NOTES AND HANDOUTS IN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

PARTS OF A RESEARCH PAPER:  End your writing with your general objective (ex. Due to
this the researcher come up to the study ________ to
Chapter I: The Problem and Its Background ________)
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
The Scope, Limitations, and Delimitations
Significance of the Study STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM – tells what is done to make the
Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Studies situation that exists more like to be
Literature reviews  The questions that you would like to answer in the study.
Synthesis  Should be in lined with your chosen research design.
Theoretical and Conceptual Framework  The 1st paragraph of the SOP must contain the general
Hypothesis (if applicable) objective (usually the restatement of your title), and the
Definition of Terms 2nd paragraph is the specific questions (questions you want
Chapter III: Research Design and Procedure to answer in your study and listed in numerals)
Research Design  4 levels of SOP
Population and Sample 1. Profiling
Research Instrument 2. Assessment
Data Gathering Procedure 3. Evaluation
Data Analysis/ Statistical Treatment 4. Output
Chapter IV: Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data
Chapter V: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

SCOPE, LIMITATIONS AND DELIMITATIONS

Note: Research Proposal will only cover Chapters 1-3 and verbs are
usually in future tense. SCOPE - refers to the portion/proportion of the totality [the content]
suggested by the research topic and the problem
statement that the researcher intends to cover, or will
actually cover.
WRITING CHAPTER I
 Includes selection of variables that will be investigated, as
RESEARCH TITLE – prefaces the study by providing a summary of the well as the attributes that will define and measure these
main idea and is usually short and concise. variables.
 Should include the major variables of the research study  Sample is also included
 Should describe or imply the participants of the study LIMITATIONS - These are the possible weaknesses of the study (out
 Should be self-explanatory of the control of the researcher).
 Avoid using words such as “methods”, “results”, and
“investigation” because it is already understood that a  shortcomings and weaknesses, which are there researcher
research paper is a study/investigation which seeks results having no control over
through the use of scientific methods.  Simply, what you cannot do

RESEARCH PROBLEM – the problem subject for the study DELIMITATIONS - These are the characteristics that limit the scope
and describe the boundaries of the study. Suresh (2015)
 Weigh the importance of the problem. Consider WHY states that the boundaries of the study are the, geographic
STUDY SUCH SUBJECT? size, population traits and sample size etc.
 Consider SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic, and Time-bond)  the boundaries a researcher outlines by making something
beyond the scope of research project
 Simply, what you will not do!
INTRODUCTION – contains the rationale or the reason for having
such research problem
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY – state who will benefit your study
 Include the background of the study or how did you come
up with the problem
 Presentation of data should be in Macro to Micro meaning
from bigger perspective to a smaller prospective. That is WRITING CHAPTER II
how the problem was emerge in a greater sense up to APA CITATION (American Psychological Association) – known for its
experiencing the problem in a smaller community (ex. author-date structure.
Classroom problem)
 Don’t forget to add support if necessary to strengthen Examples:
your claim that the problem really do exists but do also
state your observations as researcher In-text citation (within the sentence):

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Somavar and Porter (1997) point out that “Langauge 3. Country of Origin Approach – categorized by the country
involves attaching meaning to symbols”. where the RRL came from. Usually Foreign is stated first
followed by the Local RRL.
“Langauge involves attaching meaning to symbols”
(Somavar & Porter, 1997).

Indirect quotation / paraphrasing: SYNTHESIS – a brief summary of the RRL. Include also the similarities
and differences of your current study to the previous ones.
Attaching meaning to symbols is considered to be the
origin of written language (Somavar & Porter, 1997).

HYPOTHESIS – shrewd guess or inference that is formulated and

provisionally adopted to explain observed facts or
Citation from secondary source: conditions and to guide in further investigations. (Sanchez,
As Hall (1997) asserts, “Culture also defines boundaries of 1998)
different groups “(as cited in Somavar & Porter, 1997).

Other considerations in APA citation: DEFINITION OF TERMS – defining unfamiliar and technical terms so
 If there is no date write n.d. Example: (Servu, n.d.) that the reader might understand them well.
 If 3 to 5 authors, cite all the surnames for the first 2 types of definition:
appearance and for the proceedings just cite the surname
of the first author then write et.al then date. Example 1. Operational Definition – definition based on how a word
(Krausse et. al., 2000) was used in the research. It may be different from its
 If 6 or more authors, use et.al. on first appearance denotative meaning or exact meaning.
 Include the page if there is any. Example: (Somavar & 2. Conceptual Definition – definition based from other
Porter, 1997, p.14) sources such as dictionary, blogs, media and others.
Citation must be applied for this definition.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK – is a symbolic construction which uses

