is time bounda problem is good if the study of it will contribute to the refinement of certain important concepts, creation or improvement of research instruments and analytical system and will permit generalizations problem is good and researchable on the basis of the investigators capability to meet what it requires: expertise, manpower, money and time

Justifying the Research ProblemThe following guide questions will be helpful in justifying the research problem:Is the problem a current and timely one?Is it pervasive or widespread?Does it affect a special group of people such as mothers or children?Does it relate to ongoing programs such as land reform, family planning, etc.?Does it relate to broad social, economic and health issues, such as unemployment, income maldistribution, aggression?

Justifying the Research Problem6. Who else is concerned about the problem top government officials, medical doctors, or other professionals?

7. What are its direct and indirect, short- and long-ranged contributions, to the welfare of a group of people or to the whole society?

The Research ObjectivesDefinitionAn objective has been defined as an effect that is desired or expected to be achieved by an activity, project or program. (Blumenfeld, 1985)

Good Research ObjectivesGood research objectives should not only flow from theidentified research problem but should also have thefollowing characteristics:they should be stated in simple language;they use measurable concepts;they are attainable;they result-oriented; andthey are time-boundedS M A R - T

The HypothesesFor hypotheses to be considered sound or good, they must possess three major characteristics:

it should be reasonable it should be testable it should conform

Uses of Research HypothesesAside from making the research problem or objectives explicit or more specific, hypotheses serve the following functions:they provide guide and direction to the research,they indicate the major independent and dependent variables being considered,they suggest the type of data that must be collected,they also suggest the type of analyses that must be made, andthey indicate the type of statistical measure appropriate to various tests to be conducted.

AssumptionsMeaningAssumptions are statements of facts related to the research problem which are presumed to be true on the basis of observations and experience although not actually verified.

ExamplesThe following are examples of assumptions which investigators have used in their study.People have certain attitudes toward anything.The subjects under study belong to a certain socio-economic stratification.Administrators or managers experience job-related tension.Any individual wishes/desires acceptance by and belonging to a social groupAny social group desires peace, harmony and prosperityRural families have much smaller income than their counterparts in urban areas.

Scope and LimitationsScope..defines the coverage or boundaries of the study in terms of the area or locality and subjects or population covered, the duration or period of the study, and the research issues or concerns to which the investigation is focused.Limitations..statements which alert the reader of the research report to certain constraints over which the researcher has no control.

Review of Related Literature............books...magazinesthesesdissertationsrelated readingsfilesmapsclippingswebsitesfrom local or foreign authors

Why Review?The following are some reasons for making the review.Provides the researcher knowledge and background on the subject under study.Enable the researcher to avoid duplicating or doing the same study that was already done before.If a study on the same topic has been conducted before, it provides the researcher information about the aspects of the problem which have not been investigated.The researcher will be helped in developing various parts of his study.Provides the researcher insight on the weakness and problems of previous studies.

Why the Review?6. Provides the researcher ideas on how to proceed with his investigation.7. In relational and explanatory study, it provides the researcher basis in determining what variables are related with each other8. Provides findings and conclusions of past studies which the researcher may relate to his own findings and conclusions.9. Provide the researcher motivation and impetus that will ensure a good progress toward the goal of completing his study.

Research Designs

Appropriateness of the Research DesignResearch design refers to a scheme or plan of action for meeting the objectives of the study each design has its own applicability depending on the problems and objectives of the study appropriateness of the research design depends on which method will help the investigator attain his research objectives

Reliability and ValidityReliability refers to the consistency, stability or dependability of the data

Validity refers to data that are not only reliable but also true and accurate.

Threats to ValidityThe most common threats to validity: History Selection Testing Instrumentation Maturation Mortality

Location of Source MaterialsHistorical materials are likely to be found in the following:National libraries National Library, Bureau of Higher Education LibraryLocal libraries libraries of local colleges and universitiesPublic and private museumsCollections of private individualsRecords of private and government agencies

Descriptive Research FormsDescriptive research design consists of various form of which the most widely-employed are:SurveyCase studyContent analysesTrend analysesFeasibility studiesCorrelational Study

Data Collection

Types of Research DataData refers to research results from which inferences are drawn. (Kerlinger, 1986)By sourcePrimary data are those which are gathered directly from the informants of the studySecondary data are those which have been previously gathered, compiled and are made available to the researcher for examination and analysis

Types of Research DataBy form..Quantitative when the data are numerical in nature and have the property of measurability

Qualitative when the data are descriptions of the basic nature or characteristics of the object of investigation

Data Collection MethodsObservation is one of the earliest methods for acquiring knowledge. (Ardales, 1987) Observations can be classified into two categories: Structured the researcher knows what aspect of the group activity are relevant to his or her purposes and is therefore in a position to develop a specific plan for the making and recording of observations before he or she begins collecting data. (Selltiz and Others, 1976)

Data Collection MethodsUnstructured is open and flexible. According to the proponents of this method, this type of observation provides a richer and more direct description of the phenomena under investigation. (Filstead, 1970; Habenstein, 1970; Lafland, 1971; and McCall and Simmons, 1969)

Data Collection MethodsInterviews considered mans oldest and most often used device for obtaining information from people. It is a face-to-face interpersonal role situation in which one person, the interviewer, asks a person being interviewed, the respondent, questions designed to obtain answers pertinent to the research problem. (Kerlinger, 1986)

Data Collection MethodsQuestionnaire is a set of carefully prepared and logically ordered questions. It is self-administered by the respondent, meaning, he reads the questions and writes down his answers on the space provided.

Data Collection MethodsFocus Group Discussion with the cooperation of a relatively large number of persons from whom information is sought, the researcher brings them together in one place for discussion focused on the concerns of the study.

Data Collection MethodsUse of Available Data The researchers study may not call for the use of the above methods in generating data. Instead, it may only require an examination of:Data which have been previously gathered or accumulated through a regular and systematic system, Materials about personal introspection,Those which were written to inform, entertain or influence public opinion.

Data Analysis And Interpretation

Data AnalysisAnalysis is the examination of data in terms of characteristics, patterns, trends and relationship so as to answer questions or to meet the objectives of the study.

Analytical Procedures for Qualitative DataQualitative data can be analyzed by way of classifying them into categories.

In the classification of answers/observations into categories three basic rules should be applied. The set of categories should be derived from a single classificatory principle.The set of categories should be exhaustive, that is, it should be possible to place every response in one of the categories of the set.The categories within the set should be mutually exclusive, meaning, one should not place a given response in more than one category within the set.

Analytical Procedures for Quantitative DataLevel of Measurement There are four levels of measurement which are the:

Nominal measurement Ordinal measurement Interval measurement Ratio measurement

Types of Analytical ProceduresIn a research proposal, there is a need to indicate the analytical procedure that will be used in the study.Descriptive AnalysisUnivariate AnalysisBivariate RelationshipsMultivariate AnalysisComparative AnalysisTime-series AnalysisCost-effective Analysis

Data InterpretationAfter the data have been analyzed, it is the task of the researcher to interpret the results of the analysis. The purpose of data interpretation is to search for the broader meaning of the research findings. (Selltiz and Others, 1976)

The Research Report

Purpose of the Research ReportThe purpose of the research report is to tell its target users and those who will find value in it the problem investigated, the methods used to attain the study objectives, the results and the conclusions and implications derived from the results.

Content and Structure of the ReportBasically, the research report should include the following:IntroductionReview of Related LiteratureMethodologyResearch ResultsSummary, Conclusions and Recommendations and/or Implications

Content and Structure of the ReportThe other parts of the report are the following:Before the body of the report Title PageApproval Sheet (if theses/dissertations)Preface or AcknowledgementTable of ContentList of TablesList of FiguresAbstract or Executive Summary After the body of the report 8. References/ Bibliography9. Appendices

Writing the Research Proposal

Content and Structure

I. TitleII. Introductiona. Background of the studyb. The Problem and/or Study Objectivesc. Theoretical and/or Conceptual Frameworkd. Assumptions and hypothesese. Definition of Termsf. Scope and Limitationsg. importance of the StudyIII. Review of Related Literature

Content and StructureIV. Methodologya. Research Designb. Determination of Sample Size (if sample survey)c. Sampling Technique (if sample survey)d. Data Gathering Proceduree. Instrumentf. Data Gatherersg. Data processing Methodsh. Analytical Proceduresi. Statistical MeasuresV. Schedule of ActivitiesVI. BudgetVII. Proponent's Curriculum Vitae

Thank you for your cooperation ! Corazon S. Morilla, PhD