abstract concepts, facts or laws, variables and their WRITING CHAPTER III
relations that explain or predict how an observed
phenomenon exists and operate. RESEARCH DESIGN – a plan with structures a study to ensure that
the data collected and generated will contain the
 General framework for data analysis based from theories, information needed to answer the initial inquiry as fully
principles, laws or concepts and clearly as possible.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK – based on the concepts or ideas of the QUALITATIVE VS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
person making the study.
QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
 Consists of the investigator’s own position on a problem Subjective Objective
after his/her exposure to various theories that have
Answers what and why Answers how many or strength
bearing on the problem.
of relationship or difference
Conceptual Paradigm – conceptual model. Consists of figures, lines Literature review may be done Literature review is usually
and arrows to show relationships, etc. as the study progresses done before the study
Develops theory Tests theory
Independent variables – cause
Interpretive Measurable
Intervening variable – inferred or links the IV and DV
Dependent variable – effect Reports rich narrative, Reports statistical analysis
individual interpretation Numbers
Basic element of analysis is
WAYS ON HOW TO PRESENT THE RRL (Review of Related Literature words/ideas
and Studies) Researcher is part of the Researcher is separate
process
1. Chronological Approach – RRL is presented based on the
Participants Subjects
year it was written.
2. Thematic or Factor Approach – literature and studies with Context dependent Context free
the same findings are grouped together. Presentation of Reasoning is dialectic and Reasoning is logistic and
RRL is based on variable or theme. inductive deductive
Describes meaning and Establishes relationship and
discovery causation

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POSSIBLE
TYPES OF RESEARCH
DESCRIPTION STATISTICAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
TREATMENT
QUANTITATIVE Experimental research is any research conducted with a scientific approach,
RESEARCH where a set of variables are kept constant while the other set of variables are
being measured as the subject of experiment.
Types:
1. Pre-experimental - This is the simplest form of experimental research
design. A group, or various groups, are kept under observation after
factors are considered for cause and effect. NO CONTROL GROUP.
2. True Experimental Research Design - True experimental research is the Chi-square,
most accurate form of experimental research design as it relies on T-test,
EXPERIMENTAL
statistical analysis to prove or disprove a hypothesis. Z- test,
RESEARCH
3. Quasi-Experimental Research Design - The word “Quasi” indicates F-test / ANOVA,
resemblance. A quasi-experimental research design is similar to MANCOVA
experimental research but is not exactly that. The difference between the
two the assignment of a control group.

Control group - Group of participants for research that are familiar to the
Experimental group but experimental research rules do not apply to them.
Experimental group - Research participants on whom experimental research
rules do apply
CORRELATIONAL Correlational research aims to describe and measure the degree of association Chi-square,

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between two or more variables or sets of scores.
Types:
1. Explanatory research design determines the extent to which two Pearson r,
RESEARCH
variables (or more) co-vary. Spearman rho
2. Prediction research design seeks to identify variables that will predict
an outcome or criterion.
Descriptive survey research - aims to describe systematically the facts and Mean,
DESCRIPTIVE
characteristics of a given population or area of interest, factually and accurately. Composite
SURVEY
mean,
RESEARCH
percentage
Grounded theory research design is a systematic, qualitative used to generate a
theory that explain , at a broad conceptual level, a process, an action, or an
interaction about a substantive topic (Creswell,2008)
How do you do Grounded theory?
GROUNDED 1. Codes. Anchors are identified to collect the key points of data
THEORY 2. Concepts. Codes of similar content are collected to be able to group
RESEARCH the data
3. Categories. Broad groups of similar concepts are formed to generate a
theory
4. Theory. A collection of explanations are generated that explain the
subject of the research (hypothesis)
Ethnographic research is a qualitative method where researchers observe and/or
QUALITATIVE
ETHNOGRAPHIC interact with a study's participants in their real-life environment. Ethnography None
RESEARCH
RESEARCH was popularised by anthropology, but is used across a wide range of social
sciences.
Phenomenology research can be defined as the direct investigation and
description of phenomena as consciously experienced by people living those
experiences
How do you do Phenomenology theory?
PHENOMENOLO 1. Codes. Anchors are identified to collect the key points of data
GY RESEARCH 2. Concepts. Codes of similar content are collected to be able to group
the data
3. Categories. Broad groups of similar concepts are formed to generate a
theme
4. Theme. Generalized responses of the respondents.

COMMON SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES

SAMPLE - determining which group of people will you study, who, specifically,
these people are, and how many of them you will need to involve

 Identifying the representative group that will take part in the study is
an important aspect of the research that you need to specify.

POPULATION – group of individuals with the same characteristics. It is where

the sample is taken.

SAMPLING SPECIFIC SAMPLING

DESCRIPTION PROCEDURE
TECHNIQUES TECHNIQUE
PROBABILITY SIMPLE RANDOM  Gives each element in the  FISHBOWL TECHNIQUE – picking out names in
SAMPLING SAMPLING population a chance of being a certain container randomly
selected  ROULETTE WHEEL TECHNIQUE – spinning a
(sample is selected in a  Makes selection of every possible roulette with names of possible respondents.
systematic way thus combination of the desired  TABLE OF RANDOM NUMBERS – numbers were
every member has an number of cases equally likely. randomly assigned to the names and the
equal chance of being number selected by the researcher will be the
selected) respondents.
STRATIFIED RANDOM  Sampling by stratum or layer  First, group the target population by strata
SAMPLING  Stratum – group which share the  identify the number of sample using Slovin’s

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same or similar characteristics formula or G-power
 Identify percentage of sample per strata
 Get the number of sample per strata by
dividing the population into the subgroups
CLUSTER RANDOM  Similar to Stratified  Process is the same as stratified sampling
SAMPLING  Used for larger population
 Example: city, barangay, religious
affiliations etc.
SYSTEMATIC RANDOM  Predetermined sequence N
SAMPLING  Identified every nth name.  k= ; k= interval , N= Total population, n=
n
desired sample
 Example the interval is 6, then the persons
who’s place is in every 6th will be the sample
UNIVERSAL SAMPLING /  Can be used if the population is  Identify the number of population
TOTAL POPULATION small  Use all its members
SAMPLING  The researcher will use all the
member of the population for the
study
PURPOSIVE SAMPLING  Selection is based on subjective  Provide criteria for the respondents
judgment  Whoever meets those criteria will be the
 Those who meet the purpose or respondents
objective of the study
NON - PROBABILITY  Also known as Judgment sampling
SAMPLING CONVENIENCE  Respondents who are  Whomever agreed to be the respondent in the
SAMPLING conveniently available most convenient means such as phone call,
(sample is selected in a  Also called ACCIDENTAL texts, or a friend
NOT systematic way SAMPLING  Could also be someone whom the researcher
thus respondents are met accidentally or whomever passes her/his
selected because of way
certain criteria essential QUOTA SAMPLING  Select people non-randomly
for the study) according to some fixed quota
SNOWBALL SAMPLING  When the respondents are  Identify one person who fits your study then
difficult to locate ask for another person who share the same
characteristics or simple ask for referral to
identify the next respondents.
 Do this until desired number of sample has
been met.
 Example: looking for a student who experience
bullying. You will ask for another bully victim
for your next respondent

STATISTICAL TECHNIQUE AND PROCEDURE

BASIS FOR COMPARISON PARAMETRIC TEST NONPARAMETRIC TEST

Meaning A statistical test, in which specific assumptions are A statistical test used in the case of non-metric
made about the population parameter is known as independent variables, is called non-parametric test.
parametric test.
Basis of test statistic Distribution Arbitrary
Measurement level Interval or ratio Nominal or ordinal
Measure of central tendency Mean Median
Information about population Completely known Unavailable
Applicability Variables Variables and Attributes
Correlation test Pearson Spearman

Scales of Relations being defined Appropriate statistical test Examples of statistical that can be used.
measurement to be used

Nominal Equivalence Nonparametric test Mode, frequency,

Chi-square test

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Ordinal Equivalence, greater than, Nonparametric test Median, Spearman rank, Friedman’s test,
less than Kendall’s tau percentile

Interval Equivalence, greater than, Nonparametric and Mean, standard deviation, z -test, t-test,
less than, known ratio of any parametric test ANOVA, Pearson’s r
two intervals

Ratio Equivalence, greater than, Nonparametric and Mean, standard deviation, coefficient of
less than, known ratio of any parametric test variation, z -test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s
two ratio r

WRITING CHAPTER IV - Based from your findings and conclusion, what can you
recommend to the readers, future researchers, and other
- Presentation of data could be in either Descriptive people concern?
(paragraphs), Tabular (in tables), and Graphical (in - State possible solution for the weaknesses of your study
graphs). and how to further improve the subject of the study
- The sequence of the presentation of your data should be
according to what is asked in your SOP. If your first SOP is
about the respondents’ profile, then the table to be
presented first is all about their profile.
- Do not forget to write the interpretation of your table or
figure
- DO NOT CUT TABLES AND FIGURES. See to it that the
content of the table/figure should be clearly placed in one
page only
- In interpretation, follow the Statistical way of interpreting
data
- Add literature support after the interpretation

- TABLE NUMBER and TITLE are at the top; FIGURE NUMBER

and TITLE are at the bottom

- DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR CONCLUSION IN THIS CHAPTER

WRITING CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY:

- State a brief description of your study.

- State your research design, sample, and SOP
- State the SUMMARY OF FINDINGS – restatement of
findings from chapter 4 but without tables and graphs.
Should be listed according to SOP

CONCLUSION:

- Something you can derive based from the findings

- Should be the answer to your SOP
- Should be listed according to your SOP

RECOMMENDATION:

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